Northern Rivers Rural Scholars Represent the Next Generation of Leaders

In a significant investment in the future of rural and regional communities, the RAS Foundation has selected a record 91 students for its 2024 Rural Scholarship program, including three scholars from the Northern Rivers region.

About the Scholarship Program

Now in its 14th year, the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship program provides financial support to tertiary education students who are shaping the future of regional NSW by pursuing careers within rural or regional communities. This year, a record $516,000 will be distributed among the scholarship recipients to help ease the financial burdens associated with higher education, such as relocation costs, study expenses, and the inability to work consistently due to study commitments or placements.

Statement from the Foundation Manager

Cecilia Logan, Foundation Manager, expressed the Charity’s privilege in supporting the next generation of rural and regional leaders. “This year’s applicants are outstanding ambassadors for their communities and have the potential to create a positive and lasting impact in the regional sector through their chosen career paths,” she said. Logan highlighted the significant financial burden that pursuing higher education poses, especially for students from regional areas, and emphasized the program’s goal to ensure these students have access to the same opportunities as their metropolitan counterparts.

Scholars from Northern Rivers

• Jacob Brentnall – Casino: Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine
• Dean Chapman – Fine Flower: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
• Indigo Kesztler – Lismore: Bachelor of Dental Science

Lismore local Indigo Kesztler, studying dental science, aims to address the large healthcare gap in rural and remote communities, particularly in oral health. “There is a large healthcare gap in rural and remote communities within Australia, especially when it comes to education, affordability and long waiting lists associated with seeking public dental care. Once completing my studies, I hope to continue my work in rural areas and provide support to Indigenous communities and those who face barriers when it comes to accessing oral health care,” Kesztler said. The scholarship has alleviated the financial pressure associated with her degree, allowing her to focus more on her studies.

Financial Support

The RAS Foundation awards up to $6000 to full-time Rural Scholarship recipients and up to $3000 for part-time students, made possible through the generosity of donors like The Snow Foundation and UNE Foundation. Over its 17-year history, the RAS Foundation has invested over $9 million into rural and regional NSW through education and community grant programs, providing over 900 scholarships to students across Australia, including targeted scholarships for careers in regional journalism and the Australian wine industry.

Future Applications

Applications for the 2025 RASF Rural Scholarship will open on July 1, 2024, and close on September 22, 2024. The scholarship 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, with no age or degree type restrictions.

The RAS Foundation continues to support rural scholars, ensuring they have the resources needed to pursue their academic and career aspirations, contributing to the strength and vitality of regional communities.

For more information, please visit www.rasf.org.au.

Meet the Northern Rivers Rural Scholars.

JACOB BRENTNALL
Casino
Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine
University of New South Wales

JACOB BRENTNALL

Jacob is a fifth-year medical student studying at the University of New South Wales Rural Clinical Campus in Port Macquarie. His interests include anaesthetics, pain medicine, and general practice and he recently completed his Honours research project in acute pain management following hip fractures. Originally from the Northern Rivers, Jacob relocated to the Mid North Coast to study medicine with a strong passion for the rural and regional lifestyle and aspires to work in areas facing medical workforce shortages throughout his career.

DEAN CHAPMAN
Fine Flower
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Flexible First Year)
University of Wollongong

DEAN CHAPMAN

Dean is excited to start his undergraduate Engineering degree at the University of Wollongong in 2024. A degree in engineering appeals to him as it will allow him to work on projects that improve the quality of life for many people. He has grown up on his family beef cattle property located at Fine Flower in the Northern Rivers where his family has been producing Australian beef for over 45 years. He enjoys exercising and keeping fit and his favourite sport is water polo but when on the farm, the best job is mustering cattle on the horses.

INDIGO KESZTLER
Lismore
Bachelor of Dental Science
Charles Sturt University

INDIGO KESZTLER

Indigo is currently in her fourth year studying dentistry at Charles Sturt University in Orange. Growing up in a small regional town in the Northern Rivers has highlighted the importance and need for supportive healthcare environments. Indigo recognises that costs often create a huge barrier for individuals in rural areas, leading to avoidance rather than prevention. She aspires to make a positive impact in rural communities through preventative care and the improvement of oral health literacy through education.

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