A TOTAL of $38,500 has been allocated to eight business houses to support ten apprenticeships, five TAFE students and and eight tertiary students in 2025, through Stratford Coal’s Education Support Fund.
Since the commencement of mining in 1996, Stratford Coal has contributed almost $1,000,000 to local education and training initiatives.
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“During that time, we are pleased to announce the funding has made a genuine difference to the lives of over 250 tertiary students, 160 apprentices and 90 businesses, most of which have trained young school leavers multiple times as we have worked together to encourage the tradespeople of the future,” said John Walton, Chair; Stratford Coal Education Support Fund.
Following the opening of the Stratford Coal mine in 1996 a community fund was established to provide annual funding for local works which would benefit the residents of Stratford, Craven and Gloucester.
A major part of the funding was to be allocated as an educational support fund and administered by a committee comprising representatives of Council, Gloucester High School and feeder schools, the coal mine and the community.
The funding was originally open to students who completed their education at Gloucester High School, to put toward tertiary study or to allay costs in taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship at TAFE.
In 2012 the funding was extended to students completing six years of schooling at all Gloucester basin schools (Booral to Barrington).
Local businesses are also able to apply for financial support ($6000 over three years) for taking on one of these apprentices/trainees and paying for his or her learning fees.
Applications for 2026 funding will open on 24 November 2025 via the Stratford Coal website.
