The Country Education Foundation of Bendigo and District was established to provide much needed financial assistance and support to local youth to help them achieve their post high school education, training and vocation aspirations. We recognise that the cost of rural students pursuing their post high school goals is often much greater than those of their metropolitan counterparts and that sometimes these costs can be prohibitive.
With this in mind, CEF Bendigo fundraises throughout the year and accepts donations from residents and businesses to provide financial grants to students who need an extra helping hand. The funds come directly from your local community – none of it is government funded – celebrating the aspirations of local youth and working to help them achieve these aspirations.
It’s our way of saying “we believe in you and want to support your goals.”
Scholarships Supporting the Agriculture Industry
In addition to the local grants CEF Bendigo also provides two scholarships designed to support students studying and working in the agriculture industry. You must be eligible for a local grant, plus meet the criteria of the individual scholarships.
Agricultural Scholarship
The Country Education Foundation of Bendigo will award a scholarship to support a student taking a tertiary course in Agriculture. The scholarship is $4,000 ($2000pa) over a period of two years. Scholarship criteria.
Vocational Agricultural Scholarship
The Country Education Foundation of Bendigo will award a scholarship to support a student taking a vocational course in a discipline that supports the agriculture industry. The scholarship is valued $1,000 over one year. Scholarship criteria.
We support a diverse range of education and career pursuits including apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, degrees, diplomas and certificate level studies or entry careers. We do not provide cash grants directly to the recipients – the local foundation reimburses the student for a pre-agreed expense or pays the goods and services providers directly.
Grants are available to local youth who have lived and/or attended school in the region for the majority of their high school years. CEF Bendigo does not focus on applicant’s academic success. The four essential selection criteria are:
- That you have demonstrated need;
- You are aged 16-25 years;
- That you have gone to school or currently reside in the region covered by CEF Bendigo; and
- That you have shown commitment to achieving your goal.
If you satisfy the criteria and would like to apply for a grant, please complete the online application form. Applicants will be required to attend a panel interview whereupon their outcome of their submission will be notified in writing.
Should you be successful in receiving a grant, we request that you agree to the following obligations:
- Notify CEF Bendigo if you receive any other grant/scholarship/funding from another source
- Agree to assist with and attend local foundation fundraising and promotional events if available at the request of CEF Bendigo; and
- Report to CEF Bendigo every six months on how your goal is progressing, how the grant has assisted you and your marks/grades for the semester if applicable.
Creek Street Christian College
Bendigo Senior Secondary College
Bendigo South East College (to year 10)
Eaglehawk Secondary College (to year 10)
Crusoe College Kangaroo Flat (to year 10)
Weeroona College Bendigo (to year 10)
