Bendigo Bank expands investment in tomorrow’s leaders, delivers on jobs and skills pledge

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in conjunction with its Community Bank partners has awarded 200 first time students with more than $700,000 in support part of its expanded 2023 Scholarship Program.

Established in 2007, the initiative has continued to grow and has provided more than $12 million to 1,500 students across Australia. The program is one of the country’s leading, privately funded, scholarship programs.

The expansion of the program, up from 178 students and $635,000 in 2022, sees the Bank deliver on a 2022 commitment made with the Regional Australian Institute (RAI) to support jobs and skills initiatives in regional areas.

Bendigo Bank chair Jacqueline Hey highlighted the value of further education and providing support to those who might otherwise miss the opportunity, especially those in regional and remote areas.

“We are proud to assist and empower students on their education journey. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s longstanding purpose is to feed into community prosperity, not off it, and this program is a prime example of how we continue delivering on our purpose,” Ms Hey said.

“We are committed to serving the needs of customers and communities in rural and regional Australia, and this includes supporting and preparing tomorrow’s leaders. I wish this year’s cohort of scholarship recipients the very best in their studies,” Ms Hey said.

Student Ella Redman was awarded with the Bendigo Bank Indigenous scholarship this year, which provides $6,500 per year for two years. In her first year of law at Macquarie University, Ms Redman says she is looking forward to the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in her chosen career.

“The Bendigo Bank Indigenous Scholarship Program means the Bank will walk along with me to help realise my dreams. I know that I will use everything I have learnt to make a difference in the lives of many different people - but most importantly, my own people,” Ms Redman said.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank made two commitments under RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition. The framework aims to unlock career opportunities in regional Australia and build stronger regions. As part of this commitment, the Bank pledged to invest $700,000 and create 200 scholarship places for 2023.

The Bank also promised to offer eight Work Integrated Learning Program placements for La Trobe University (at the Bendigo Campus) to support students in further developing digital skills and to gain valuable employment experience and opportunities in rural and regional Australia.

Bendigo Bank and Adelaide Bank is the only regionally headquartered ASX listed Bank in the Top 100 listed companies. With more than half of Bendigo Bank’s branches in regional or remote locations, Ms Baker said the RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition 2023 was closely aligned with the Bank’s purpose.

“It’s really important for us to be a part of the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 project. Our regions are facing a number of challenges surrounding jobs, skills and workplaces as evidenced by the number of jobs available here in regional Victoria that young people could fill, but for which they will need our support in order to succeed,” Ms Baker said.

“I’m so proud to be part of an organisation committed to providing these scholarships and placements because we know they can fundamentally change a person’s life. I encourage all Australian organisations to get behind Regionalisation Ambition and help us encourage young people to stay, work and return to our regions,” Ms Baker said.

RAI have highlighted the Bank’s Scholarship Program with a video designed to promote the program and the opportunities available to students. The video will coincide with the launch of the Regionalisation Ambition 2032 in the week starting 26 June and can be accessed here.

Now in its 17th year, Bendigo Bank’s scholarship program provides students with the opportunity to access a range of scholarships - up to the value of $8,000 - to help ease the financial burden associated with the transition to tertiary education.

The scholarships - primarily funded by the Bank’s Community Bank partners - can be used by recipients to help finance the cost of travel, accommodation, tutoring, course materials or study equipment. Available scholarships include:

• Robert Johanson Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship: Scholarship of $8,000 per year for two years.
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship for regional and rural students: 12 scholarships of $6,500 per student, per year, for two years.
• Bendigo Bank TAFE scholarship: Two students $5,000 per year for two years.
• Bendigo Bank Indigenous scholarship: Four scholarships of $6,500 per student, per year, for two years for those studying at either university or TAFE.
• Rural Bank scholarship: Four scholarships of $5,000 per student, per year, for two years – students must demonstrate a desire to contribute to the Australian agricultural sector.
• Community Bank scholarships: Variety of scholarships on offer from different Community Banks focusing on university, TAFE, and secondary school study.
• Alexander and Bridget Jones Montmorency Secondary College scholarship: Memorial scholarship for two graduates of Montmorency Secondary College studying full-time at The University of Melbourne in 2023.

For more information, please visit Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s scholarship Program.