Why not pop a career in the rural sector in your Christmas stocking?

RIRDC has established the Investing in Youth Undergraduate Studentship Program which provides financial and mentoring support for young Australian students committed to contributing to Australia’s rural sector.

The program aims to attract more young Australians into the field of primary industries study by providing them with financial assistance throughout their degrees, as well as giving them tailored support in the form of professional and experienced mentors.

The program provides students with financial support of up to $5000 per annum and access to a professional mentor and support network to help them with career advice and direction. It also offers relevant industry placement so that graduates can gain experience in their chosen field of study.

The program was established to help address the serious shortage of students studying primary industry courses at Australia’s universities, which has resulted in significant skill shortages across rural Australia.

The future productivity and profitability of Australia’s primary industries requires more graduates in areas such as research, teaching, agribusiness, farming, business and technical consultancy and natural resource management in primary industries.

Successful recipients will be selected on the basis of their commitment to primary industries and to a career in primary industries. The studentships will provide support to undergraduate students for a period of up to four years.

The initiative, which follows on from a successful pilot in 2010, is a collaborative effort across industry and government.

The application form can be downloaded from www.rirdc.gov.au or by contacting RIRDC on 6271 4100. Applications close on Friday 28th January 2011.