For Chelsea, a student from the Gwydir region of NSW, pursuing higher education isn't just about attending classes - it's a daily struggle against geographic barriers and rising living costs.
In a world where internet access is often taken for granted, Chelsea finds herself travelling nearly 50km on a round trip from home to the nearest town library just to complete her university assignments due to poor internet connectivity.
The already challenging commute has become increasingly daunting as fuel prices soar, having surged by 19.7% between September 2022 and September 2023.
Chelsea's story is not unique. Across regional and rural Australia, young people like her face similar hurdles in accessing education amidst the escalating cost of living crisis.
According to Monash University's 2023 'Australian Youth Barometer' study, 32% of youth from regional and rural areas experience food insecurity, compared to 18% in metropolitan areas.
The struggle is compounded by a 4.5% increase in food costs reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the 12 months leading up to December 2023.
In addition to food insecurity, housing affordability remains a pressing issue. The same study highlights that 65% of young Australians fear they won't be able to afford a comfortable place to live in the next year, with 70% identifying affordable housing as an urgent concern. These challenges are reflected in the statistics, with rents surging by 7.3% in the 12 months to December 2023.
This month the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) - which fosters the further education, career and personal development opportunities of rural and regional youth, through community-based encouragement and financial assistance - is holding a charity auction, in partnership with AuctionsPlus, and as part of its Boot Bash campaign.
All funds raised will help provide top up payments to the CEF students, like Chelsea, in overcoming the financial barriers to education imposed by the cost of living crisis.
The significance of this initiative is underscored by the findings of CEF's 2023 Student Impact Report.
The report revealed that 37% of students rely on CEF funding to cover living expenses, while only 20% receive financial support from their families and 40% from the government.
It also emphasises the pivotal role of CEF in enabling 79% of students to pursue education or employment opportunities away from home.
Chelsea is now in her final year of a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England.
Reflecting on her experience, Chelsea acknowledged the crucial role of CEF in alleviating the financial burden, stating, "With CEF helping me to cover some of the costs, I feel as though there is one less weight upon my shoulders, and completing my degree actually feels possible."
As part of the principal partnership, AuctionsPlus will be hosting the inaugural CEF Charity Auction from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15. Make sure your AuctionsPlus account is up-to-date 24 hours before you want to bid, to ensure you don’t miss out. Lots available include a Polaris Ranger SP 530, impossible to secure at this late date an accommodation and money can't buy package to Beef Australia 2024, in Rockhampton this May and much more.
Schools, workplaces and communities are also encouraged to wear their boots for CEF’s first annual Boot Bash on March 15, to raise funds to help rural and regional students give the cost-of-living crisis the boot.