LIVING in rural Australia often proves a challenge for school leavers.
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Having to move away from home, travel long distances and support yourself in an entirely new environment can be confronting and difficult for many young people who don’t know where to find help.
The Goulburn and District Education Foundation (GDEF) is urging students to apply for Country Education Foundation scholarships, aimed at assisting students in achieving their post high school education and career goals.
The program, which began locally in 2005, embraces a broad range of education and career paths, including apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, degrees, diplomas and certificate level studies or entry careers.
Chairman of the GDEF, Guy Milson, told the Post that the program has seen great success over the past eight years.
“Last year, 26 scholarships were awarded… The foundation has all up assisted about 175-180 students since 2005,” he said.
“We raise funds from within the community and disperse them in the form of scholarships to school leavers up to the age of 21.
“We are looking for people who are motivated, goal orientated and financially needy.”
Mr Milson said that many young people often overlook opportunities such as this, due to lack of confidence and fear of failure.
“Fear of failure can be greater than the lure of success… but if you don’t give it a go you’ll never, never know,” he said.
Approval of the grants is not dependent on the applicant’s academic success, Mr Milson said.
The only criteria for applying is that you have a realistic goal, that you have showed commitment to achieving your goals and that you need some financial assistance to be able to achieve your goal.
“We have supported students that have studied across a breadth of university’s and technical colleges… we have supported chefs, bakers, mechanics and a wide range of people.”
Applications can be found online at www.cef.org.au/goulburn.html, and can be submitted online, in person at Boyce Chartered Accountants in Montague Street or via post.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview at the end of January, followed by a presentation night in February to announce the winners.
For more information about the program please call Cheryl on 4821 1466 or call Guy Milson on 0407 482 929.
