By Mikayla van Loon
The next generation of healthcare professionals from the Yarra Ranges are being encouraged to apply for Inspiro’s tertiary health scholarships program to help support their study.
Open to students studying health sciences at an Australian university or at a higher education TAFE and those undertaking studies in a health field in a vocational education and training setting, four scholarships of different values are awarded each year.
Having received both the major $10,000 award and the $3000 award across the space of four years, Zoe Eggleton came back as an ambassador for the scholarship program this year.
“It’s such an incredible program and opportunity. First of all, obviously, there’s the elements of the scholarship fund but there’s also the extra support you get from Inspiro,” she said.
“It’s nice to feel like you’re part of the community and that you’re supported by that community.”
The scholarship program was able to assist Zoe in both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in physiotherapy, which saw her graduate at the end of last year.
Now working as a physiotherapist at the Austin Hospital, Zoe said she feels so lucky to have been supported by Inspiro to get her to where she is now, considering when she first started she wasn’t too sure where that would be.
“I had a drive to work in healthcare but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go and my idea of where I wanted to head in healthcare has changed significantly throughout my journey,” Zoe said.
“I didn’t really know much about Allied Health, and the different aspects that exist in healthcare initially. Once you get your foot in the door, whether that be through a health science degree or anything, it opens your eyes to all the different elements of healthcare that exist.
“It’s just encouraging to know Inspiro is supporting people through any healthcare degree or study so they can then be exposed to that and then decide where they want to go.”
Executive assistant to the CEO Penny Taylor said with a skill shortage across every industry, healthcare being quite severely impacted, the scholarship is about sharing other people’s routes as well to show there are many different avenues.
“There are so many roles and opportunities and I think it’s making people aware of those opportunities,” she said.
“It’s that education piece around, it’s not just these traditional positions when you think about health, there are so many layers and levels, and different areas that you can specialise in.”
Expecting a late run of applications before the end of March, Penny said it’s just about making young people in the Yarra Ranges aware this is available to them.
The four scholarships are divided into a $10,000, a $7,500 and two $2,500 awards to be used by the recipient as they see fit, whether that be helping others or helping to financially achieve their studies.
Since Inspiro took on the scholarship program from the former Lilydale Community Hospital in 2006, the organisation has assisted 62 students, sharing in $170,000.
“It’s our commitment to giving back to the community, but also to continue to encourage and support those students through community health, we’re so committed to the sector,” Penny said.
“But also to give them an opportunity to be able to facilitate that and being so committed to the Yarra Ranges community, to provide that support to those students to try and assist them through the process.”
Applications are open until 4pm on 31 March, after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with one of the board directors, Community Advisory Committee chair Hamish Russell and Zoe.
An award ceremony will follow once recipients have been notified, with family and friends invited to share in the celebrations.
To apply for the scholarship go to inspiro.org.au/join-in/scholarships/
