By Callum Ludwig
The recipient of the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise’s Geoff Vickers Scholarships has been announced for 2023, set to help five students starting TAFE or university this year.
Each student will receive $2000 from the scholarship which can go towards expenses such as accommodation costs, course costs, study-related materials and equipment, textbooks, tutoring and education-related travel.
Gladysdale resident Katelin Harrison went to Lilydale High School and said she was shocked to receive the scholarship and it took a massive weight off of her shoulders.
“There’s just so many added costs, like different uniforms, placement, costs of getting NDIS, police and working with children checks and moving away for uni. I wasn’t really excited for uni because I was just so stressed about how I was going to afford all of this and now it’s made me much more excited for my studies,” she said.
“Even now going to uni, to the orientation day and being an environment where people value learning and other people’s ideas and are like-minded, it was so worth it.”
Ms Harrison is enrolled for a First Year Bachelor Degree of Nursing and Bachelor of Paramedicine at the Australian Catholic University in Fitzroy.
Millgrove resident Brodie Voce studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College (UYSC) and is also set to pursue First Year Bachelor Degree of Nursing, going to Federation University Australia.
Ms Voce said she’s excited about all of the new experiences that she’s going to have and all the new skills that she’ll learn.
“The support of the scholarship has made a big difference already and will continue to help throughout the next year of my studies, it means quite a lot,” she said.
“I’m excited for when I’m qualified one day to be out helping people.”
Launching Place resident Sophie Gray who attended UYSC also has an eye for paramedicine in the future and said she was at TAFE when she got the call to let her know she was a recipient.
“I was really excited, and now I am really excited to keep going to TAFE now. It will be a massive help because I’m not working as much now so I can use it for petrol to cover my tuition,” she said.
“I’m hoping to become an enrolled nurse and go on to do paramedicine. I’ve just always felt like I could help people and I’m good in high-pressure situations.”
Ms Gray is enrolled for a First Year Diploma of Nursing at Box Hill Institute.
Warburton resident and UYSC graduate Emily Hay is set to study a double degree of Engineering and Science at Monash University and said she knew so many people had applied for the scholarship and was really happy to be a recipient.
“I just know that I like learning about science and those concepts, I’m not sure where the course will take me but I’m just excited to see how it goes and what it’s like,” she said.
“I needed to purchase a new laptop for engineering, and that probably wouldn’t have been possible without the scholarship so it was very helpful.”
Wesburn resident and UYSC alumni Amy Morris told Star Mail last year after getting her ATAR that she hoped to do a Diploma of Sport and Coaching Development and is set to do so at Latrobe University this year.
Ms Morris said her course is quite expensive so the scholarship will be a big help.
“I’m so excited because my course is pretty different to a lot of other courses because I’ll do a little bit of work placement and I’m at Ikon Park for most of my classes with the Carlton Football Club,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to getting Certificates Three and Four in Fitness along with my diploma, which will mean I can go straight into work if I want to after or continue studying.”
