Support young rural people to thrive this EOFY

Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) has announced a matched giving campaign this end of financial year and is calling on the public to donate and take advantage of this opportunity to help rural and regional youth. 

Gifts made during the campaign will support national CEF programs and resources, with all donations to CEF matched up to a total of $500,000 until June 30. 

In 2023, about 82% of CEF supported students do not receive financial support from family and 40% are ineligible or do not receive government assistance. On top of that 46% are working more than 15 hours a week, often in addition to full-time study, just to make ends meet.  

“This demonstrates a clear gap in the assistance regional young people are receiving to undertake post-school education and why the work of CEF is so critical, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise,” CEF Chief Executive Officer Wendy Mason said. 

“This matched giving campaign is an incredible opportunity to raise much needed funds to support our national operations, to grow the impact we have on the lives of our rural and regional youth, and in closing the education participation gap that exists between them and their metropolitan peers." 

CEF alumnus Lachie Barrett grew up on a farming property two hours north of Dubbo, NSW.  

With support from Coonamble District Education Foundation and CEF, he was able to complete a Bachelor of Education, with First Class Honors, from the University of Sydney.  

He now finds himself living and working in Orange, NSW and volunteering with the local CEF. 

“Growing up in a regional setting, I understand the challenges, such as financial and social barriers, that students face when contemplating post-school education,” Mr Barrett said. 

“Support from organisations like CEF can transform these obstacles into opportunities for growth.” 

CEF is a national for-purpose organisation committed to enabling equal access to further education and career opportunities for rural and regional youth irrespective of background, circumstances or location through community-based encouragement and financial assistance.  

The organisation has 46 volunteer-run local foundations across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. 

For more information on the CEF 2024 End of Financial Year Matched Giving Campaign and to donate visit www.cef.org.au/donations.