Educational Support Fund
As Spring arrives, the Year 12 students in our district are in sight of the end of their secondary education. It is the point at which they are finalising choices for future study, whether at TAFE, University or Online courses.
It is also the time of year when mature students think about further education to enhance existing experience and knowledge.
However, as a rural district, our students are faced with additional costs to access further educational opportunities due to our distance from an urban centre. This is where the Community Foundation’s Education Support Fund (‘ESF’) can assist with an ESF award.
The Educational Support Fund was set up by the Community Foundation in 2013 with support from the Mirboo North & District Community Bank, to assist students with the costs of transitioning to post secondary education.
What is the purpose of the Educational Support Fund?
The purpose of the Educational Support Fund is to provide financial support to students in our District to help overcome the challenges of transitioning to third level education. Whether the challenges relate to distance /location, or their own specific circumstances, the ESF awards can be used for relocation costs, bonds, rent, course materials etc.
Pilot Program for 2019
The costs associated with taking up third level education is only one of the challenges facing our students. Research indicates that another challenge is that students are moving away from various support networks, and that this is one of the factors in the high level of dropouts from University courses (one in three University students drop out without finishing their studies according to government data released in 2017).
In recognition of this, we are piloting additional support in collaboration with the McPherson Smith Rural Foundation (‘MSRF’): a small number of applicants can avail of the Transition Mentoring Program and / or the Rural Youth Leadership Program, which MSRF manages. For more detail, see http://www.msrf.org.au
What is the purpose of the Transition Mentoring and Rural Youth Leadership Programs?
Transition Mentoring is aimed at providing a support network for students transitioning to University. They will be assigned a mentor (themselves a second or third year student) to act as a source of information and guidance.
To find out more, look at http://www.msrf.org.au/mentoring/
The Rural Youth Leadership Program is aimed at developing leadership skills for rural students to enhance their studies and bring further benefits back to our District in the future.
To find out more, look at http://www.msrf.org.au/leadership-development/
Applications will be open between 14th September and 21st November 2018. To keep up to date follow us on FB @mirboodistrictfoundation or join our ESF subscriber group by emailing Viv on admin@mirboodistrictfoundation.org.au.
ESF Recipients 2018