Rural students facing rising costs benefit from local study grants

Leaving a remote or regional area means students have to travel long distances, pay rent, bills and all their living expenses which can limit the opportunity of further education to the few who can afford it.

Ambitious country kids are taking up a range of opportunities for tertiary study thanks to the generosity of local communities.

Leaving a remote or regional area means students have to travel long distances, pay rent, bills and all their living expenses which can limit the opportunity of further education to the few who can afford it.

National data from the Department of Education shows that almost 36 per cent of working age people in major cities hold a bachelor degree or higher, just 23 per cent of people in inner regional areas have the same qualification. This number plummets to just 17 per cent in remote and very remote regions.

Madison Ford said her family was hit hard by floods in 2022 so the $2000 grant she received from the Wellington Soldier’s Memorial Club was a great relief.

“It helped cover some of my term fees, allowing me to focus on purchasing other necessary course tools without the burden of worrying about tuition costs,” said Ms Ford who is studying physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University in Orange.

Madison Ford received a grant from her local club, Wellington Soldier’s, to help with costs while she studies physiotherapy in Orange. Picture: Supplied

Stephen Hodge, CEO of the club said they gave $27,000 to local applicants this year and hope to encourage more to study and bring those qualifications back to their community.

Ms Ford said she is committed to staying in the region and “closing the gap” in health services experienced by rural people.

“I’ve personally experienced the shortages in healthcare workers and I’m committed to remaining in the region to help address these needs,” she said.

Teacher Lachlan Barrett said he was keen to return to the country after completing his teaching degree at the University of Sydney.

“My heart is in the bush so when a job popped up and it was at Kinross (Wolaroi in Orange) I never looked back,” he said.

Originally from Coonamble, Mr Barrett said he was able to do his degree in Sydney thanks to grants from the Country Education Foundation which helped with his travel and living costs.

In 2023 the foundation awarded grants to 679 regional students with a total of $2.2 million.