The AGcessibility Kickstart Scholarships, worth $15,000 each, are for students from low socio-economic backgrounds and the AGcessibility First Nations Scholarships, also worth $15,000, are for First Nations students.
Scholarships are open to commencing first-year students studying a Bachelor of Horticulture, Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management, or Bachelor of Viticulture.
The Anthony Costa Foundation, goFARM and AFS have committed more than $1.3 million of philanthropic support to the program.
Charles Sturt University vice-chancellor Professor Renée Leon thanked the organisations for helping the university to grow the horticulture and agriculture workforce through the initiative.
Ten students would enter the program a year, with at least half being from First Nations communities. The $15,000 is to be paid in instalments over three years.
The scholarships will be managed through the Charles Sturt University Foundation Trust.
goFARM managing director Liam Lenaghan said he understood the value and significance of the program first-hand, as an agricultural scholarship helped kick-start his career in the industry 25 years ago.
“Part of goFARM’s purpose is to transform Australian agriculture through investing in people and regional communities, so we see this scholarship as an excellent way to support the future of our industry,” Mr Lenaghan said.
Applications for the AGcessibility scholarships are now open on the Charles Sturt University website. Applications close at 9am on Friday, February 3.
