Invest in rural youth: Double your impact for regional students this EOFY

For young people in rural and regional Australia, accessing further education is often filled with obstacles—distance, financial stress, and limited local opportunities to name a few. But thanks to the support of generous Australians, the Country Education Foundation (CEF) is helping young people from across regional Australia to break down those barriers.

Just ask Thomas Mannes.

Growing up on a farm at Coleambally, in the NSW Riverina, agriculture was more than a career aspiration for Mr Mannes—it was a way of life. But when he moved 180 kilometres away to study Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, the financial realities quickly added up.

Starting university during one of the worst droughts in recent memory, Mr Mannes found himself juggling study, rising living expenses and the emotional weight of leaving home for the first time. That’s when his local CEF stepped in.

“My CEF funds were extremely helpful. I used them to pay for on-campus accommodation, and that definitely helped take the financial pressure off. It meant I could stay focused on my studies, especially as my study load increased,” Mr Mannes said.

In his final year, Mr Mannes was balancing 12 weeks of full-time work placement, a demanding study schedule, and extracurricular commitments when his laptop broke. Once again, CEF was there.

“I used my funding to buy a new laptop when mine broke. It kept me on track during a crucial year and helped me complete my degree.”

And complete it he did. Mr Mannes graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and now works as the Southern NSW Regional Manager for Cotton Australia—back in his hometown, where he’s making a real difference in the agricultural sector.

“I’m very grateful to CEF. Thanks to their support and my local foundation in Coleambally, I’ve been able to achieve my full potential.”

With no government funding, the Country Education Foundation relies entirely on the generosity of donors to continue supporting young Australians in rural and regional areas.

CEF Chief Executive Officer Wendy Mason said the foundation’s work has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual.

“We know that investing in rural and regional young people—those aged 16 to 25—has a huge impact. Education changes lives, families, and entire communities,” Ms Mason said.

“We help young people take the next step, whether it’s university, TAFE or an apprenticeship. But we can’t do that without your support.”

In the recently released 2024 Country Education Foundation Student Impact Report, CEF was able to support 701 students across regional and rural Australia with more than $2.5 million in direct financial support.

Within the cohort, 81% of students who were supported by CEF plan to take their education back to a regional area.

Double your impact this End of Financial Year

This End of Financial Year (EOFY), you have a powerful opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of rural and regional students. With three quarters of CEF students needing to leave home to access education or employment, the financial burden continues to grow. Rising costs are putting regional youth under pressure – but your support can change that. Thanks to a generous donor, donations to the Country Education Foundation by June 30 will be matched*.

This means your EOFY gift will go twice as far to help young regional Australians pursue education and training, no matter where they live.

Help rural and regional students look forward to the future this EOFY – donate here: https://cef.org.au/donations/

*Terms & Conditions apply