New scholarship program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students -- International Nurses Day (May 12)
Western Sydney University and Baxter Healthcare partner to support local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Scholarships of $9,000 per student to support two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying Nursing and Midwifery.
Additional $2,000 to support an Indigenous student studying the Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health as part of the School’s partnership with Karitane.
Sydney, Australia -
Baxter Healthcare (Baxter) and Western Sydney University today announced a new scholarship program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and health programs.
The announcement on International Nurses Day (May 12) extends the two organisation’s commitment to the Western Sydney region and excellence in healthcare learning and services.
The Baxter Healthcare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship in Nursing will sponsor two final year Indigenous students at Western Sydney University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, with individual scholarships of $9,000 per students.
The partnership between Baxter and Western Sydney University also extends to a new $2000 prize to support an Aboriginal and Torres Strait student completing the Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health in partnership with Karitane.
As an anchor institution in the Greater Western Sydney region, Western Sydney University supplies over 75% of Western Sydney’s health workforce.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery has the highest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student intake across the whole of Western Sydney University with over 100 students identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolling in 2020.
General Manager for Baxter Australia & New Zealand, Steven Flynn, said Baxter Healthcare was committed to partnering with the local community and Indigenous organisations to tackle inequities in healthcare as part of our mission to save and sustain lives.
“As a local medical manufacturer in Western Sydney for more than 45 years, Baxter is proud to partner with Western Sydney University to support the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses” Mr Flynn said.
“Community-led health programs and the voice of local Indigenous communities are essential to closing the gap on health inequalities among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Our partnership with Western Sydney University aims to help remove barriers and empower Indigenous communities to develop and lead programs that meet their needs.”
Professor Deborah Hatcher, Dean School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University said: “Understanding how health and wellbeing impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is vitally important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, many of whom plan to work in communities in remote, rural and urban settings.
“Access to these scholarships and unique placement opportunities through the generous support of Baxter not only empowers these students and enhances their learning, but will have a lasting positive impact on Indigenous peoples, their families and communities across Australia.”
About Western Sydney University
As an anchor institution in the Greater Western Sydney region, Western Sydney University’s commitment to its region is embedded in its mission, goals and decadal strategies.
‘Western’ strives to be a university of international standing and outlook, achieving excellence through scholarship, teaching, learning, research and service to local and international communities, beginning with the people of Western Sydney. Western Sydney University is ranked in the top two percent of Universities in the world and the Top 100 universities in the world under the age of 50 (Times Higher Education 2018) with 85% of the Universities research rated as world standard or above.
About Baxter
Every day, millions of patients and caregivers rely on Baxter’s leading portfolio of critical care, nutrition, renal, hospital and surgical products. For more than 85 years, we’ve been operating at the critical intersection where innovations that save and sustain lives meet the healthcare providers that make it happen. With products, technologies and therapies available in more than 100 countries, Baxter’s employees worldwide are now building upon the company’s rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of transformative healthcare innovations. To learn more, visit www.baxterhealthcare.com.au and follow us on LinkedIn.