New scholarship supporting rural Qld care staff

The newly announced scholarship set up by the Stockwell Webber Foundation and the community services provider will support people from Central West and South West Queensland who are looking to undertake studies in nursing, management, or another field directly related to the provision of aged and community services.

Those applying for the $5,000 scholarship need to be committed to remain in, or return to, rural or remote communities to live and work in their area of study.

“Those living in the Central West and the South West of Queensland have been through very tough times, from droughts to the downturn in a number of industries and significant financial hardship,” says Churches of Christ in Queensland acting chief operating officer Gerry Weatherall.

“If this scholarship enables someone who was thinking they had to leave the area to study and work, to now stay and build a career caring for people in the local area, then this is a win-win for all involved.”

Scholarships are open to all those working in aged and community services, regardless of employer, with multiple recipients announced each year.

Stockwell Webber Foundation director and Blackall local Owen Stockwell is pleased to be able to support western care staff in pursuit of their goals.

“Nurses, carers, managers, basically anybody working in the fields of aged and community care work exceptionally hard for those they care for and the wider community,” Mr Stockwell says.

“To be able to encourage some of these caring staff to become caring professionals in our rural areas strengthens the delivery of care and helps strengthen the resilience of local communities.”

Applications for the Stockwell Webber Foundation and Churches of Christ in Queensland Scholarship are now open.

To find out more information or to obtain an application form, contact Lorraine Lane from Churches of Christ in Queensland on 07 3327 1606 or email leadlearndevelop@cofcqld.com.au.