• $45,000 worth of scholarships for 21 commencing and continuing health students in the Charles Sturt Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) footprint
• Scholarships awarded to support students studying in a range of health-related fields that will benefit rural communities
• Students from Orange, Grenfell, Coleambally, Coonamble, West Wyalong, Harden, Temora and Edward River among scholarship recipients

Twenty-one country students across rural NSW have been awarded a total of $45,000 in scholarships through Charles Sturt University’s Three Rivers–Country Education Foundation of Australia Grant Scheme.

Charles Sturt University supports the scheme through the Three Rivers UDRH, funded by the Australian Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program.

The program aims to improve recruitment and retention of nursing, midwifery, allied health and dentistry professionals in rural and remote Australia.

The grants were recently awarded by eligible local volunteer-run foundations of the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) to support students studying a wide range of health degrees.

To be eligible, student applicants had to originate from a country town within the Three Rivers footprint, which covers a large part of NSW, incorporating the Riverina and Central West regions.

Ms Eliza Conallin (pictured centre), a second-year Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science student with Charles Sturt, received a Three Rivers–CEF scholarship this year and last year.

Ms Conallin comes from Deniliquin and studies at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga.

“I chose to do a health-related degree as I love helping and caring for people. I also love that you can build up a great relationship with your patient and have the satisfaction of improving someone’s quality of life,” she said.

“The funding has helped tremendously with my studies; last year, it allowed me to purchase textbooks that were crucial within my studies. This year it has helped me purchase my placement uniform and has gone towards accommodation fees that I will incur while on placement.

“I’ve had to move away for my studies, and without the help of Three Rivers, I may not have been able to do this.

“I’m am extremely grateful that I have received the scholarship for the past two years and appreciate how much they do for rural students like me. I hope that when I graduate, I can give back to them and allow them to continue the great work.”

Three Rivers Director Ms Christine Howard said Three Rivers UDRH saw the positive impact of the grants in 2020.

“We have committed to continuing the scheme in support of the student’s journey, as well as the wellbeing of the communities they come from,” Ms Howard said.

“Students from a range of health courses have been supported, including nursing, paramedicine and allied health.

“As we move into the third year, we are delighted to be supporting first year and returning students to continue in their courses.”

CEF CEO Ms Juliet Petersen (pictured left) is grateful for the support from Three Rivers UDRH.

“These scholarships provide an important financial boost for our health students and are in addition to the local grants they receive,” she said.

“This all goes a long way towards ensuring successful course completion.”

The CEF scholarship recipients (including their local CEF Foundation, and their Charles Sturt course) include:

• Ms Shannon Best, Grenfell, nursing

• Mr Aiden Skinner, Grenfell, radiography

• Ms Sarah Knight, Grenfell, occupational therapy

• Ms Arana Curphey, Coleambally/Darlington Point, nursing-paramedicine

• Mr Cody Logan, Orange, paramedicine

• Ms Paige Hughes, Grenfell, speech pathology

• Ms Grace Kelly, Grenfell, nursing

• Ms Lucy Rackham, Coonamble, medical radiation

• Ms Harriet O’Brien, Coonamble, paramedicine

• Ms Kate Payne, West Wyalong, physiotherapy

• Ms Deanna Minogue, Harden, nursing

• Ms Katie Butt, Harden, occupational therapy

• Ms Eliza Conallin, Edward River, medical radiation

• Ms Meg Gaynor, Temora, nursing