Scholarships nurture and reward aged care talent

Now in its sixth year, The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus Fellows Program awards scholarships of up to $5,000 to encourage staff, officers and volunteers to pursue their professional development aspirations that will benefit both them and the wider Salvation Army.

One of the aged care team members awarded with a scholarschip is Jennifer  Pulu. She works  at Elizabeth  Jenkins  Place Aged Care Plus Centre in Collaroy, New South Wales and has been awarded a Fellows Program scholarship to complete a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Technology in Sydney.

“I was thrilled to be awarded a scholarship through The Fellows Program,” Mrs. Pulu says. “I have been a care service employee for 20 years and I work with residents living with dementia.

“To put a smile on the face of a person living with dementia is a bonus because, at the end of the day, I go home feeling blessed and rewarded knowing that I made a difference to a person’s quality of life,” Mrs. Pulu continues.

“A nursing degree will advance my knowledge and broaden my skills.”

Mohamed Rezk from The Cairns Aged Care Plus Centre at Chapel Hill, near Brisbane in Queensland, will use his Fellows Program scholarship to contribute towards a Bachelor of Nursing at the Queensland University of Technology.

He says the nursing degree comes with great benefits, not just to him and the residents he looks after, but also to The Salvation Army more broadly.

“I can maximise the quality of care I provide, broadening my understanding from caring to clinical so I can undertake more roles and responsibilities, such as measuring vital signs,” Mr. Rezk says.

This year, a total of $50,000 has been awarded to 17 people as part of The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus Fellows Program. Recipients were chosen from 39 individuals who applied.

Applications included a wide cross section of requests including further education, vocational training, field work, research projects, and attendance at relevant seminars and conferences.

Aged Care Plus Chief Executive  Officer,  Sharon  Callister,  says The Fellows Program is a tangible demonstration of The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus’ leading approach to nurturing and investing in its people.

“The Fellows Program rewards people whose work makes a positive difference to The Salvation Army and encourages all staff to find creative ways to further the mission, whilst also enabling them to realise their personal dreams through positive contributions back to The Salvation Army,” she says.