Twenty Aboriginal students have been awarded scholarships to help them pursue careers in health.
It's the highest number of recipients since the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network began a cadetship program in 2009.
The scholarship program provides financial support for students in nursing and midwifery, medicine, allied health, Aboriginal health and maternal infant care, as well as in health services such as hospitality, information and communication technology and administration.
The scholarships provide annual amounts of $7000 for full-time students or $3500 for part-time students. They are paid in fortnightly amounts during the study period of March to November for each year of study for a Bachelor's degree, certificate or diploma.
The recipients were welcomed in a ceremony at Modbury Hospital yesterday and will begin their studies next month.
The cadetship program, aimed at nursing students, was replaced in 2023 with the scholarships. Since then, 42 students have been awarded scholarships.
Quotes attributable to NALHN Executive Director of Aboriginal Health, Toni Shearing
I congratulate and welcome our new scholarship recipients and hope they enjoy their studies.
The key change to the program this year is that the scholarships now run for the duration of the recipients' study period, rather than students having to reapply each year.
This will take off some of the pressure so they can focus on their studies.
The financial support might be used to assist with cost of living and study expenses, such as technology, stationery, textbooks, enrolment fees and transport.
Recipients also have opportunities to engage in placements, register for paid casual employment and take part in networking events with our Aboriginal workforce, with the goal of strengthening their employability on completion of their studies.
They can join our Deadly Team. Deadly Communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee network and be a student ambassador for NALHN Aboriginal Health at community and career events.
Combining financial assistance and support with professional development has proved to be an excellent way to help Aboriginal students and improve our recruitment outcomes so we are better able to deliver culturally responsive care.
Quotes attributable to scholarship recipient Talena Chantrill-Dodd
I will be doing a Cert IV traineeship in Aboriginal Health and I feel lucky to have this scholarship. It's a privilege and I'm very excited.
I will be starting my study in April. I already have a certificate in individual support (aged care), and I want to continue my study so I can help others. I want to help everyone, not just my mob.
About NALHN
NALHN provides a range of hospital, community, home-based and virtual services across multiple sites in the northern and north-eastern Adelaide region. Sites and services include Lyell McEwin Hospital, Modbury Hospital, Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Service, Northern Mental Health services, primary health, sub-acute and transitional care services.
