Rabobank Conference Award

What we offer

Rabobank is offering a senior high school student the opportunity to attend one of these agricultural or science industry conferences:

• evokeAG 2025 — held in Brisbane (Queensland) on 18–19 February 2025
• Crawford Fund Annual Conference — held in Canberra (ACT) on 12–13 August 2024
• 2025 Plant Biosecurity Research Institute Symposium.

Students may be asked to present their competition entry during the conference to an audience of researchers, agronomists, growers and industry representatives.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to:

• gain confidence in presenting, communicating and networking with professionals working in the field of science and agriculture
• discover various career paths
• expand their knowledge of how science and agriculture is applied in sustainable food and fibre production in Australia and throughout the world.

The award provides $1,000 to a senior high school student and an accompanying adult, to assist with the costs in attending the conference, including:

• conference registration fees
• conference dinner (if applicable)
• accommodation and travel costs.

The award is valued at $1,000.

Who is eligible

Students must:

• be in Year 10, 11 or 12
• submit a Plant Science Project Award entry
• be available and have parental permission to attend the specified dates of the conference
• travel to and from the conference with an accompanying parent, guardian or teacher
• have applied by the competition closing date.

How to apply

Complete the Rabobank Conference Award application form by the competition closing date.

Students will be assessed on their responses to these questions:

• In your opinion, why is agriculture important to Australia's future?
• What do you see as a possible future role for you in the rural/agricultural science sector and why?
• What interests you about this conference?
• What do you hope to learn from attending this conference?

A signed letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor is is encouraged to support the application (this is not mandatory).

Prize conditions

• Up to $1,000 will be provided to assist the award recipient (and accompanying adult) with conference registration fees, travel expenses, accommodation and meals.
• Any extra costs incurred over the $1,000 award value will be at the recipient's expense.
• Where possible, conference registration will be paid directly by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and the remaining funds (to the total value of $1,000) will be reimbursed to the student's family upon conclusion of the conference and the issuing of receipts for travel expenses (such as fuel, flights, bus tickets, motels or meals).
• Award recipient may be invited to participate in the conference program (e.g. Poster Session) to speak about their competition project to national or international delegates, including scientists, researchers and industry representatives.
• Should the successful award recipient (and accompanying adult) not be able to attend the conference for any reason, the prize will be forfeited by that student and will be offered to the next deserving student.
• Award recipient must provide written feedback (and photos if possible) to the Schools Plant Science Competition Coordinator about their experience, within 1 month of returning from the conference.
• Award recipient will be notified via email in late July and publicly announced during the DAF Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition's annual Awards Day and Ag Science Expo held in August.
• Scholarship is not transferable or redeemable for cash.