Word is spreading about the assistance the Country Education Foundation (CEF) can provide students/trade apprentices in the Snowy Monaro as a record number of applicants applied to the program for 2026.

There were 35 applications reviewed by an interview panel, the highest ever, with 13 selected for the total amount of $60,000 in funding assistance. They were presented with their grant certificates last Wednesday, 21 January.

CEF supports youth across Australia through financial grants for education and employment expenses.

These grants contribute towards expenses related to apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, diplomas, certificate level studies, university qualifications or employment.

The majority of the local students said the amount will be spent on accommodation costs and equipment or textbooks for their studies or trade.

“Recipients are asked to fill out two reports by CEF Australia during the year; the first is the mid-year report and the second is for the year end,” Snowy Monaro CEF treasurer, Aanika Grant, told the students at the presentation gathering.

“It is important that these reports are completed as not only does the CEF like to hear what you’re up to during the year, but it makes you eligible for further funding that might be supported through our co-funding partners.”

CEF Australia is a organisation empowering young people from across regional Australia through education and career support. Its mission is to promote and enable 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 Snowy Monaro CEF is made up of passionate local volunteers who are dedicated to supporting rural and regional students achieve their goals.

“We recognise that the cost of rural students pursuing their post high school goals is often much greater than those of their metropolitan counterparts and that sometimes these costs can be prohibitive,” chair, Amanda Steinke, said.

“With this in mind, Snowy Monaro CEF Snowy fundraises throughout the year and accepts donations from local residents and businesses in order to provide financial grants to students who need an extra helping hand.

“The funds come directly from your local community – none of it is government funded – celebrating the aspirations of local youth and working to help them achieve these aspirations. It’s our way of saying ‘we believe in you and want to support your goals’.”

This round, CEF offered additional grants which were advocated for a selected number of students who met the eligibility/criteria for those grants by the local committee.

Grants are available to local youth who have lived and/or attended school in the region for the majority of their high school years.

The four essential selection criteria are: that you have demonstrated need; you are aged 16-25 years; that you have gone to school or currently reside in the region covered by your CEF; and that you have shown commitment to achieving your goal.

Special guest speaker at the presentation was Jono Forrest, who was involved with the Snowy Monaro CEF for 14 years and is now the treasurer of the national body, CEF Australia.

“My involvement with CEF started shortly after the Snowy Monaro CEF began. The role of the national body is to try and source funding that we then can distribute to the various local foundations,” Mr Forrest said.

“We also have a team that work with education partners. There are a number of things we do at that national level to try and make sure there’s more funding available for local students than there otherwise would be from what your local community can raise.

“Having been on the local committee, I know it’s pretty hard work at times to raise funds at the local level, particularly when we are trying to raise funds in competition with other local organisations, and also when the local rural community is often going through tough times. So that’s where local fundraising is challenging and where the national body can help in terms of attracting support from other pools of funds as well.”

Application dates for next year’s CEF grants open on 1 July and close on 31 October.