An aspiring Indigenous doctor is among eight Curtin University students awarded the inaugural 2018 Peel Region Student Scholarship, which has been established as a result of generous community donations totalling $1.25 million.
The eight recipients, who live in the Peel region, were selected based on their demonstrated commitment to the region, include Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery student Mr Isaiah Attkins, Bachelor of Social Work student Ms Amy Baines, Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy) students Ms Donna Giles, Ms Evangeline Economidis and Ms Chloe Hyde, Bachelor of Psychology student Ms Natasja Yates, Bachelor of Science (Nursing) student Ms Adrienne Kingham, and Bachelor of Science (Exercise, Sports and Rehabilitation Science) student Ms Cassidy-Rae Dwar-Ashton.
The scholarship, developed by the former Peel Health Foundation in conjunction with Curtin University, aims to support students from low socio-economic backgrounds who are experiencing financial hardship, and are enrolled in a Curtin University medical or health-related undergraduate or post-graduate degree.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry congratulated the selected students, adding that the scholarships will help support the students through their university studies by funding education related costs.
“The eight students are all prospective health professionals in the fields of social work, psychology, occupational therapy, nursing, medicine, and exercise and sports science, and these scholarships will provide them with financial support to help them through their studies here at Curtin,” Professor Terry said.
“Attracting health professionals from regional and rural areas around Western Australia is critical to the WA health industry as we hope these students can one day return to the Peel region as health professionals.”
The scholarship was established as a result of generous community donations totalling $1.25 million to the Peel Health Foundation, which was in turn donated to Curtin University in 2017.
Under an agreement initiated and signed by the Peel Health Foundation Limited and Curtin University, $1 million was put into the Peel Health Foundation Endowment Fund with the interest used to fund the eight student scholarships of $6,000 each year from 2018 to 2020.
From 2020, that funding will be used for the construction of the Peel Regional Clinical School, which will host clinical placements for Curtin’s medical, nursing and allied health students, subject to appropriate approvals from the relevant agencies.
Another $250,000 will help develop the Mandurah-based Peel Health Hub, an initiative of GP Down South, which aims to provide support for young people dealing with mental health issues.
Further information on the Peel Health Student Scholarships can be found online here.
