COMMUNITY NEWS - Regional youth initiative

The Country Education Foundation (CEF) has officially opened applications for the second year of the Tim Fischer Fellowship. The Fellowship supports a recipient with up to $50,000 in funding, mentorship and networking opportunities to help turn their bold ideas into reality. 

Country Education Foundation Chief Executive Officer Wendy Mason said, “This Fellowship is about investing in people with the drive to create practical solutions to real challenges in country communities.

“It could be someone in agriculture, education, health, science, technology, the arts or other — what matters most is a compelling idea and the commitment to turn that idea into lasting impact, through an education element.”

CEF inaugural recipient, Annabelle Hudson, has reflected on the significant progress made in delivering her initiative, True North — a practical, student-centred program designed to recognise their strengths, expand their sense of possibility, and approach future education and career decisions with greater clarity and confidence.

Ms Hudson is developing True North to address a gap she observed among regional students: not a lack of talent or ambition, but unequal access to exposure, tailored guidance and opportunities to explore what might suit them.

Ms Hudson has worked closely with students, educators and community stakeholders to refine and pilot the program, developing practical resources that help young people identify their strengths, values and interests, and turn those insights into achievable goals.

Applications for the 2026 Tim Fischer Fellowship are now open, and close on August 24. For more information, visit: cef.org.au/Programs/tim-fischer-fellowship.