Country Education Foundation of Annual Review 2015-16

www.cef.org.au Who we are and what we do

The community based model identifies students at risk of falling through the Our Foundations gaps, or students that warrant additional , NSW encouragement to flourish, and provides financial and community support to follow Blackall Tambo, QLD Who we are their desired career goals. Boorowa, NSW Braidwood, NSW Country Education Foundation of Australia CEF partners with more than 30 universities, Broken Hill, NSW (CEF) fosters the further education, career as well as corporate and philanthropic Central Australia, NT and personal development opportunities organisations across the country to leverage Clare Valley, SA of rural youth, through community based and increase the support we provide. Clermont, QLD encouragement and financial assistance. /, NSW In addition to awarding grants and Coonamble, NSW CEF is a national not-for-profit organisation scholarships CEF also produces two Cootamundra, NSW that awards small financial grants and student resource guides. The University , NSW community support to regional and remote Survival Guide and the Scholarship Guide , NSW students to help them transition from high provide students and parents with tips, Eudunda, SA school into higher education, training or tools and guidance about their path to employment. achieving their career goals. Gilgandra, NSW Goulburn, NSW Young Australians in rural and remote areas Great Lakes, NSW are as bright and ambitious as those living Griffith, NSW in metropolitan centres. But when it comes Why we do it Gulargambone, NSW to higher education and jobs, thousands of CEF helps regional and remote young Gunnedah, NSW them are missing out. Australians overcome some of the financial, Gwydir, NSW cultural and social obstacles of relocating Harden, NSW For many, the financial, emotional and for further study or work. CEF’s objective is Hastings, NSW social obstacles are just too great – and they to provide opportunities and support for all Kangaroo Island, SA are unable to relocate in order to take up Australians to reach their full potential. further study or work. Kapunda, SA Kimba, SA A 2012 National Rural Health Alliance report Through its network of 43 Macleay Valley, NSW confirmed CEF’s experience “...over half the foundations, local communities support Maranoa, QLD rural and remote students undertaking students with demonstrated financial need Merriwa, NSW tertiary study have to live away from and realistic career and training goals. This Monaro, NSW home. Cost is a major inhibitor for people financial support helps with the costs of text from rural areas seeking to obtain further Narrabri, NSW books, tools, accommodation, travel and education, especially for those in lower Nyngan, NSW resources. socioeconomic groups.” Orange, NSW Paroo, QLD Established in 1993 in Boorowa, NSW the CEF helps with these costs including tools Shoalhaven, NSW CEF family has expanded into Queensland, for apprenticeships, computers, travel and Temora, NSW South Australia and the Northern Territory. resource books. West Wyalong, NSW Yass, NSW Community based fundraising, Young, NSW scholarships and community support and What we do encouragement for grant recipients is a proven success. At a local level, awarded through community scholarships, CEF supports and More than 90 per cent of our grant encourages the country’s next generation to recipients go on to complete the course achieve their career dreams and aspirations. or training for which they are funded. By investing in these young people we are Local CEF foundations are volunteer-driven investing in their future and in the future of – teams of committed people representing rural and regional Australia. a broad cross section of their communities across education, business, agriculture, Independent research shows that for every community and government. dollar invested in our work a return of $3.10 is created in social value – changing the Each foundation raises the funds they award lives of young Australians, their families and within their local area and communities. their communities.

