Rural Inspire goes National

The Country Education Partnership (CEP) is thrilled to announce that the Rural Inspire Initiative is being expanded nationally following a funding commitment from the Federal Government.

Building on its successful development in Victoria over the past six years, the move will see the initiative expanded from its Victorian base to similarly support interstate rural and remote communities, as recommended in the 2018 Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education (the Halsey Report).

“In particular, our cohort of alumni are extremely thankful to the Hon James Merlino MLA for his enthusiastic support of our program”. Xavier Healy a Rural Youth Ambassador Alumni member said.

Rural Inspire is a multi-platform initiative of the Rural Youth Ambassadors, supported by the Country Education Partnership, governments of all creeds, and key stakeholder groups.

Rural Inspire is a youth driven initiative that aims to bring together rural and remote young people to foster connections, aspirations and opportunities.

Rural Inspire is driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to creativity, self-belief, positive challenges and an engagement in quality learning opportunities.

CEP Chief Executive Phil Brown said the federal commitment was in recognition of the program’s existing success in Victoria.

“It is truly wonderful to see our program being recognised at a national level, and we are extremely grateful to the Federal Government for its commitment to see Rural Inspire rolled out to other Australian states,” Mr Brown said.

“We would equally like to acknowledge the work, and foresight, of the Victorian Government and, especially, Education Minister James Merlino, who has championed the Rural Inspire concept in Victoria since its inception nine years ago.”

The program’s roll-out will initially see the establishment of the highly-esteemed Rural Youth Ambassador Program in each state, as the key first step toward a national Rural Inspire offering. 

For 2020 we will see the Rural Youth Ambassadors program in both New South Wales and South Australia supported by state education sectors and key rural education organisations, and expanded to operate in the remaining states and territories in 2021.

For more information on the various Rural Youth Ambassadors program in Victoria and South Australia, please click on the following links:

From there, specific activities will be established, including:

• A Rural Youth Ambassador program in each state, with a planned annual National Rural Youth Ambassador forum in Canberra;
• The linking of successful rural people back to the rural communities in which they grew up;
• An online platform to provide a range of information and support services targeted at rural and remote young people;
• Inspiration workshops and forums for young people within rural and remote communities;
• Linking country young people with young people in urban settings and vice versa;
•  The provision of a range of supports and activities as part of the “Whats Next” area, supporting rural and remote young people as they transition from formal schooling to further study or employment.