The cost-of-living crisis is proving a major challenge for youth from rural and regional areas.
It has inspired the Country Education Foundation of Australia to step in by holding an inaugural 'Boot Bash' campaign on Friday, March 15.
Country students already have a harder hike when it comes to accessing post-school education and employment compared to their metropolitan counterparts, needing to travel great distances and often leave home and their support network.
Of all students that CEF supported last year, 79 per cent had to leave home to access their education or employment. This comes at a huge cost, with the cost of fuel, accommodation and other living and study related expenses amounting to thousands of dollars each year.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the cost of fuel increased 19.7pc between September 2022 and September 2023.
In the December 2023 quarter, the cost of rent increased by 7.3pc and the cost of food increased by 4.5pc.
The CEF is a national for-purpose organisation made up of a network of 46 local foundations, of which six are based in SA, that help rural and regional youth in their areas, aged between 16 and 25, access post-school education, training and employment through grants, scholarships, support services and resources.
In 2023, CEF supported 53 students from SA, which included Kapunda apprentice Riley Menzel.
For Riley, the dream of one day becoming a fully qualified electrician seemed a long way off when he realised he would need to spend around $6500 on tools and getting to and from TAFE for his studies.
He is completing the second of a four-year apprenticeship with Kurt Smith, Barossa & Light Electrical at Roseworthy, and completed a Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE Elizabeth last year.
Thankfully for Mr Menzel, CEF's local foundation in his area - Kapunda High School Centenary Education Fund - had his back, awarding him a grant last year.
One top of this, he was one of six students to be awarded a scholarship through CEF's national partnership with vocational education and training provider Verto, which made it possible for him to afford commencing his studies and apprenticeship.
He said the funding helped him pay for travel, tools, equipment, uniforms and textbooks.
"I am very grateful for this great support from VERTO, CEF and my Kapunda Foundation," he said.
"When I qualify, I am looking forward to basing myself in a regional area to help fill the gap of tradespeople in country SA."
CEF chief executive officer Wendy Mason said the 'Boot Bash' campaign aimed to build awareness of the post-school education participation gap that exists between regional and metropolitan youth and raise additional funds for CEF-supported students in 2024, "which is particularly important in the face of the rising cost-of-living".
As part of the day, CEF is encouraging the public to "lace up" and host their own 'Boot Bash' event, with attendees wearing their favourite boots and raising much needed funds for regional youth to realise their potential.
Register at cef.org.au/boot-bash
CEF FOUNDATIONS IN SA:
Eudunda District Country Education Foundation
Kangaroo Island Country Education Fund
Kapunda High School Centenary Education Foundation
Wool, Wine and Wheat Country Education Fund (Clare Valley)
Kimba Country Education Foundation
Country Education Foundation of Port Lincoln