2 Chairman’s report Nick Burton Taylor

Traditionally this report seeks to capture the partners have joined the fold in the form key events of the past year and comments of Swinburne University and St Andrews regarding the performance of the staff and College, University. Like our other the Chief Executive Officer are reserved for education partners we are working with the last paragraph. these two new partners to give value to their commitment to the partnership in On this occasion I would like to reverse addition to the clear material and career that order and recognise the incredibly important and significant role Sarah Taylor; benefits to our student beneficiaries. the retired CEO of the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF), has played in The challenges faced by smaller not-for- leading our organisation over the four years profit organisations such as ours which she headed CEF. eschew Federal and State Government funding means that our fortunes and She has displayed foresight, perseverance, capacities rely on the goodwill of our energy and discipline. This has enabled her volunteers and a group of donors who have to build an outstanding team who are now feeling and empathy for young regionally located in new and professional offices in based Australians seeking to start out on a Orange in the Central West of NSW. new life after school. The person joining us as the new CEO is The individual stories of success and Wendy Cohen. I have no doubt that Wendy is precisely the right person at achievement by our student group is the right time and in the right place to truly inspiring and sustains the inevitable do the job. challenges in seeking and maintaining physical operations of the organisation, financial support for our work. She brings to our organisation a wealth of the development of the CEF website has experience in the not-for-profit area, which allowed committee members to enjoy To those kind donors and our time has been enhanced by an earlier career in website tools that eases the burden of generous volunteers, my heartfelt thanks. media production. administration and indeed the use of the website over the past year has doubled as Turning to the organisation’s a result of the improvements. performance for the year it is heartening to reflect that 454 grants to students, The CEF has continued to grow with totalling $630,000, were distributed. This two new foundations underway at takes our total grants to date to nearly Grenfell and Walgett. This growth and $7,500,000. This has been achieved the ability to manage the day-to-day Nicholas Burton Taylor AM, Boorowa through the efforts of hundreds of operations has required a major investment volunteers in more than 40 foundations in the whole area of reporting and grant across four states and territories. applications. With nearly 400 volunteers committed These necessary developments across regional Australia it is not surprising have been underwritten by the technology that we are achieving some extraordinary “With nearly 400 volunteers upgrades that have been achievable with gains and outcomes. the assistance of the Thyne Reid and Origin committed across regional We are truly a grass-roots organisation Foundations. Our heartfelt thanks and Australia it is not surprising driven by the enthusiasm and energies of appreciation go to both these foundations that we are achieving some local communities and people willing to for their financial and moral support. give their time by way of contribution to extraordinary gains and helping young people start out on their Notwithstanding the challenges imposed outcomes. “ career and journey into further education. by Federal Government funding changes to the university sector, we have preserved One of the key achievements in being nearly all our education partners with the able to undertake what has become a result that co-funding provided to students significant challenge in managing the this year totalled nearly $225,000. Two new

3 From the CEO Wendy Cohen

• the addition of Swinburne University, Victoria and St Andrews College, Sydney University to our family of education The past twelve months is a terrific partners. reflection of the vision, skill and hard work of the CEF board, staff The rebuild of our website, thanks to and volunteers, spearheaded by the support of the Thyne Reid Foundation, my predecessor, Sarah Taylor. On to enable an online grant application joining CEF in September of 2016 and assessment process, was a major I can confidently say I walked into achievement this year. an organisation which is going somewhere, with purpose and clarity. The website investment continues to Below is a summary of the great pay off with another year of terrific growth steps taken by CEF in 2015/2016 in unique visits (35,969 compared to with some vital statistics around 4699 in 2012) and the number of pages engagement and impact. viewed (165,946 compared to 7717 in 2012). Sarah and the CEF team’s efforts saw us extend assistance and opportunities to There is no doubt that CEF’s digital reach record numbers of school leavers, families is broadening and deepening, assisting and communities across the country; our many more students than just those in the volunteer and committee base continued communities in which we have a committee to grow; and our national office team and presence. infrastructure continued its development with the addition of new staff and systems This year, with an investment from Our national office revenue increased to support our expanding operations. the Origin Foundation and the Snow by more than $300,000 on the previous Foundation we made great progress year ($850,000 compared to $521,000 in The 2015-16 year saw us lock in the final with the CEF Alumni Project, which 2015) and our total revenue increase from stages of our current strategy to invest in validated so much of our anecdotal $940,000 in 2015 to $1.62m in 2016. For the organisational platform – technology, data. This important project will the first time in a many years we achieved equipment, staff – that will ensure continue into 2016/2017. a small surplus of $42,000 which was well maximum efficiency for our operations, ahead of our budget forecast of a deficit of support for staff and volunteers and growth $59,000. into new states and communities. Great support – from old friends and new As a footnote I’d like to thank the board of Many of the investments of the previous CEF, Sarah and the team for their support as few years are already delivering significant As always, our results and impact were the incoming CEO and also for the strong benefits – saving time and money – and enabled by our great family of education position CEF is in due to the above results and progress. with that, enabling us to support our grant partners, donors, philanthropic and recipients and our volunteers. Impact corporate partners and sponsors. highlights for the year include: Their support remains critical as we • More than $630,000 in local grants continue to operate without any distributed to 454 students, government assistance. supplemented by almost $225,000 from our university and college partners; The highlight of 2015 was the decision by the Origin Foundation, our principal • 37,000 people accessed our online partners since 2011, to renew our Scholarship Guide, up 32.9% on 2015; partnership for a further three years, with a Wendy Cohen, CEO focus on investing in our CEF sustainability • 21,000 people accessed our online strategy for the future. University Survival Guide, up more than 70% on 2015; As a result of the many contributions from our sponsors, partners, donors and local • progress on the establishment of two new foundations, CEF finished the 2015-16 volunteer foundations in the communities year with significant improvement in our of Walgett and Grenfell; and financial position.

