SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS:

Applications for the Mushroom Fund Scholarship Program 2025 are now open.

The Mushroom Fund Scholarship Program is a levy-funded international education study program, which is open to Australian Agaricus bisporus mushroom growers and compost producers, their employees, and Australian mushroom industry researchers.

Partial funding is available for industry participants and emerging leaders to attend conferences, events and training courses, incorporating visits to mushroom farms and compost facilities overseas.

This year, six successful scholarship participants will be awarded partial funding to attend the Mushroom Compost Masterclass, which will be held in The Netherlands from 6 - 10 October this year, with additional compost facility tours in Holland, Belgium and Germany.  The workshops will be facilitated by international mushroom expert, Mark den Ouden of the Mushroom Office.

WHAT'S ON OFFER?
Six Mushroom Fund Scholarships are on offer, which will award successful applicants partial funding (for one person) to attend the Mushroom Compost Masterclass 2025.

Masterclass dates are Monday 6 to Friday 10 October, 2025.

Each successful applicant will receive funding for:

• Three months digital access to the Mushroom Office online learning suite: Participants must complete online learning prior to departure.
• 5-day Mushroom Compost Masterclass, facilitated by Mark den Ouden
• Guided tours of four compost yards Holland, Belgium and Germany. (Travel included)
• 6-nights’ accommodation in Venlo, Netherlands
• All internal travel costs, while studying in The Netherlands.
• All meals while studying in The Netherlands.

Total Scholarship funding up to $5,500 per recipient. 

WHAT IS 'PARTIAL' FUNDING?
This levy funded project funds on-the-ground costs while studying overseas.

The recipient is required to book and pay for their own international flights (ie. Return from Australia to The Netherlands), travel insurance and visa's (if applicable) 

Proof of booking is required to secure scholarship funding. See timeline for further information.

WHAT AM I REQUIRED TO DO?
If your application is successful, you will need to return your signed scholarship agreement, and book your international flights and travel insurance by the due dates provided. 

You will be required to participate in the MushroomLink communications program, to share your experience with the broader mushroom industry.  

HOW IS IT JUDGED?
Six Mushroom Fund Scholarships will be awarded.

Your application will be fairly assessed by the project reference group, which includes Hort Innovation, AMGA and industry representatives.

Conflicts of interest will be managed accordingly.  

HOW IS IT FUNDED?

This educational project is funded by the Hort Innovation Mushroom Fund and forms the 'outbound' component of the levy-funded research project MU22010 Mushroom International Study Tours - inbound and outbound. The project is managed by the AMGA, with international study tours facilitated by Australian Mushroom industry expert, Judy Allan and AMGA R&D Manager, Dr. Carly Rosewarne.