For 2024 CAANZ-CEF Scholarship recipient, Logan Haslam, the transition from high school to university has been challenging, and he says the scholarship has helped him not only afford his studies but achieve better results as well.
Logan, from Cowra, NSW, is studying in his first year of a Bachelor of Professional Accounting at the University of Wollongong (UOW) - some 360km away from his support network at home.
He was awarded a grant by his local CEF foundation, CEF Cowra, which, combined with his finance-related studies, made him eligible for the CAANZ-CEF scholarship.
The scholarship will provide him with significant funding over the next three years, meaning he will be supported for the duration of his degree.
He said the scholarship had not only made his accommodation at UOW affordable but had also helped him achieve higher marks in his assessments so far.
Because I have been able to focus more on my studies, and not money, I have been able to get better marks as a result of the scholarship.
– 2024 CAANZ-CEF scholar, Logan Haslam.
"My accommodation is $620 per fortnight and without the scholarship I wouldn't be able to afford my rent."
Logan said the scholarship had allowed him to settle into university life nicely, where he has been able to take up extracurricular activities to keep his social life healthy at the same time as his marks.
"University life was hard to get my head around at first, but it's been a great experience evolving from a teen to an adult. It's a much different lifestyle to high school," he said.
Logan has also landed a traineeship opportunity at HLB Mann Judd - an accounting firm in Wollongong - which he will complete part-time for the rest of the year, with an option to continue next year.
He said this will build on his degree by giving him experience working in accounting and financial planning.
"This will help me decide what I want to do in the future and if that includes working as an accountant or financial planner," he said.
CAANZ General Manager-Professional Standards, Kristen Wydell, said CAANZ was pleased to continue working with CEF to support young rural students access tertiary education.
"Chartered Accountants come from all backgrounds, and it is this diversity in the profession that enables us to support all our clients and employers. We are pleased to support CEF to help reduce the financial hardship for rural students seeking tertiary education," she said.
