The annual Mount Gambier and District Tertiary Health Education Grants (THEG) program is now open for 2025, offering $2,000 grants to local applicants pursuing tertiary health-related studies.
The program supports students who need to leave the region to undertake specific university studies within the health sector and seeks to encourage their return to the region as skilled health professionals upon completion of their studies. The grants are available to applicants for use towards study-related travel, accommodation, textbooks and uniform.
THEG chairman Rodney Summers says the program is in its 18th year of assisting students who hail from the region.
"The Mount Gambier and District Tertiary Health Education Grants have been offered every year since 2007 as a community-led response to meeting essential skills shortages within the local health sector."
"In 2024 15 grants were provided to students who studied in different health areas, including medicine, prosthetics and orthotics, physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, and paramedic science," Mr Summers said.
2024 recipient Jack O'Connor, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) in Adelaide, said the grant enabled him to dedicate more time to his studies.
"The grant has significantly assisted me in experiencing less financial stress throughout the year and allowed me to spend more time focussing on my studies, without having to work significant hours throughout the week," Jack said.
2017 and 2021 grant recipient Emma Greenfield has returned to the region following seven years in Melbourne. She studied Medicine at Monash University and completed her internship and residency in Melbourne hospitals. Emma is currently working as a GP at Hawkins Clinic while completing her general practice specialist exams this year.
"While completing my studies in Melbourne, I attended hospital placements five days a week, a 45-minute drive from where I lived so the grant helped with the petrol money to do this and contributed to my rent while living away from home. This gave me the financial security to focus on my studies," Emma said.
"Receiving the grant strengthened my desire to return home to work in the country where I hope to improve the health inequalities that exist in regional Australia."
The program is supported by City of Mount Gambier, District Council of Grant, UFS Chemist, Flinders Rural Health SA, Mount Gambier and District Community Bank, Rotary Club of Mount Gambier Lakes and private donors.