4 Our success stories

studying has enabled me to make some “A lot of people I went to uni with were liv- really good friends, do activities, explore the ing at home, they didn’t have any expenses. city a little bit, which has helped my mental Their parents would cook for them. I had wellbeing as well. A lot. “ to go home and cook for myself. They’d go home and study and I had a job to help pay “If I was just working and studying, and for rent, and to pay for food. They had a lot working and studying I’d be really stressed more time on their hands to study.” out and not very happy.” Without help from CEF he would have had Isabella has nothing but praise for CEF’s Our impact felt in to work more hours, as well as study, cook work and the opportunities it gives country every aspect of kids. and look after a house, and maybe even have had to take out loans just to pay the uni life “It enables people to actually go to rent. university. In many rural places there aren’t “I know without this scholarship I might not universities that actually offer the courses “At the time, it was quite difficult for my have actually been able to afford to live on that people want to do. It enables us to family’s industry – agriculture. campus, or live in Melbourne.” start our lives in a new place. It relieves that pressure, it allows us to do better in “I don’t know if my parents could have For first year radiology and medical imaging everything. It gives us good opportunities. supported me like some other people’s student, Isabella De Francheschi, leaving It’s definitely worthwhile.” parents who earned salaries because her hometown of Broken Hill has been an income was fluctuating with drought. They overwhelming experience, but one she were obviously financially disadvantaged at has had time to embrace and settle into *The Eureka/CEF Scholarship is a $10,000 the time, so I couldn’t have borrowed from with the help of the $10,000 Eureka/CEF scholarship granted to first year students my parents. Scholarship*. from the Broken Hill region administered by CEF. It is awarded to two students a “Without CEF’s grant I would have had to “I’m loving it so far. The work load is difficult, year. For more information about our but I’m handling it really well. I’m interested scholarships or to donate go to take a loan, or it could have involved extra in what I’m learning and my marks are www.cef.org.au work hours, whether that was at home or in showing that,” Isabella said with honesty, Ballarat.” and enthusiasm. After four years of study in Ballarat, and Based at the Clayton campus of Melbourne’s a few years working in Melbourne and Monash University, Isabella said having the Bendigo James is now living closer to home, time to find her feet, and not work in her in Echuca, and has long terms plans to stay first few months was invaluable. closer to home.

“I can’t even begin to explain how “I worked as a nurse at The Alfred for a much the scholarship has been helping. year, then I applied to become a paramedic I can’t imagine if I had to be working, and I was positioned in Bendigo, and from I think I would honestly be struggling Bendigo they then positioned me back with my course especially since I have not home to Echuca. I am happy. experienced university before.” Feeling at home, “For the next five to 10 years I see myself in She said the scholarship has not only living his dream Echuca.” enabled her to focus on her coursework and assessments, but also find friends and Twenty-five-year-old James Scott is living James said he would recommend the concentrate on her new life in the city. his dream as a paramedic thanks to the help opportunity CEF gave him to any country of the Edward River CEF. “The scholarship has definitely helped kid who was looking for a bit of support, whether it be a trade, university or another my life balance, it’s enabled me to have As a country boy from Bunnaloo, near course. that time to study and do my assignments on the NSW/Victorian border, James instead of working. was the first in his family to move away for educational opportunities. James said “Just put in the application. A lot of people “But I’ve also just moved to a new city, I moving to Ballarat to study at the Australian get put off by the process, but at the end of don’t really know anyone here so having Catholic University added extra costs and the day it’s there for them to benefit and get that time outside of not working and time constraints. to the career they want. Just apply.”

5 Foundation focus

Twice a year the Cootamundra and District CEF holds a farewell dinner for its newest recipients, a night to wish them well in their studies.

“We always invite the old recipients back, just to keep them in touch. Most of the older recipients are at uni and get to talk to the younger recipients, it’s a really good night.

“It’s a good social night for those recipients to talk to one another, about what they’re doing at uni and how they found uni.”

Anna said one of the challenges Cootamundra and District CEF faces is around communicating with their community.

“One of the biggest hurdles is getting your name out there, about what we do and why we’re doing it.” Chairman Paul Braybrooks (seated) with grants supervisor David Hain and “The cause is a worthwhile thing to pursue. It’s definitely secretary Anna Ingold a process, with reporting, but is all worth it for that one meeting where you get to choose the kids.” Working hard to make “It all comes together and makes everything you’ve been bright futres brighter working for worthwhile.”

