Sometimes it seems as if the biggest hurdle separating you from your goals is your finances. At the Harding Miller Education Foundation, we understand that there are many issues that girls face when it comes to getting a good education, even more so for those who are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. The goal of the Harding Miller Education Foundation is to support young female students in achieving their full potential. Since 2016, we are proud to have awarded more than 600 scholarships to highly motivated female scholars all across Australia.
If you live in a regional or remote area in Australia, read on to discover what kind of help is available to support you in accomplishing your education goals, including applying for the Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship.
Why you should apply for a rural and regional scholarship in Australia
While Australia is a huge country, we have a relatively small population. The majority of the country’s capital cities are located on the coast, and that is where all the major education centres tend to be. This can create barriers to pursuing education for Australians living in rural areas. This is especially true for students living in remote and regional areas who need to travel long distances in order to continue their studies. If you live in a remote area in Australia and are looking for ways to facilitate your education, consider applying for a rural and regional scholarship.
The Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship
The Harding Miller Education Foundation is a charity in Australia that offers scholarships to girls who are experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. Our scholarships are available to female students who are living anywhere in Australia, including regional and remote areas.
Coming from a low socioeconomic background can make accessing education difficult. For example, some households may find it difficult to afford the necessary equipment for their child to succeed at school, such as laptops. On top of this, parents who live in rural areas may find it difficult to afford the cost of their child’s commute every day if they are travelling a long distance. All of these challenges can become a significant barrier to children’s education. Helping female students who are facing these challenges is why the Harding Miller Education Foundation was first established.
To be eligible to apply for a Harding Miller Education Scholarship, you must:
- Be a female student who attends a public high school in Australia.
- Currently be in year 8, going into year 9 in the upcoming year.
- Be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.
- Be able to demonstrate high academic results or the potential to achieve high results.
- Show that you are looking to continue on to tertiary education.
- Be experiencing low socioeconomic circumstances.
The Harding Miller Education Scholarship includes important necessities such as:
- A high-quality laptop
- High-speed internet
- Remote IT support
- $2,500 worth of online, face-to-face tutoring
- Online homework help
- Prepaid expense cards for items such as uniforms, textbooks and school excursions
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship Program
The Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship Program, also referred to as RETS, is a program announced in 2016 by the Australian Government to improve access and opportunities for Australians living in rural and regional areas. The goal of the RETS program is to assist undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational education (VET) students in reaching their education goals. Eligible students may receive up to $18,000 when enrolled in a full-time, four-year qualification.
Relocation Scholarships for remote and regional students
If you are receiving Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY and currently live in a remote or regional area but need to move elsewhere to complete your studies, you could apply for a relocation scholarship. This is a type of rural and regional scholarship, and like the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarship Program, it is an Australian Government initiative. The payment that you receive from the Relocation Scholarship will depend on your circumstances. However, if your usual place of residence (family home) is in a regional or remote area, you could get up to $4,626 in the first year that you spend studying away from home. This amount will decrease slightly each year.
Regional and remote scholarships from higher education institutions
Many universities and colleges have their own scholarships that they offer, and many of these are geared towards assisting regional and remote students. If there is a particular institution that you are interested in studying at, and you live in a remote area, then it’s worthwhile taking a look at what kind of scholarships they offer.
Fare allowance for regional students
If you do not want to apply for a regional and remote scholarship, or you are not eligible to apply, there are other ways you can still achieve your education goals while taking some of the financial pressure off. Another option for regional students who may be struggling financially is to apply for a government-funded fare allowance. This is available for regional students of all ages who find it difficult to afford their daily commuting fares.
Tertiary Access Payment
The Tertiary Access Payment is funded by the Australian Government. It is specifically designed to assist regional students who are moving from a remote area to be closer to their chosen educational institution. It is aimed at students who have already completed year 12 and have moved on to tertiary studies.
Apply for a Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship
You can apply for a Harding Miller Education Scholarship through our website. The process is straightforward; however, it’s essential that you make sure you are eligible to apply first.
If you have any questions about our scholarship, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and to help you decide if applying for a Harding Miller Education Scholarship is the right choice for you.
