Alex Barrios, a Year 12 student at Geelong High School, is already sowing the seeds of a purposeful career in agriculture. As the recipient of the Rural Education and Retraining Scholarship, supported by a local donor through the Geelong Community Foundation, Alex is gaining the confidence and support he needs to stay engaged in school, upskill, and plan for the future.
Currently completing both a Certificate II in Agriculture and a Certificate III in Horticulture through a hands-on traineeship with Farm My School, Alex is juggling a full academic load while learning practical skills in food production and land management. The scholarship has removed key financial barriers – helping cover protective clothing, transportation to his traineeship, and other learning essentials.
“Without financial support, I may need to take on more work, which could impact my studies. I’m already doing two certifications at once – this helps me stay on track.”
Alex has ambitious goals: to pursue further study in Agricultural Science and Agribusiness, potentially at the University of Queensland, and ultimately build his own consultancy, helping farmers adopt science-backed, sustainable practices. He’s already presented on sustainable agriculture at Deakin University and contributed to an innovative pest management project in partnership with Geelong Tech School and Parks Victoria.
“Long-term, I’d like to run an agronomy business. I love learning new things, working outdoors, and being part of something bigger.”
Support from the Rural Education and Retraining Scholarship is helping Alex complete Year 12, build real-world skills, and access the kind of future that once felt out of reach. It’s a powerful example of how one local donor’s generosity is helping grow leadership, resilience and possibility – one student at a time.
