Supporting the next generation of Aboriginal health employees
28 March 2024
Sixteen Aboriginal health care students will benefit from additional support to pursue their studies as part of this year’s Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) Aboriginal Student Support Scholarship Program.
The latest recipients were welcomed as part of a ceremony held on Tuesday, 26 March and will commence the program next month in areas including Nursing, Medicine, Social Work, Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology and Paramedics.
The Scholarship Program was introduced in 2009 as a nursing and midwifery cadetship before being expanded in 2023 to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking vocational, undergraduate and post graduate study across a wider range of disciplines.
The program is designed to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the NALHN workforce by providing assistance to students studying a Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor degree in disciplines the Network employ.
Scholarship recipients receive up to $10,000 paid in fortnightly instalments across the year to assist with cost of living and study expenses such as technology, textbooks, enrolment fees and transport.
Students also benefit from professional development including the opportunity to apply for casual and ongoing positions within NALHN should they wish to engage in employment while studying. They can also engage in study-related placements within NALHN, where appropriate.
As part of the Scholarship Program, recipients are also invited to participate in the NALHN “Deadly Team. Deadly Communities.” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee network which provides opportunities for meaningful cultural connections, professional development, and wellbeing programs. They can also partner with NALHN staff in the Aboriginal Peer Support Program and can act as a student ambassador to assist future Aboriginal students wanting to pursue similar careers.
Quotes attributable to NALHN Aboriginal Workforce Engagement Officer, Jarrad Benbolt-Agius
We are really excited to welcome our scholarship recipients for 2024. This year’s intake is more than double that of last year, with sixteen recipients coming on board compared to seven last year.
Some of our previous recipients have used the scholarship to assist with relocation costs and many have benefited immensely from placements and employment opportunities at NALHN.
We strongly believe that by improving outcomes in the recruitment and support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, we not only create a culture of growth for all staff, but we are also better able to deliver high quality, culturally responsive care to our consumers.
Quotes attributable to NALHN Aboriginal Student Support Scholarship Program recipient, Lauren Whitington
I feel very lucky and very grateful to have received a scholarship this year. I think the support that it provides is tremendous.
The career path that I’m heading towards is a rural GP, so this scholarship provides the support for me to fully embrace placement without having to worry about the financial burdens associated with it.
I can fully focus on placement and getting that exposure to rural and Aboriginal health and advancing my skills in a positive way. This will help make me the best possible health practitioner so that I can be there for my Aboriginal patients, my community, and my mob.