Alvan Blanch is a global engineering company that specialises in innovative design, production and installation of high-quality machines and integrated systems for the processing of agricultural produce and waste materials.

Alvan Blanch Australia manages a national network of Alvan Blanch installation and maintenance engineers who implement end-to-end grain drying solutions across Australia’s cropping regions, from con­cept and proposal, through to delivery, instal­lation, start-up, training, and maintenance.

Riverine Plains has partnered with Alvan Blanch Australia to offer two Alvan Blanch Scholarships in 2023, with the aim of attracting, recognising and encouraging people into agriculture in the Riverine Plains region.

The Alvan Blanch Scholarships

The Scholarships aims to support students from a non-farming background who are considering agriculture as a career.

The Scholarship will provide;

• A bursary of $5,000 for two students undertaking tertiary qualifications in Engineering or Agriculture at a recognised tertiary institution,
• Access to work placement opportunities either with Alvan Blanch, or farmers who have installed Alvan Blanch equipment on their farms or businesses (this may include the payment for interstate travel expenses),

• Opportunities to network and gain knowledge, with free access to all Riverine Plains events.,
• Personal mentoring by Riverine Plains staff.

Eligibility criteria;

• Engineering students majoring in Agricultural or Mechanical engineering or Agriculture students with an interest in crop production, are eligible to apply,
• Students must be undertaking an approved degree or diploma course at a recognised Australian tertiary institution during 2023,
• The Scholarships are intended for students that are from a non-farming background. Students from rural or urban areas that do not have an immediate family connection to a farming business, are eligible to apply. Students whose parents live or work on a farm as employees (without other direct financial interests in a farm business) are also eligible to apply.
• Students need to demonstrate an interest in moving to the Riverine Plains region on completion of their studies and scholarship.

The Scholarship is administered through the Riverine Plains Scholarship Fund, with the bursary paid in annual instalments over two years (2023, 2024). See terms and conditions (below).

Applications for this Scholarship will be open from 22 March until 22 June, 2023.