HAWKESBURY aspirational nurses of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent should get ready to apply for a golden egg of a scholarship which was launched on Friday at Windsor.
St John of God Healthcare NSW has provided the $30K scholarship for one of the students who enrol for first year in 2017 at Australian Catholic University (ACU) Bachelor of Nursing degree at North Sydney.
The money will come through in April next year – $10,000 a year for three years.
ACU Associate Professor Amanda Johnson said the scholarship was part of the university’s strategy to increase access to education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students because of the health care needs of their communities.
The State Head of School at ACU’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine said the recipient of the scholarship will be able to choose at which of the three St John of God hospitals they would like to do the practical part of their nursing degree – Hawkesbury Hospital at Windsor, St John of God Hospital at North Richmond or St John of God Hospital at Burwood.
The scholarship was announced at the Way of Mercy cross arrival celebration at the Notre Dame University building on the grounds of Hawkesbury Hospital, which began with a smoking ceremony conducted by Darug people out the front of the building.
St John of God Hospital at North Richmond’s acting group director of mission Cathy Scott said at the ceremony on Friday that St John of God was committed to reconciliation and was delighted to be partnering with ACU for the scholarship.
“Having access to funding and training in this medical surgical hospital and in our psychiatric hospitals at Burwood and [North] Richmond will not only benefit the students but will enhance our commitment to whole person care,” she said.
Applications for the scholarship open on September 19. Go to www.acu.edu.au and search for ATSI Nursing Scholarships. For more information on how to apply, if needed, contact the scholarships office via email at Scholarships@acu.edu.au or the Indigenous Higher Education Co-ordinator Daniel Dent at Danielle.Dent@acu.edu.au.