2022 Rural Bank Scholarship recipients announced

Rural Bank is proud to support the next generation of leaders in agriculture with the awarding of $60,0000 in scholarships to regional and rural students who are facing up to the challenge of sustainably feeding and clothing a growing population.

As the Rural Bank Scholarship program enters its 19th year and the demand for graduates across agribusiness hits fresh highs, the number of scholarships on offer has been expanded in order to foster excellence in agriculture and develop the sector’s next generation of leaders. Many of Rural Bank’s scholarship alumni achieve considerable success in their chosen field of endeavour and most go on to be important contributors to agriculture and rural communities.

Rural Bank Head of Sales, Andrew Smith said: “The overall quality of applicants this year was outstanding and as a result, Rural Bank decided to award a total of 12 scholarships instead of the 11 we originally announced last year”

“The common thread among this year’s successful applicants has been their passion to contribute to the future of Australian agriculture. Pleasingly, 70% of applications were from young women who in a first for the program, comprised 83% of our successful applicants.”

Among the primary reasons for furthering their education, many scholarship applicants cited the need for environmental sustainability and advances in technology and genetics to improve efficiency, along with preparation for and adaptation to climate and rainfall changes as motivating factors for entering agribusiness.

Also mentioned were industry challenges such as the ageing of Australia’s farmers, along with the need for increased satellite biomass mapping and drone technology to provide more data and real time information about crops so that new opportunities for precision agriculture can be created, along with predictions of a huge future for natural fibres as consumer demand for environmentally friendly clothing and fashion gathers pace.

“Our scholarship recipients will be studying agribusiness, veterinary and agricultural science and agriculture and resource economics at universities in Armidale, Wagga Wagga, Bundaberg, Bundoora, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart and at Agricultural colleges such as Tocal in the NSW Hunter Valley and Longerenong in Victoria.”

“For many students from rural and regional Australia, pursuing a career in agribusiness comes with additional costs and distance can be a significant factor when choosing to access further education. One of our applicants this year has a 1400km round trip just to visit home from University,” Mr Smith concluded.

Each of the 12 scholarships provided is valued at $5,000 per year and, subject to academic performance and duration of the course, is extended for a second year of study to support students’ study-related expenses, including travel and accommodation costs, course costs and materials, study equipment and tutoring course materials.

To learn more about the 2022 Rural Bank Scholarship Program and recipients, visit: www.ruralbank.com.au/scholarship