Honouring Paula Huston: The extraordinary bequest supporting future WAAPA performers

Edith Cowan University (ECU) honours the life and generosity of Paula Huston, a long-time supporter of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) whose recent passing revealed one of the most meaningful philanthropic bequests in the Academy’s history. Paula passed away in Melbourne on 14 November 2025, at the age of 76. A lifelong lover of classical music and live performance, she devoted much of her life to the arts. In her final years she worked with ECU to formalise a philanthropic commitment that included the gift of her entire estate, valued at several million dollars, to support WAAPA students. This followed her pledge to provide one hundred thousand dollars annually during her lifetime to fund student scholarships. Paula believed deeply in removing barriers for aspiring performers. Her hope was that future generations could pursue their careers with confidence and that her story might inspire others to consider the impact of their own philanthropy. This video was filmed in September 2025 and captures Paula speaking about her life, her passion for the arts and her hopes for WAAPA’s future. ECU is honoured to share her story. Her legacy will continue through the students who will soon walk through the doors of WAAPA’s new home at ECU City, opening in semester one 2026.