Partnering with Active Farmers and the FIT College, Hutcheon & Pearce has launched the Empowered Scholarship Program.
The Program will help six community-minded people become qualified personal trainers and counter alarming mental health statistics in rural regions.
Designed to promote stronger, more resilient rural communities through group fitness, the Empowered Scholarship Program will see the chosen six complete their Certificate III and Certificate IV in Personal Training and go on to work with Active Farmers for a minimum of two years.
Active Farmers chief executive officer and founder, Ginny Stevens, leads a team of 33 qualified personal trainers in more than 45 small farming communities across the country, reaching some 1500 participants each month, but she has always dreamed of going bigger.
"When Arron Hutcheon asked me how Hutcheon & Pearce could help us get closer to our dream of supporting more farmers to be healthy, well and connected, I was blown away," Stevens said.
"We talked about how we've had so much interest from community, but we haven't always been able to find trainers to start Active Farmers in those communities. The concept of scholarships was born."
Arron Hutcheon shares Ginny's excitement and says the partnership is the perfect fit for Hutcheon & Pearce.
"We absolutely love the opportunity to work with Ginny and the team and be part of this scholarship program. It's our hope that it will empower Active Farmers to grow and spread further into farming communities, which to our mind is a great thing," Hutcheon said.
Applications for the inaugural Empowered Scholarships are now open and close at 5pm on 31 October.
Winners will be announced by Christmas with a view to start training in February 2022.
To enter, applicants must submit a video explaining how an Empowered Scholarship would empower them and their community.
For those looking to apply, Ginny offers some words of advice.
"We're looking for people who are passionate about fitness but even more passionate about their community and contributing to its wellness and resilience."
The scholarships are on offer Australia-wide.
For more details: www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/empowered
