Rural scholars from the Southern Tablelands represent the next generation of leaders

Now in its 14th year, the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship program offers financial support to tertiary education students who are helping shape the future of regional NSW by forging careers within rural or regional communities.

Record funds of $516,000 will be distributed among this year's scholarship recipients, with an aim to help ease the burdens associated with pursuing higher education such as relocating to urban centres, study costs, and the inability to work consistently due to study workloads or placements.

Foundation manager Cecilia Logan said the charity considered it a privilege to be able to support the next generation of rural and regional leaders as they pursue their academic dreams.

"This year's applicants are outstanding ambassadors for their communities and have the potential to create a positive and lasting impact in the regional sector through their chosen career paths," Ms Logan said.

"There is no doubt young Australians are impacted significantly by the cost-of-living crisis we are currently facing, and pursuing higher education is a big financial burden for many students - particularly for those living in regional areas.

"Our rural scholarship program aims to address this by offering financial support to students from rural or regional areas and ensure they have access to the same opportunities as their metropolitan counterparts in the pursuit of their chosen career," she said.

Southern Tablelands scholarship recipients are studying a range of courses, including dental science, medicine, and disability care, and are looking forward to applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills within their local regional communities at the completion of their studies.

Medical student, Georgina Evans, is receiving a foundation scholarship for the third time and says the financial support has been invaluable while she navigates the demanding requirements of her course.

"On top of having to relocate for my degree, the workload required in my final years of medicine has become too demanding to maintain a casual job," Ms Evans said.

"The RAS Foundation scholarship has helped to supplement some of this income so I can focus on my studies and hands-on learning for final exams."

Following her time as a junior doctor, Ms Evans hope to train under the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine or Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with the hope of becoming a rural obstetrician and gynaecologist.

"This training will give me the variety of skills that are tailored to the rural medical environment, allowing me to participate in improving access to healthcare for women in rural communities," she said.

This year's Southern Tablelands scholarship recipients are:

The RAS Foundation awards up to $6000 to Rural Scholarship recipients undertaking full-time study, or up to $3000 for those studying part-time, made possible with the assistance of generous donors, including The Snow Foundation and UNE Foundation.

In its 17-year history the RAS Foundation has invested over $9 million into rural and regional NSW through education and community grant programs.

Over 900 scholarships have been provided to students across Australia, including targeted scholarships for careers in both regional journalism and the Australian wine industry.

Applications for the 2025 RASF Rural Scholarship will open on July 1 and will close on September 22, 2024. For further information, please visit www.rasf.org.au.

The scholarship program is open to students across NSW and the ACT who are currently enrolled or applying for study in an accredited tertiary course at an Australian university, college, or TAFE, with no limits imposed on age or the types of degree that qualify.