Cowra Students To Benefit From Country Education Foundation Grant

IMAGE: CEF Cowra makes it possible for Cowra students, like Cameron Melton, to access further education and follow their dreams. They will be able to do more of this thanks to a grant awarded to CEF by the Westpac Group.

Country Education Foundation of Cowra (CEF Cowra), part of the Country Education Foundation (CEF) of Australia network, will benefit from a $300,000 Inspire Grant from the St.George, BankSA, and Bank of Melbourne Foundations to CEF.

The funding will directly benefit students across the 49 rural and regional communities with CEF local foundations - from Kangaroo Island and Kapunda to Cowra, Clare Valley, Shoalhaven and Orange - helping more young Australians pursue further education, training or employment.

CEF CEO Wendy Mason said the grant will strengthen the Foundation’s support across its nearly 50 local chapters, providing financial assistance and vital pathways to young people in:

Balranald, Bendigo, Blackall Tambo, Boorowa, Braidwood, Canowindra, Central Australia, Clare Valley, Clermont, Coleambally, Darlington Point, Coolah, Coonamble, Cootamundra, Cowra, Edward River, Eudunda, Eurobodalla, Far West NSW, Gilgandra, Goulburn, Great Lakes, Grenfell, Griffith, Gulargambone, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Harden, Hastings, Kangaroo Island, Kapunda, Kimba, Macleay Valley, Merriwa, Moree, Namoi, Narromine, Nyngan, Orange, Paroo, Port Lincoln, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro, Temora, Walgett, Warracknabeal, West Wyalong, Yass and Young.

“This generous grant will help us strengthen operations and expand support to empower more young people from regional Australia to reach their full potential,” Mason said.

CEF is one of five charities awarded funding through the 2025 Inspire Grants, which total $1.2 million.