Community Leader Scholarship

We are delighted to announce our first Community Leader Scholarship. These scholarships are created to highlight the great community leadership we see from young rural Victorians and to provide development opportunities for current and future rural leaders.

Thanks to generous support from the Findex Community Fund, we have been able to offer our first Community Leader Scholarship to a young person from the Ararat.

In late 2018, Katelin McDonald received this scholarship based on her high quality application and demonstrated commitment to rural and regional Victoria through leadership in her community.

The scholarship included an all-expenses-paid place in the week-long Young Rural Leaders Program in January 2019, plus $500 to help cover travel costs, incidental expenses and lost wages. Katelin will also enjoy ongoing connection with young people from across the state through the Youthrive Victoria Alumni group.

Katelin has a strong history of involvement in school leadership and community activities including the student representative council, ANZAC ceremonies, White Ribbon walks, ACU women’s breakfasts, and volunteering for Meals on Wheels. Her leadership style is to support and encourage others and to build trusting relationships.

Her passion for rural life is evident. Katelin would like to complete a Certificate III in aged care or disability services at a regional TAFE and return to Ararat to work in this field. She undertook a work experience placement at an aged care centre while at school and found it highly rewarding. Katelin identified a need in her community for more youth services, including a pregnancy support group, and programs to help young people find their ‘voice’.

If you know an organisation that would like to sponsor a similar community scholarship in 2019, please email brett@youthrivevic.org.au