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Student Stories

Education changes lives and families and communities
CEF support helps a rural doctor in the making look forward to the futureNewsMediaStudents

CEF support helps a rural doctor in the making look forward to the future

Growing up in the small mid-North Coast community of Telegraph Point instilled a deep understanding of the strength, and vulnerability, of rural Australia. With just 600 people, Country Education Foundation (CEF) student, Luka, said the town was like one big…
June 11, 2026 Read More
First-in-family uni student from Ungarie beats placement poverty and graduatesNewsMediaStudents

First-in-family uni student from Ungarie beats placement poverty and graduates

A local student from Ungarie has achieved what no-one in her family has before – she successfully graduated from university. Ms Kadee Gerhard-Scali graduated from the Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Diagnostic) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga this month,…
May 12, 2026 Read More
Local Yass Valley uni student receives Formula 1 experience of a lifetimeNewsMediaCommittee NewsPartnersScholarships

Local Yass Valley uni student receives Formula 1 experience of a lifetime

A once-in-a-lifetime experience for a young woman aspiring to work in Formula 1 was recently enjoyed by Emily Weeks, a local Yass Valley student, who was supported to attend the prestigious Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.…
April 22, 2026 Read More
‘Launching Star’ from Merriwa area receives award for commitment to social justice and rural equityNewsCommittee News

‘Launching Star’ from Merriwa area receives award for commitment to social justice and rural equity

Bonny Morton - 2025 Audi Foundation-CEF Launching Star Bonnie Morton Local foundation: CEF Merriwa Institution: University of Technology Sydney Course: Bachelor of Forensic Science/Bachelor of Laws Award: 2025 Audi Foundation-CEF Launching Star Bonny Morton has received the Audi Foundation–Country Education…
November 18, 2025 Read More
From Garema to the global stage: Francesca Fenton named Country Education Foundation Young AchieverNewsStudentsAlumniCEF AwardsCommittee News

From Garema to the global stage: Francesca Fenton named Country Education Foundation Young Achiever

Francesca Fenton - 2025 Audi Foundation-CEF Young Achiever Francesca Fenton Local foundation: CEF Grenfell Institution: Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAPPA) Course: Bachelor of Arts (Dance) - Honours Award: 2025 Audi Foundation-CEF Young Achiever Dancer, teacher, and community advocate,…
November 14, 2025 Read More
Standout students and alumni celebrated at the 2025 Audi Foundation–CEF Alumni AwardsNewsMediaStudentsAlumniCEF Awards

Standout students and alumni celebrated at the 2025 Audi Foundation–CEF Alumni Awards

The achievements of five Country Education Foundation (CEF) supported students from rural and regional Australia, and their impact on local communities and beyond, were celebrated on Friday 17th October with the announcement of the recipients of the 2025 Audi Foundation-CEF…
October 20, 2025 Read More
Help students like Samantha look forward to the future this EOFYNewsStudents

Help students like Samantha look forward to the future this EOFY

This is what CEF Harden student, Samantha, said on her first day of Kindergarten. That aspiration, expressed on a piece of paper, is still stuck on her wall today. Inspired by her own teachers, especially as they created flexibility and…
June 12, 2025 Read More
CEF Student StoriesStudentsAlumniGrantsScholarships

CEF Student Stories

Our impact in their words. Watch and learn how CEF makes a difference in the lives of young people from rural and regional Australia. Donate now so you can make a difference too.
May 2, 2025 Read More
CEF to continue transforming lives following $225,000 grant from Futurity Education FoundationNewsStudentsPartnersSupporters

CEF to continue transforming lives following $225,000 grant from Futurity Education Foundation

Country Education Foundation of Australia’s (CEF) commitment to breaking down barriers, establishing education pathways and ensuring young people from regional and rural Australia have access to further education has been strengthened, with a three-year, $225,000 grant from Futurity Education Foundation.…
December 3, 2024 Read More
A passion for community celebrated through the 2024 Audi Foundation – CEF Alumni AwardsNewsStudentsAlumniCommittee News

A passion for community celebrated through the 2024 Audi Foundation – CEF Alumni Awards

Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Audi Foundation-CEF Alumni Awards, with six, dedicated and community-minded recipients claiming the honours in their respective categories. With 44 nominations received across the entire network, the recipients…
October 20, 2024 Read More
Snow Foundation backs more regional youth by extending partnershipNewsStudentsPartnersSupporters

Snow Foundation backs more regional youth by extending partnership

We acknowledge the passing of Terry Snow AM, Snow Foundation founder. Terry was deeply committed to supporting scholarships, recognising their role in helping rural and regional students achieve their educational goals. Terry’s contribution to the community through Snow Foundation has…
September 30, 2024 Read More
2024 CAANZ–CEF scholarship recipient, Logan Haslam from CEF Cowra.
CAANZ–CEF Scholarship Accounts for Study Costs for LoganNewsStudentsPartnersScholarshipsSupporters

CAANZ–CEF Scholarship Accounts for Study Costs for Logan

For 2024 CAANZ–CEF Scholarship recipient, Logan Haslam, the transition from high school to university has been challenging, and he says the scholarship has helped him not only afford his studies but achieve better results as well. Logan, from Cowra, NSW,…
August 30, 2024 Read More
St Andrew’s scholarships unlock a strong community for regional youthNewsStudents

St Andrew’s scholarships unlock a strong community for regional youth

CEF student Anna Hunt, top row, third from the left, who is living at St Andrew's and is also the Cultural Secretary on its House Committee. Photo credit: St Andrew's College. The Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF), alongside their…
August 15, 2024 Read More
Dunmore Lang College – CEF Scholarship Makes Law Degree Possible for PriaNewsStudentsScholarships

Dunmore Lang College – CEF Scholarship Makes Law Degree Possible for Pria

For CEF Griffith law student, Pria Cerato, her Dunmore Lang College – CEF scholarship provided her the opportunity to relocate to Sydney to follow her dreams of becoming a lawyer. During her gap year in 2023, she worked at Noyce…
August 7, 2024 Read More
2024 Findex Community Fund - CEF Scholarship recipient, Caitlyn Coutts-Smith, from CEF Namoi.
Findex Scholarships help CEF students get down to businessNewsStudentsPartnersScholarshipsSupporters

Findex Scholarships help CEF students get down to business

Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) and Findex Community Fund are excited to announce its 2024 CEF–Findex Community Fund scholarship recipients, a highly sought after scholarship that will support six students studying in finance and business related fields. Sophie Yabsley…
July 31, 2024 Read More
CEF student Bridget Ritter, from CEF Walgett, is loving living at Sancta Sophia College, a residential college in Sydney.
Sancta is the home away from home regional young women needNewsStudentsScholarships

Sancta is the home away from home regional young women need

For Country Education Foundation of Australia student, Bridget Ritter, needing to relocate 700km from Collarenebri in western NSW to Sydney for her studies meant she needed to find a “home away from home”. Being so far away from her family,…
July 26, 2024 Read More
CEF Head of Engagement, Media and Impact, Hilary Matchett, CEF CEO Wendy Mason, back left, with 2024 Audi Foundation scholars Eliza Dampney, Mille Raylor, Emily Weeks and Jeffrey Keena, centre, and Audi Foundation representatives at its scholarship morning tea in Sydney in May.
Audi Foundation and CEF continue to drive for student successNewsStudentsGrantsPartnersScholarships

Audi Foundation and CEF continue to drive for student success

CEF Head of Engagement, Media and Impact, Hilary Matchett, and CEF CEO Wendy Mason, back left, with 2024 Audi Foundation scholars Eliza Dampney, Mille Taylor, Emily Weeks and Jeffrey Keena, centre, and Audi Foundation representatives at its scholarship morning tea…
July 5, 2024 Read More
Country Education Foundation of Australia's 2024 McLean Foundation scholarship recipient, Jada Hogg of Menindee, Far West NSW, who is studying Nursing at the University of Wollongong.
How CEF is helping Jada Hogg fulfill her dreamsNewsStudentsPartnersScholarshipsSupporters

How CEF is helping Jada Hogg fulfill her dreams

Country Education Foundation of Australia's 2024 McLean Foundation scholarship recipient, Jada Hogg of Menindee, Far West NSW, who is studying Nursing at the University of Wollongong. Menindee is a small town in far west New South Wales, with a population…
June 12, 2024 Read More