The Tim Fischer Fellowship was created to back people with practical ideas that can create meaningful opportunities for rural and regional communities.
This year, the calibre of applications was so strong that Country Education Foundation selected two Fellows.
Congratulations to Nicole Chiesa and Associate Professor Erin Smith, the 2026 Tim Fischer Fellows.
Their projects demonstrate the breadth of innovation happening across regional Australia - from connecting young people with regional careers to strengthening the ability of rural health services and communities to respond to disasters.
Investing in rural and regional people makes extraordinary things happen!
After months of planning and countless early mornings and late nights, the Country Education Foundation of Australia was proud to host our second annual CEF Luncheon at NSW Parliament House, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of young people and trailblazers from rural and regional Australia.
The event recognised our 2026 Audi Foundation–CEF Alumni Award recipients and this year’s Tim Fischer Fellowship recipients, presented by CEF Patron, Judy Brewer. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals whose educational and career journeys continue to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Our annual luncheon is a special opportunity to bring together the supporters, partners, donors, board members and volunteers who help make CEF’s mission possible. Thanks to their generosity and commitment, more young Australians are being given the opportunity to pursue their educational aspirations, regardless of where they live.
A heartfelt thank you to our long-standing partner, the Audi Foundation, and to everyone who continues to support CEF. Together, we are helping close the educational opportunity gap between country and metropolitan students.
If you’re interested in getting involved as a volunteer or donor, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at info@cef.org.au or call 6362 3162.
Audi Alumni Award 2026 Recipients: * Alumnus of the year - Lachlan Barrett * Young Achiever - Brooke McCarthy * Community Alumni Champion - Louisa Gilmour - Jorja Schofield * Launching Star – Isabella Smith * Rising Star – Rosemaree Nairne
2026 Tim Fischer Fellowship Recipients: * Dr Erin Smth – Rural Ready: Preparing the Next Generation of Rural Health Professionals for Disasters * Nicole Chiesa – AgriLife Skills Program: Link 2 County
Country Education Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 Tim Fischer Fellows: Nicole Chiesa and Associate Professor Erin Smith.
In an exceptionally strong second year for the Fellowship, two regional changemakers have each been awarded $50,000 to bring ambitious education projects to life.
Nicole will use her Fellowship to help more young people connect with agriculture, industry and regional career pathways through Link 2 Country’s Agri Life Skills Program.
Erin will use her Fellowship to better prepare future rural health professionals to respond to disasters and major emergencies through immersive, game-based education.
The two different projects are connected by one shared purpose: creating lasting change for rural and regional Australia through education.
This week, CEF-supported student Vita Pappalardo, who has given so much back to support the CEF network whenever asked, graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Canberra - an achievement that at times felt out of reach.
Yesterday, we received the email below from Vita, and we are so happy for her!
“Dear CEF team, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to you all! Yesterday, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, marking the first major step towards my goal of becoming a psychologist. It was an incredibly special moment and one that, at one point truly didn’t feel possible. I`m now completing my honours in psychology and feel truly blessed to have such a supporting network behind me. Thank you again for believing in and supporting me. I will always be incredibly grateful ❤️”
NEW PARTNERSHIP! Investing in the next generation of regional leaders.
Country Education Foundation (CEF) is proud to partner with @Newmont Cadia to create new opportunities for students in Orange and districts, and Canowindra.
From 2027, two scholarships valued at $10,000 each will help rural and regional students pursue university or vocational education and training (VET), supporting them with their study journey.
For more than 20 years, Newmont Cadia has contributed to the social and economic wellbeing of communities across the Central West. Together, we share a commitment to ensuring young people can pursue their chosen career pathways, regardless of where they live.
We`re excited to increase opportunities to remove financial barriers to further education by supporting the future leaders, skilled workers and professionals who will strengthen regional communities for years to come.
Thank you to Newmont Cadia for investing in the future of rural and regional students!
Scholarship Eligibility To be considered for a Newmont Cadia-CEF Scholarship, students must first receive a grant from one of the eligible local foundations:
• CEF Orange and District • CEF Canowindra
Eligible students may then be nominated by their local foundation for the Newmont Cadia-CEF Scholarship program.
It’s when we launch our annual Local Foundations Matched Giving Campaign which raises funds for our local foundations, assisting our dedicated volunteers to provide grants to rural and regional students to pursue their career dreams.
This Matched Giving campaign gives you the chance to donate directly to a foundation you may have a particular connection with or to any one you choose.
It might be the community where you grew up, attended school, have family ties, or where your partner calls home. Better still, donations to your foundation up to a total of $7,000 will be matched, thanks to a generous anonymous donor.
Take a look at our Foundations page and see if there`s a community that resonates with you.
The Local Foundations Matched Giving Campaign is open and will run until 31st October.