Anna Ingold is taking a leading role when it comes to Cootamundra and District CEF is also working on country students’ futures as Cootamundra and District increasing applications for TAFE and vocational training Country Education Fund’s secretary. The 24-year-old is applicants. a 2010 recipient, and knows personally how much the support can affect a student’s future and self-esteem. “Our application times mean we have trouble getting future apprentices to apply, because when the “I always tell the kids to apply even though you don’t applications are taking place they haven’t secured think you’ll get it. an apprenticeship yet. Generally, we have one or two apprentices apply a year.” “We’ve given grants to kids that don’t think they’ll get anything and then they get something from us. It Anna admitted she did not see herself taking on the encourages them more, even at uni. Cootamundra and District CEF secretary role when she returned home after studying Agricultural Science at “It’s great when they get a scholarship and they just in Wagga. weren’t expecting it. It’s not based on how smart you are or how sporty you are – it depends on need and want of “When I came home from uni a long-time family friend education.” was the secretary, so he asked me to be a committee member. I was a committee member for two years Having seen both sides of CEF’s story she said the before he asked/told/suggested that I should become experience has been invaluable and continues to be the secretary,” Anna laughed. – through networking and informal mentoring of recipients. Anna lives and works in Cootamundra as a livestock “It gives the student a leg up into their future. And it consultant. She likes to work on the family farm in her does create a network between the recipients. That’s spare time. Anna has been Cootamundra and District one thing I do tell kids when I go into schools - this is a CEF secretary for the past two years. networking opportunity. If you would like to find out more about becoming a “The networking is the most valuable thing, not the Country Education Foundation of Australia committee money at all. I’ve got jobs not because of what I know, member or establishing a committee in your community but who I know.” please visit our website www.cef.org.au

6 Our Partnerships and reach

In addition to the wonderful support our volunteer committees around Australia receive from their local communities, businesses and supporters, the Country Education Foundation of Australia receives support from generous individuals as well as corporate, philanthropic and university partners including:

Corporate and Philanthropic Partners University Partners

ASX Reuters Foundation Australian Catholic University AVIS Charles Sturt University BOYCE Chartered Accountants Griffith University Burton Taylor PPF Foundation James Cook University Damian Scroope - Sydney Business Lawyers Macquarie University Eureka Benevolent Foundation Open Universities Australia Forestry Corporation of NSW Queensland University of Technology GIVIT Southern Cross University ICAP Swinburne University of Technology Steve Godbold Tocal College James N Kirby Foundation University of Bruce and Robyn Loder Foundation University of Newcastle SC Maple-Brown University of NSW The McLean Foundation University of South Australia Millett Family Foundation University of Sydney – St Andrew’s College Newgate Australia University of Wollongong Origin Foundation (Principle Partner) Western Sydney University Profield Foundation Robert Rich Rotary Club of Sydney Cove Benevolent Fund Snow Foundation The Vernon Foundation Thyne Reid Foundation UBS Wealth Management

7 Condensed financial report

2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 FUNDS WE RAISED Donations to program funding 1,543,000 849,000 1,052,000 Income from funds invested 31,000 22,000 34,000 Change in value of investments -18,000 14,000 31,000 Other income 48,000 61,000 39,000 1,604,000 946,000 1,156,000

WHAT WE SPENT Distributed to regional foundations 807,000 635,000 503,000 Program support and community 376,000 178,000 204,000 education Administration & fundraising 331,000 313,000 184,000 Program funding 33,000 64,000 54,000 Depreciation, amortisation 32,000 14,000 12,000

1,579,000 1,204,000 957,000

RETAINED FOR ONGOING 25,000 -258,000 199,000 INITIATIVES/ (PAID OUT OF RESERVES)

WHAT WE OWN Cash 537,709 514,000 527,000 Investments 283,000 310,000 324,000 Other assets including intangibles 129,291 107,000 62,000

950,000 931,000 913,000

Sundry payables and provisions 303,000 309,000 32,000

Our net assets 647,000 622,000 881,000

To read a copy of the Country Education Foundation of Australia's full audited financial statements visit www.cef.org.au

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Our Patron

The Hon Tim Fischer AC CEF Patron and Ambassador Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

Our Board

Nick Burton Taylor AM (Chair) Julia Burton Taylor OAM (Secretary) David Smithers AM (Treasurer) How you can help change lives Katie Walker • Consider a one-off donation or a Learn more about, and promote Stuart Black AM regular financial contribution, to our grants, Scholarship Guide, donate visit our website. Michael Boyce – retired November 2016 University Survival Guide and students • Your organisation may wish to support resources by going to our website Guy Milson – retired November 2016 sponsor or partner with us, or www.cef.org.au and click the Student tab Richard Rains - appointed November 2016 connect us to others within your networks. for further information.

• Consider volunteering on a local CEF For further information on any of the foundation. above, or to discuss other ways you could • Hold a fundraising event on work with CEF please call 1300 652 144, our behalf email [email protected] or explore • Purchase from our select www.cef.org.au. merchandise range at http://engage.cef.org.au/store You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. • Consider a bequest

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