It is Primary Producers SA’s great pleasure to be offering remote and regional students the chance to further their education through scholarships from the EW Stevens Trust Fund.
The scholarships are valued at $2500 each and can be used for a wide range of expenses related to education including school fees, textbooks, course materials, uniforms, accommodation, IT equipment or travel costs.
Established through the bequest of Ernest William Stevens, a former builder from the Fleurieu Peninsula, the scholarships aim to ease the financial pressures of students and their families facing hardship in accessing educational opportunities.
Mr Stevens’ aim was to assist students in rural and regional areas who wanted to further their education but were unable to because of financial circumstances.
The scholarships provide essential support for those experiencing hardship, offering a valuable opportunity for students to receive financial assistance for their education.
Applicants must be Australian citizens living in a rural or remote region of SA; be seeking to undertake years 10-12, university or an accredited registered training organisation course; demonstrate financial need as a barrier to continuing their education; and, show commitment and capability to complete their studies.
While having a background in primary production is not essential, it will be viewed positively in the selection process.
The Primary Producers SA website provides detailed guidelines and selection criteria. As part of the application process, students are required to submit a written statement outlining their career goals, aspirations, commitment to supporting rural and regional South Australia, and any ties to primary production.
Evidence of financial hardship is also necessary, which can be provided through a letter from a Rural Business Support financial counsellor, an accountant or Centrelink documentation.
The EW Stevens Trust is a key vehicle to address inequity faced by students in regional SA, allowing them to access education opportunities and recognising the higher cost of living away from home.
Being the custodian of the EW Stevens Trust aligns with some of PPSA’s key platforms, including regional development, building skills and capacity.
PPSA is committed to ensuring that future workforce needs of the primary production sector will be met by promoting career opportunities from primary school through to post-graduate study in agriculture to the community.
We are also focused on ensuring current and emerging leaders in agriculture are equipped with the necessary skills, networks and motivation to contribute to the advancement of the South Australian primary production sector.
We know regional communities are the economic and social fabric of our state, so to give members of these communities the chance to further themselves and feed back into those communities is important.
Applications are now open and will close on January 31.
A board of trustees, appointed by PPSA, will undertake the review and selection process in early February, and successful applicants will be notified by the end of February.
Details: Application forms can be completed online, downloaded from ppsa.org.au/scholarships, or requested via email at EWStevensTrust@ppsa.org.au
This column was written by PPSA Chair Professor Simon Maddocks and originally appeared in the 28 November 2024 edition of Stock Journal.
