The Playford Memorial Trust supports high-achieving South Australian students working in areas of strategic importance to the State. For more than 40 years it has enjoyed bi-partisan political support as an independent, not-for-profit, charitable trust operating under its own deed. 

Each year, the Trust and its partners and donors provide more than $700,000 in scholarships, internships and awards to university undergraduates, Honours and Master by Research (mRes), and PhD students, as well as to students at varying levels of TAFE.

We're supported by respected South Australian businesses and industry groups, the tertiary and research sector, state and local government, charitable foundations and individual donors. The aim is to help students make the most of their studies, achieve their potential and contribute to the State’s knowledge and research base.

The Trust's priority areas currently include: Advanced manufacturing and new technologies | Water, energy and climate change | Agriculture, aquaculture and food production | Space and defence technologies | Resources, energy and sustainability | Enabling technologies in health

All funds provided by donors and partners go directly to the students.

The Trust actively encourages outstanding students into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers. In doing so, it is supporting the Australian Government’s priorities for science, and complementing the South Australian Government’s STEM Strategy and associated programs.