Students from Victorian dairy communities who intend to start tertiary studies in 2025 are invited to apply for one of seven Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarships.
Each scholarship recipient will get $10,000 annually for three years to support study-related costs.
“Supporting rural Victorian students enhances the social fabric of our dairy communities,” says Gardiner Foundation CEO Allan Cameron.
“We are proud to offer opportunities for students to pursue their tertiary education without the financial burdens that often affect those from the country.
“By enabling more students from dairy communities to gain skills and experiences in their chosen fields, we contribute to the creation of thriving, vibrant communities where people want to live, work and invest.”
Past students have enrolled in courses ranging from agricultural science to nursing, medicine, engineering, journalism and commerce.
Eligible applicants are Australian citizens who are:
- pursuing a career through their chosen course that will either directly benefit the dairy industry and/or benefit dairy communities
- commencing their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2025 on campus (University or TAFE)
- required to move away from home to take up their chosen course
- currently residing in a Victorian dairy region.
Applications will be assessed and shortlisted on their:
- potential to make a positive contribution to the Victorian dairy industry or its rural communities
- academic commitment and achievement
- personal development and community involvement.
Supporting a diverse range of study pathways
Applicants don’t need to have a preferred field of study, with past students enrolled in a range of courses, including nursing, medicine, engineering, commerce, journalism and agriculture.
Previous scholar Hamish Smith is halfway through his Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Business at the University of New England (UNE) at Armidale and used some of his scholarship funds to help pay for his tuition fees for the semester.
The scholarship also enabled him to take an opportunity to take his first overseas trip to travel with 28 fellow university students to California, Colorado, Wyoming and Texas on an agribusiness study tour.
“We visited farms, agricultural processors, water management facilities, research centres, input suppliers, training centres and entrepreneurs,” he said
Receiving the scholarship also enabled him to get closer to his career goals and, he says, “ultimately contribute to the Victorian dairy industry”.
Scholarship applicants must submit their application by 5pm on Monday 25 November and need to demonstrate their intended future contributions to the dairy industry and communities, as well as describe their community involvement and academic achievements.
Receiving the scholarship also enabled him to get closer to his career goals and, Smith says, “ultimately contribute to the Victorian dairy industry”.
“This has made a substantial difference to me, as it has allowed me to focus more closely on my studies without worrying about needing to earn as much money to pay for my tuition fees.”