Scholarships helps regional students post disaster

From drought, bushfires, and floods to COVID 19, regional communities have been hit hard and regional students – who already face greater financial barriers than their metropolitan counterparts – have struggled with job losses, increased living costs and major disruption to their studies.

Tough times call for strong measures, and the Regional Impact Fund established by Charles Sturt University in 2019 provides scholarships to ensure adversities such as these recent events don’t prevent our regional students from achieving their higher education goals. The fund also supports our communities by continuing to help address vital skills shortages in regional communities, like in health and education.

With the global pandemic in full swing, we ran a campaign in June 2021 to raise funds for the Regional Impact Fund. Directed at former scholarship recipients, the campaign raised $3,600 to help students in need.

Georgia Papworth and Madison Williams are two students to receive support from the fund. Originally from Holbrook, NSW, Georgia is studying a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Diagnostic Radiography) in Wagga Wagga and has been impacted by both bushfires and COVID.

“The Black Summer fires ripped through some towns very close to home. My dad has a stock carting business, and a lot of his work comes from areas badly affected by fire, so he lost a lot of business. On top of that, my work as a legal assistant was affected by COVID because I wasn’t able to go into the office. I was left wondering ‘Am I going to earn any money this week or not?’ It was a worrying, stressful time.

“The Rural Relief Scholarship funded out of the Regional Impact Fund meant I could go on my first work placement. It paid for my uniforms and travel costs and also meant I could buy an iPad to help with study, which has been amazing.

“The scholarship gave me something, so I didn’t feel like I was living off other people. I could afford the things I needed for study and that took that stress off me so I could just concentrate on my work placement. It just proves that the littlest donations can have such a large impact for people like me, especially during these tough times.” Bachelor of Paramedicine student Madison Williams moved 3.5 hours away from home to study in Bathurst and COVID lockdowns and increasing fuel prices meant she couldn’t see her family as often as she would have liked.

“Just before I moved to Bathurst, my house was partially destroyed by a hailstorm and then we were robbed, and everything was stolen. Receiving the scholarship helped me to continue daily life without the extra financial hardship, so I could focus on my degree.

“It’s a great honour to receive a scholarship and it’s a tremendous help, not just financially but mentally. I’m very grateful to everyone who has donated to the Regional Impact Fund and want to show my appreciation by continuing to work hard and achieve the best results possible.”

Madison recently secured her dream job, which will see her start with the London Ambulance Service in 2023 after finishing her studies.

“I wholeheartedly believe that this scholarship helped me achieve my career goal as a paramedic. Because I could focus on my studies, it opened this opportunity up for me. I’ll always be grateful.”

Find out more or donate here: www.csu.edu.au/office/ advancement/giving-tocsu/give-now

Georgia Papworth