Harden local Phoebe Douglas has been named as one of eight students from Southern NSW to receive a 2025 RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship.

The program is designed to support students passionate about giving back to their rural communities.

Phoebe, who is in her final year of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, said Harden has always been home despite time spent away during her schooling years.

“I spent most of my childhood growing up in Harden and have always considered it home,” she said.

“I moved to Victoria for part of my schooling but eventually returned to the area and now live out at Barwang while studying to become a vet.

Harden will always be home it’s where my family is, where I grew up, and where I feel most grounded.”

Becoming a vet wasn’t always on the cards.

“As a kid, I was horse-mad and thought I might end up working with horses in some capacity,” she said.

“It wasn’t until later in high school that I started to realise I had a real interest in science and a love for animals that went beyond just horses.

Vet med felt like a natural way to bring those two passions together, even if it took me a while to find that path.”

Phoebe said growing up in a rural community shaped her perspective on the role of veterinarians.

“Living in a rural community showed me the vital role vets play not just in animal care, but in supporting farmers, families, and the wider community,” she said.

“I’ve seen how important it is to have vets who understand rural life and who genuinely care about the people and animals in it.

That’s something I’ve always carried with me.”

Receiving the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship has made a significant difference in her final year of study.

“I was honestly blown away and it felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” she said.

“I felt incredibly proud and grateful that organisations like the RAS Foundation are backing rural students.

Receiving the scholarship brought an overwhelming sense of relief knowing that some of the financial pressure had been lifted.

Vet school is a massive commitment, and support like this makes such a difference, it allows me to focus more on my studies and placements without constantly worrying about how I’ll afford it.

I’m genuinely so appreciative.”

Phoebe applied for the scholarship knowing her final year would involve intensive placements across different regions.

“This year is my final year of vet school, which is entirely made up of placements across different regions,” she said.

“It’s an incredibly rewarding part of the course, but also the most financially and logistically challenging.

The travel, accommodation, and time away from paid work can be really stressful and that stress can weigh heavily on top of an already demanding study load.

I applied for the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship because I knew it could help ease some of that burden and allow me to say yes to the best learning opportunities, not just the most affordable ones.”

Placements, she explained, are the most practical and formative part of the veterinary degree.

“They’re where everything we’ve learned in lectures and textbooks finally starts to come together in a real-world setting,” she said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of animals including horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, cats, pigs and chickens, and observe and assist with everything from routine procedures to emergency cases.

You get to see how different vets approach their work, how they build trust with clients, and how they navigate the unpredictable nature of veterinary practice.

What makes placements so great is the hands-on learning which you just can’t learn in a classroom.”

While the experience is rewarding, Phoebe said the journey to becoming a vet is far from easy.

“The course is long and the workload is intense,” she said.

“It can be physically exhausting, mentally draining, and financially stressful especially when you're away from home and trying to manage living costs, travel, and time off paid work.

But I think growing up in a rural area teaches you a kind of quiet resilience.

You learn to show up, even when things are hard.

You get used to pushing through when the going gets tough, and that mindset really helps in a course like this.”

Looking ahead, Phoebe hopes to work in large animal or mixed practice in a regional setting, with an ultimate goal of owning her own clinic.

“Harden has always been home,” she said.

“My family’s here, and it’s where I feel most connected.”

Phoebe encouraged other young people from rural areas to take opportunities like this.

“Honestly just give it a go and don’t be afraid to back yourself,” she said.

“You don’t have to have everything figured out straight away, I certainly didn’t.

But if you have a passion, whatever field it’s in, follow it.

Scholarships like this one do make a real difference.”

She said programs like the RAS Foundation Rural Scholarship play a vital role in supporting rural students.

“They help bridge the gap for rural students who often face extra barriers when pursuing higher education,” she said.

“Financial support doesn’t just ease the pressure it provides opportunities, giving students the freedom to say yes to valuable learning experiences without being held back by cost.

For me, the scholarship has made it possible to travel long distances for my placements that are essential to my training, and that I may not have been able to afford otherwise.

I am so grateful to the foundation and the donors for contributing to my career in the way they have, it has made a massive difference in my professional development.”