Students from Victoria’s dairying communities who plan to start tertiary studies in 2021 can now apply for Gardiner Dairy Foundation scholarships worth $30,000.

Gardiner Dairy Foundation is offering seven tertiary scholarships to students starting full-time study in 2021. Each scholarship offers $10,000 a year for up to three years of a scholar’s university or TAFE course. The tertiary scholarships are named in recognition of services to the dairy industry by Niel Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle and Doug Weir.

Gardiner CEO, Dr Clive Noble, said the scholarships are aimed at students who want to pursue a career that will directly benefit the dairy industry or dairy communities.

“These scholarships invest in people from dairy communities who will contribute to a vibrant dairy industry and community. We encourage students to return to dairy regions to share their new skills,” Dr Noble said.

“The scholarships help to overcome the significant financial disadvantage faced by rural students moving away from home to study.”

Former Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholars have benefitted from being able to concentrate on studying without having to rely on part time work.

Veterinary graduate Mitchell Dodds received the Jakob Malmo Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarship in 2014 and this year achieved his dream of becoming a practicing vet at West Gippsland Vet Care in Warragul.

The scholarship helped him to concentrate on his studies and opened valuable connections and insights into the dairy industry.

“From a financial point of view, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholarship enabled me to really focus on my degree,” Mitchell said. “It’s difficult to work while studying veterinary medicine when you have 50 contact hours a week in the first two years.”

Dr Hayden Jones, recipient of the Bill Pyle Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarship in 2013, said the scholarship helped him in moving to Melbourne, allowing him to live on campus and concentrate on his study. “It meant I didn’t have to find a part-time job to support myself. I know some people who kept up part-time work while they studied but I would have really struggled to do that.

“Moving from the country to the city was all new to me but because of the scholarship I could live on campus and get easy access to tutors and resources.”

Tertiary Scholarships applications are now open. To be eligible, students must start their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2021. Applications must be submitted online by 3 December, 2020.

Further information and application forms are available at: https://gardinerfoundation.typeform.com/to/LrK1j9. Completed applications must be submitted to scholarships@gardinerfoundation.com.au