Orange agricultural apprentice, Claire Miller, is the worthy recipient of a $2k scholarship thanks to not-for-profit apprenticeship, employment and training services provider, VERTO, and the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF).
The funding was made available to acknowledge and celebrate National Reconciliation Week (May 27-June 3), and Ms Miller, a proud young Wiradjuri woman, will use the funds to purchase learning resources and required tools as she undertakes a Certificate III Agricultural Mechanical Technology apprenticeship at Ontrac Ag in Orange.
“Receiving a local CEF grant and VERTO scholarship has given me the opportunity to purchase the tools and toolbox I need for my job every day, without any financial stress,” she said. “It also greatly assists with costs while I’m away in Wagga Wagga at TAFE.”
VERTO CEO Ron Maxwell said this scholarship took VERTO’s total financial support of CEF to $20,000 over the past two years, and believes Claire is another thoroughly deserving recipient.
“At VERTO we pride ourselves on changing lives every day, and we’re really proud to have supported 10 regional youth through the CEF in the last two years,” he said.
“We know there are additional challenges for rural and regional students that can lead to education and employment gaps and have a range of impacts on entire communities. The work CEF is doing to close these gaps is vital and incredibly worthy of our support.
“A huge congratulations to Claire. She is a hardworking and very talented young apprentice going places in a male-dominated industry, so we’re delighted to help support her learning journey.”
CEF CEO Juliet Petersen said VERTO’s support continued to make a huge difference for local students.
“CEF is excited to continue our partnership with VERTO and to provide financial relief to regional students undertaking apprenticeships, traineeships and vocational training,” Ms Petersen said.
“For CEF, working with VERTO is a great step forward in promoting all types of post-school education, and as an organisation that services rural and regional Australia, we recognise the importance of acknowledging wonderful young people like Claire in fostering and promoting the aspirations and educational success of Indigenous youth across the communities in which we operate.”
Country Education Foundation of Australia is primarily run by volunteers, harnessing the power of local communities to change lives by providing further education, training and career opportunities. To find out more about the foundation, donate or get involved, visit www.cef.org.au.
