Epworth Nursing Scholarship winners
A single mum and a spinal technician are the recipients of this year’s Epworth Hospital Nursing Scholarship.
First year Certificate IV in Health (Nursing) students, Leanne Martin and Stephen Kicaj were awarded the $1500 prize sponsored by the Epworth Eastern Hospital. The scholarship is available to students wishing to undertake full-time study in Certificate IV in Health (Nursing) and covers all fees and materials for one year of study.
For Leanne the award was a particularly poignant moment in her education journey.
“At 15 I broke both my legs and was in Box Hill Hospital for three months. Just before the accident I had decided to become a nurse. Then, while in hospital, the attitude of the nurses confirmed for me that it was the job I wanted to do and I really felt a calling to be a nurse. But then because I was out of school for so long, the dream got swept to the wayside. But it was always in the back of my mind.”
“Then when one of my daughters was enrolling for VCE at Box Hill Institute I saw that there were some other ‘older’ people there, and just as a spur of the minute thing I enrolled in a couple of subjects too. At TAFE it was fine being a mature age student because I was not the only one. And I think because I wanted to be there I knew I’d do well. It’s a lot different from when I studied as a teenager. Last year, after I’d finished my VCE, I enrolled in the Certificate IV in Health (Nursing).”
Leanne hopes that the scholarship win and her return to school will be an inspiration to other adult-learners and her own children.
“My kids are 22, 19, 17 and 8. I’ll even be a grandmother at the end of this year. So, I’m hoping that I’ll be a little bit of a role model to my kids about the importance of completing your education. If I can do it, then anyone can do it. It’s amazing how much things have changed. All the teachers are gems in the education crown. Also, all our teachers have been nurses so they all have real life experiences.”
“I’m a single mother, but I have an extremely supportive mother, who will be able to help me with the kids during all my placements. When I won the scholarship, I said to my Mum, “Do you realise what this means. It’s been over 20 years to get here. Now I will have no regrets because at least I have tried.”
The other recipient, Stephen Kicaj says his experience as a spinal technician drew him into studying nursing.
“After school I had a lot of different jobs, but it wasn’t until I started working in hospitals as a spinal technician that I decided that a career in nursing was what I wanted to do. The interest for me is two-fold, I’m interested in the science behind it, and also I find it really rewarding to help people when they are at their worst.
“I’m over the moon about the scholarship, as I’m studying full-time now, so like most students, I don’t have a lot of money. I’d really like to thank Epworth Hospital for considering me for this scholarship as it will make this year of study a lot easier.”
20 May 2008 |