NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship

The NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship is a Young Nationals initiative to financially assist students from rural and regional New South Wales who will undertake university studies or an apprenticeship in the regions, or who need to relocate to a metropolitan area for their studies.

The NSW Young Nationals

For over six decades, the NSW Young Nationals has served as a dynamic and semi-autonomous unit of the NSW Nationals. Originally known as the Young Australian Country Party (NSW), the Young Nationals provides a platform for young Australians to learn about democracy and engage actively in the political landscape. The organisation offers a range of political and social activities tailored for young people, fostering engagement among peers under the leadership of their elected office-bearers.

Many prominent figures within The Nationals, including organisational leaders and parliamentarians, began their political journeys as members of the Young National Party. This group has nurtured the leadership of three Nationals Federal Leaders and Deputy Prime Ministers: The Hon. Tim Fischer AC, GCPO; the Hon. John Anderson, AO; and the Hon. Mark Vaile, AO.

The NSW Young Nationals State Executive is democratically elected by the membership during the State Council Annual General Meeting, which coincides with their Annual General Conference. Members elect delegates to represent them on the NSW Nationals Central Council, the Federal Councils of the National Party of Australia and the Young Nationals’ Federal Organisation.

The NSW Nationals Central Council is the governing body to which the NSW Young Nationals are accountable, overseeing their Constitution and Rules and overall management. The State Chairperson of the Young Nationals holds an ex-officio position on the Nationals Central Council and Central Executive, ensuring youth representation at the highest levels of the party.

The NSW Young Nationals Annual General Conference remains a cornerstone for robust political debate. Young Nationals delegates at the NSW Nationals Annual General Conference often introduce resolutions passed at this conference, contributing to the Party’s broader policy framework. Participation in NSW and Federal Conferences is highly valued, highlighting the Young Nationals’ integral role in shaping policy. The organisation also hosts debating competitions, fostering critical thinking and public speaking skills.

Young Nationals members regularly participate in Nationals election campaigns, often leading local campaign teams in State and Federal elections with support from the Nationals Secretariat. This involvement enhances the Party’s professional campaign capacity and nurtures a pool of future candidates for public office, skilled campaigners and Party leadership roles.

Beyond political engagement, the Young Nationals offer a vibrant community for like-minded young people, especially those in rural and regional areas, to participate in social activities. The group proudly maintains a culture that embraces the ‘joie de vivre spirit.’

In line with their commitment to community engagement and reflecting The Nationals’ longstanding dedication to education and training opportunities in rural and regional areas, the NSW Young Nationals proudly offer an annual scholarship for rural and regional students pursuing studies in regional settings. This scholarship is named for a YNP Life Member, Jenny Gardiner, recognising her service to regional NSW and unwavering support for the Young Nationals.

Jenny Gardiner delivering a speech in the NSW Legislative Council, Parliament House.

Scholarship Details

One scholarship will be for $1000, for a student who is attending a regional education institution.
One scholarship will be for $1000, for a student who grew up in the regions, and who has had to relocate to a metropolitan area for their studies.
The awardee will receive $1,000 in their nominated bank account in February 2025.
This decision by the NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship Committee is final.
If the awardee is not offered, does not take up the university offer, or chooses not to undertake the apprenticeship, their scholarship offer may be retracted. In this circumstance, the runner-up will receive the scholarship.
The scholarship recipient will also be granted free first year membership of the NSW Young Nationals and will have the opportunity to intern with either a Nationals Member of Parliament or The Nationals NSW or Federal Secretariat during the first year of their studies.
If the committee chooses, the NSW Secretariat can organise the selection of runner-up recipients to receive membership and internship opportunities.

Selection Criteria

The successful scholarship recipient will be selected from those applicants who satisfy the following criteria:

Has lived in regional New South Wales for at least the past two years
For the scholarship, a regional town is classified as one with a population of less than 100,000 at the last census.
Will be under 35 years of age at the beginning of 2025.
Must be an Australian citizen.
If planning to attend university, their first preference must be for one of the following universities:
- - University of New England
  - Southern Cross University
  - Charles Sturt University
If planning to complete an apprenticeship:
- - It must be a certified apprenticeship
  - It must be undertaken in regional New South Wales

NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship

The NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship is a Young Nationals initiative to financially assist students from rural and regional New South Wales who will undertake university studies or an apprenticeship in the regions, or who need to relocate to a metropolitan area for their studies.

The NSW Young Nationals

Jenny Gardiner delivering a speech in the NSW Legislative Council, Parliament House.

Scholarship Details

One scholarship will be for $1000, for a student who is attending a regional education institution.

One scholarship will be for $1000, for a student who grew up in the regions, and who has had to relocate to a metropolitan area for their studies.

The awardee will receive $1,000 in their nominated bank account in February 2025.

This decision by the NSW Young Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship Committee is final.

If the awardee is not offered, does not take up the university offer, or chooses not to undertake the apprenticeship, their scholarship offer may be retracted. In this circumstance, the runner-up will receive the scholarship.

The scholarship recipient will also be granted free first year membership of the NSW Young Nationals and will have the opportunity to intern with either a Nationals Member of Parliament or The Nationals NSW or Federal Secretariat during the first year of their studies.

If the committee chooses, the NSW Secretariat can organise the selection of runner-up recipients to receive membership and internship opportunities.

Selection Criteria

The successful scholarship recipient will be selected from those applicants who satisfy the following criteria:

Has lived in regional New South Wales for at least the past two years

For the scholarship, a regional town is classified as one with a population of less than 100,000 at the last census.

Will be under 35 years of age at the beginning of 2025.

Must be an Australian citizen.

If planning to attend university, their first preference must be for one of the following universities:

University of New England

Southern Cross University

Charles Sturt University

If planning to complete an apprenticeship:

It must be a certified apprenticeship

It must be undertaken in regional New South Wales

To apply for the NSW Nationals Jenny Gardiner Scholarship please complete the application form below.