On Thursday 27 April 2017 Inspiro awarded university scholarships to four talented Yarra Ranges students, Rebecca Williamson from Mooroolbark, Jasmine Madge from Lilydale, Jaimee Warren from The Patch and Zoe Vickers from Healesville. They were awarded up to $3,000 each in scholarships, as part of Inspiro’s annual scholarship program.
The awards were presented to students by Alana Killen, Board Director and Chief Executive Officer at Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Hamish Russell, Inspiro volunteer and former Board director.
Inspiro, a local health centre providing services including dental, physio, podiatry and diabetes assistance, has sites in Lilydale, Tecoma, Healesville, and a new site in development in Belgrave, and has been awarding scholarships to the local community for 12 years.
Inspiro CEO, Karyn McPeake, said the scholarships recognise the importance of providing needed financial support to the Yarra Ranges community.
“These awards recognise and reward local students, providing them with financial aid to help with the costs of their studies,” she said.
“This year’s winners have demonstrated a passion to succeed and a strong commitment to help improve the health and wellbeing of our local community, ideals that Inspiro value greatly.”
“Awarding this $10,000 will make a big difference in the lives of these students and to our community. We encourage anyone studying in tertiary health to make a scholarship application in 2018” Ms McPeake said.
On behalf of everybody at Inspiro, congratulations to the winners!
More about our award winners
Inspiro $3,000 Tertiary Health Scholarship major award winner: Jaimee Warren.
Jaimee has a bachelor of science (Science Scholars Program) and is currently studying a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne. Jaimee resides in The Patch and is involved in the local community in several ways including being the supervisor of an after-school study program, teaching ballet at kinder, volunteering for St John’s Ambulance and private tutoring. It takes Jaimee almost 2 hours to commute to university every day.
For Jaimee the scholarship will permit her to stop stressing about money and focus more on the things that are important in becoming a doctor, enabling her to purchase stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, professional clothing, and text books.
Inspiro $3,000 Tertiary Health Scholarship major award winner: Zoe Vickers.
Zoe is studying Psychology and Science at Deakin University with plans on a career as a Bioethicist. She lives in Healesvile and like Jaimee, also has a long commute to get to Uni. She is actively involved in the local community in animal welfare work, working in area’s including animal welfare fundraising, promotional events and public education.
With a genetic illness called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Zoe understands the challenges that serious illnesses present. She has created and run various groups including a space for people who have a chronic illness and/or disabilities.
Zoe says that the scholarship will help by not only helping to fund her school needs, but also by reducing the stress of financial hardship. Her current medical needs, housing, hospital trips (petrol, parking, car maintenance), are beyond her means and she has been going without needed medication, and has even been unable to get to hospital appointments from lack of money.
Inspiro $2,000 Encouragement Award: Rebecca Williamson.
Rebecca is studying medicine at the University of Melbourne and lives in Mooroolbark. She enjoys working in the community in various ways including; visiting elderly residents at nursing homes, providing nutritious breakfast to primary school students, fundraising for local clubs and volunteering at her school library.
Rebecca says that the scholarship will allow her to complete her very demanding course without the added stress of worrying about fees and trying to fit in more work, which leads to a negative impact on her grades. Rebecca says that as she has a number of course materials e.g. tuning fork and otoscope that she had put off purchasing, the scholarship will allow her to purchase these items.
Inspiro $2,000 Encouragement Award: Jasmine Madge.
Jasmine has a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and is studying medicine at Monash University. She lives in Lilydale and enjoys running sport, exercise and dance programs at local primary schools, and assisting young girls at her local dance school.
Jasmine will be able to decrease her hours at her part-time job so that she can focus more on her studying and placement to become a successful nurse. She will also be able to spend more time at home assisting her mum in household chores so that she can work while taking care of her sisters.
Jasmine said that the scholarship will enable her to purchase extra text books and materials to help her become a more skilled nurse for her patients. She said that the money will enable her to spend less time working and more time doing the study she needs.