We live in a fast-paced world, constantly connected to devices and distractions. Sometimes, a simple but powerful question can be overlooked: "Are you OK?"
R U OK? Day is Thursday, 10 September, and it`s a timely reminder to check in with those around us. Whether it`s a loved one, a friend, a colleague, a family member, or even a stranger who seems to be having a tough day, a genuine conversation can make a real difference.
At the Country Education Foundation, the wellbeing of our students and network is our priority. We`d like to remind our CEF-supported students that they are entitled to one free counselling session each year through Altius Group.
Check out our website to find out more or get in touch with us at National Office if you have any questions.
The 2026 Tim Fischer Fellowship will support an Australian with up to $50,000 in funding, mentorship and networking opportunities to create change in rural and regional Australia through education.
If this sounds like you, or someone you know, do not leave it too late.
It’s the final weekend to apply for the $50,000 Tim Fischer Fellowship.
As CEF CEO Wendy Mason says, if you have a bright idea to create change in rural and regional Australia through the power of education, now is the time to act on it.
Use the weekend to pull your application together, back your idea and get it in.
Applications for the 2026 Tim Fischer Fellowship close 5pm AEST on Monday.
For inaugural Fellow Annabelle Hudson, the Fellowship helped turn True North from an idea into a practical program supporting regional young people with confidence, clarity and future pathways.
If you have an education-focused idea that could create change in rural and regional Australia, now is the time to apply.
Applications close Monday 24th August at 5pm AEST.
Last chance to apply for the $50,000 Tim Fischer Fellowship.
If you have a practical idea that could create change in rural and regional Australia through education, this is your reminder to get your application finished and submitted. Don’t wait. Don’t overthink it. Back your idea and apply now.
Applications close Monday 24th August at 5pm AEST. Head to our website and get your application in today.
If you are waiting until your idea feels perfect, this is your nudge.
The Tim Fischer Fellowship is looking for a person with compelling idea, a clear purpose and the commitment to create meaningful impact for rural and regional Australia through education.
You do not need to have every answer. You do need to show the problem you want to address, the change you want to create and how the Fellowship could help you get there.
Applications close 24th August 5:00PM AEST. Head to our website to apply.
Know someone in your network who should apply for The Fellowship?
They might be working in agriculture, health, education, science, technology, the arts, community development, youth pathways, regional policy or another field entirely.
They may not think of themselves as a “Fellowship person”. They may simply be someone with an idea, a strong sense of purpose, the trust of their community and passionate about making a difference in rural and regional Australia through the power of education.
Applications for the Tim Fischer Fellowship are submitted online and include:
• a short video, maximum 2 minutes • a written bio, maximum 350 words • a project proposal and budget, maximum 350 words • personal and professional references • optional supporting documents such as a CV, resume or project portfolio
If you are considering applying, now is the time to start pulling your materials together.
CEF CEO Wendy Mason says the Fellowship is about investing in people with the drive to create practical solutions to real challenges in country communities.
This year, the Fellowship is looking for applicants from diverse industries with a strong idea that includes an education element to drive change and create meaningul community impact.
With local grants now open across many of our CEF foundations, our committees are doing a fantastic job getting out into their local communities to spread the word.
Vanessa Macdonald from CEF Orange and District did a great job representing the CEF network at an information night hosted by one of our long standing partners @Macquarie University, during their Return to Regions event this week.
Vanessa spoke with parents and students from local high schools, giving an overview of how the local grants process works, who is eligible, and how CEF support can help students pursue their career dreams after high school.
For those new to the Country Education Foundation, we offer grants starting from $1000 (with the national average being $3,000/$4,000) to local students aged 16–25 (Australia-wide - for students who are based in the community where a local CEF foundation operates) who are looking to pursue further education or training.
From there, students may also be eligible for additional scholarship funding through our education and corporate partners. This support can make a life changing difference for students who need to relocate to study or train at a college, TAFE or university in the big city but may not have the financial means to get there.
So don`t delay as local grants are OPEN NOW and close in October!
Visit our website to find your local foundation and submit your application — or reach out if you have any questions.
02 6362 3162 https://cef.org.au/our-grants/
Blayney High School, @ Canobolas High School, @Orange High School Orange NSW DEC See less
Maybe it is a pilot program you have been shaping for years. Maybe it is a resource regional communities need. Maybe it is a way to help young people see pathways they did not know existed. Maybe it is a training model, a research project or a community-led idea ready for its next step.
The Fellowship exists to help one Australian turn that kind of idea into impact.
The Fellowship funding may support project activities, events, materials, wages, professional development, research, travel, accommodation or other agreed expenses connected to the Fellowship purpose.
If you have a practical idea that could help rural and regional communities through the power of education, applications are open now.
