Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s scholarship program for financially disadvantaged students opened yesterday, marking its 10th year with scholarships worth more than $5.4 million.
The bank’s chairman, Robert Johanson, explained that the program’s expansion over the years has signalled the “pressing need” for tertiary education funding across regional and metropolitan Australia.
“Our work with universities and Australian youth continues to improve outcomes for young people and their communities,” he said.
“Many of them are from regional areas where they face extra costs to achieve their goals. Today, it’s the Bank’s most financially and socially significant contribution to education,” he added.
Over the course of this year, the bank officially welcomed 10 graduates to its graduate program, with 40 completing the two-year program since its launch in 2014.
The program provides university graduates with experience working in the financial services sector.
During the year, the bank also launched Deakin University Community Bank, which it said will help to deliver “positive outcomes” for university students, staff and the community.
The 2017 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank scholarship program opened yesterday, and applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday 27 January 2017.
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