Meet the Riverina students paving the way for their community
Posted on 23 JULY 2026
Ten local students from the Orana region have been announced as recipients of the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship for 2026, an annual program that supports students committed to making a difference in rural and regional Australia.
The Orana students are among 83 scholarship recipients from across rural and regional NSW and the ACT, recognised for their ambition to use their studies and future careers to give back to their communities and help build a stronger, more sustainable future.
RAS Foundation Manager, Cecilia Logan, said the scholarship program aims to ease the financial pressures faced by students and enable them to focus on their studies and career aspirations.
“For many young people, pursuing tertiary education comes with significant financial challenges including the cost of tuition, relocating or travel, as well as daily living expenses. For students in rural and regional areas, those challenges are further amplified”, Logan said.
“We want to ensure that location isn’t a barrier to opportunity for talented, hard-working students. This scholarship can provide the support and financial freedom they need to pursue their goals and ultimately make a positive impact in the communities that helped shape them”.
Orana scholarship recipients are studying a range of courses, including medical radiation science, education, and plumbing, and are looking forward to applying their newly acquired knowledge and skills within their local regional communities at the completion of their studies.
The Orana scholarship recipients are:
|
Name |
Town |
Course |
|
Abby Wilson |
Dubbo |
Bachelor of Physiotherapy |
|
Anita McKenzie |
Coonamble |
Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Medical Imaging) |
|
Beth Tamme |
Dubbo |
Diploma of Counselling |
|
Clair Stiff |
Ballimore |
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
|
Ella Payne |
Warren |
Bachelor of Agricultural Science |
|
Georgia Briggs |
Gilgandra |
Bachelor of Education (Technology and Applied Studies) |
|
Jennifer Corderoy |
Narromine |
Bachelor of Rural Science (Honours) |
|
Keely Milford |
Coonabarabran |
Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine |
|
Laura Harley |
Nymagee |
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) |
|
Samuel Roth |
Mudgee |
Certificate III in Plumbing |
Scholarships are available for up to $7000 for full-time students, or up to $3000 for those studying part-time, and made possible through the generosity of RAS Foundation donors.
Since implementing its scholarship programs in 2009 the RAS Foundation has supported more than one thousand students across Australia, investing more than $6 million into educational scholarships, including specialised scholarships in fields such as regional journalism and the Australian wine industry.
Applications for the 2027 Rural Scholarships are now open and will close Monday, 5 October 2026. The program is open to students across NSW and the ACT who are currently enrolled or applying for study in an accredited tertiary course at an Australian university, college, or TAFE. For further information, please visit www.rasf.org.au.
Biographies for the Orana scholarship recipients are attached, and hi-res images can be found here.
For further information and interview opportunities please contact:
Samantha Cannings
E: scannings@rasnsw.com.au M: 0411 864 836 P: 02 9704 1453
Nicola Dalby
E: ndalby@rasnsw.com.au M: 0434 579 906 P: 02 9704 1041
About the RAS Foundation:
The RAS Foundation is a charitable foundation that encourages educational opportunities and helps build strong and sustainable rural and regional communities through a range of targeted grants and scholarships.
Visit www.rasf.org.au for more information on the RAS Foundation.