Inspiro Community Health awarded four tertiary scholarships totalling $22,500 to health students in the Yarra Ranges on Thursday 28 April.
The Inspiro Tertiary Health Scholarships reward local future health professionals who demonstrate a genuine heart for making a difference in their community.
Major award winner Ellie Davis from Belgrave Heights is undertaking a Bachelor of Exercise Sports Science.
She donates her time to a youth camp and swim school to help children and adolescents learn essential skills and “feel like the best version of themselves.”
“My long-term goal is to work in a rural setting as a secondary physical education teacher and provide health programs for the rural community,” Ms Davis said.
“This scholarship will allow me to purchase textbooks, equipment and additional certifications and help relieve financial stress as I work, study and complete placement.”
Lilydale resident Nikki Madgwick also won a major award for her work in the Indigenous community.
Ms Madgwick is studying a Graduate Diploma in Trauma Informed Processwork Psychotherapy and is the Community Engagement Worker at Oonah – an Indigenous health service located in the Yarra Valley.
“As a proud Worimi-Biripi woman who works and lives on Wurundjeri Country, contributing to my community is at the core of all that I do,” she said.
“I want to work at the grassroots level to support Community in healing the wounds of colonisation, so they can walk confidently into their future.”
“Having this financial support gives me peace of mind and is a tremendous support for my financial security.”
Oonah co-founder and mother to Nikki Madgwick, Miranda Madgwick received the $2,500 encouragement award.
Ms Madgwick has worked to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people in Melbourne’s east for 25 years.
She’s undertaking the same course as her daughter to deliver high-quality mental health care and assist in closing the gap in Indigenous Australian communities.
Belinda Battey from Belgrave South won the second $2,500 encouragement award.
She’s studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy to help others “be who they want to be, make the most of their life, and be active members of their community.”
Since the scholarships began in 2006, Inspiro has awarded more than $150,000 to deserving recipients.
Many recipients go on to work at Inspiro or contribute to the Yarra Ranges community in other ways.
You can donate to the Inspiro Scholarship Program to support students like Ellie, Nikki, Miranda and Belinda in the Yarra Ranges Shire.
