Regional Impact Fund
Australia’s future prosperity depends on the success of our rural and regional areas. Here lies our future food security, our energy supply, our climate resilience, our workforce, our cultural legacy. Yet communities in the regions face disproportionate threats – inadequate healthcare services put people’s health at risk, natural disasters devastate land and livelihoods, and first nations people experience significant barriers to education and opportunity.
In recent years, these challenges have been amplified by bushfires, drought, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional students, in particular, have borne the brunt of these hardships. With less financial support than their metropolitan counterparts, one in five regional students regularly go without food, while juggling a full-time study load and an average of 30 hours of work per week.
The Regional Impact Fund has been established to help overcome these challenges and ensure the continued success of our regions. Through scholarships and financial assistance, the Regional Impact Fund provides much-needed support for regional students affected by adversity, helping with tuition, accommodation, food and other identified needs. This support will have a tangible impact on their ability to focus on and complete their studies. The Regional Impact Fund also aims to build capacity to fund investigation and research into the ‘big’ issues affecting the regions and the development of practical and applied solutions.
The Regional Impact Fund invests in the future of Australia. Your contribution can help bridge the gap between regional and metropolitan areas, empower students, and build a more resilient Australia.
I have grown up in regional Australia my whole life and most of this has been in the Hastings area. It was important for me to stay in the area and attend Charles Strurt locally to stay close to my friends and family while also maintaining my community. As an indigenous woman, it is important to be connected to Country and community.