The 2023 Riverine Plains Scholarship Program includes the Alvan Blanch Australia, Corteva Agriscience, Hanrahan Family and Uncle Tobys Scholarships.

Riverine Plains chief executive officer, Catherine Marriott, explained that while each of the 2023 scholarships have a slightly different focus, they are designed to either support students in their agriculture-related studies or encourage talented young people to live and work in the Riverine Plains region.

"Supporting young people to become involved in agriculture has benefits for the students, farmers and regional communities involved, particularly as students transition to the workforce and apply their skills and innovative thinking," Marriott said.

Riverine Plains has been supporting students since the John Hanrahan Scholarship was established in honour of the late John Hanrahan from Coreen, New South Wales, in 2018.

"The Hanrahan Family Scholarship (in memory of John Hanrahan) is now coming in to its fifth year and has so far has provided financial support, work experience and other opportunities to local students Mitchell Priestly (2019), Sophie Hanna and Lachlan Quibell (2020), Jessica Ryan (2021) and James White (2022)," Marriott said.

This year, the Hanrahan Family Scholarship will continue its focus on recognising and encouraging agricultural excellence through its support of a second-year agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma student from the Riverine Plains.

Riverine Plains has also announced a new scholarship partnership with Alvan Blanch Australia. This includes two new scholarships which aim to attract and encourage students with an interest in engineering or crop production to bring their knowledge and skills to the Riverine Plains region post-study.

The Corteva Agriscience Scholarship was established last year with a plant breeding and agronomy focus. The 2023 scholarship aims to support a second or third-year student enrolled in an agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma course, or who is undertaking another course of study that demonstrates a passion for agriculture.

The Uncle Tobys Scholarship was established in 2021 to support future leaders in agriculture. Students enrolled in an agriculture or agribusiness degree or diploma course, especially those with an interest in oats, are eligible to apply this year.

Applications for the 2023 Alvan Blanch Australia, Corteva Agriscience, Hanrahan Family, and Uncle Tobys Scholarships close 22 June.

Each scholarship includes a bursary of $5000, access to work experience, networking and mentoring opportunities with either Riverine Plains or its scholarship partners.

Further information on eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found here: https://bit.ly/3oyABmk