Aspiring Nurses will be supported in their future careers thanks to Garden Village scholarships and partnership with Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW
- Garden Village supports future generation of nurses with scholarship program
- Education is Key: Partnering with Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW
- Special thanks to Garden Village Auxiliary funding scholarships for new nurses
Garden Village, a leading provider of aged care home care and retirement living, is proud to celebrate International Nurses Day (IND) with a special morning tea for past, present and future nurses. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on the birthdate of Florence Nightingale. The celebration was held on Monday 13th May 2024, at the Garden Village Community Centre.
Thanks to our presenters and guests including:
- Susanne Macri AM Member of the Order of Australia. Honorary Doctorate from ACU for contribution to nursing and nursing education. Past Garden Village Board Member.
- The Garden Village Auxiliary Committee: Auxiliary President Cheryl Pearson and Treasurer Nigel Morrison
- Diane Cavanagh TAFE NSW Allied Health & Nursing Teacher and Course Coordinator
- Rebecca Schmatloch TAFE NSW TAFE Services Coordinator, Port Macquarie Campus
- Kate Wood Foye Charles Sturt University Director of External Engagement, Port Macquarie
- Dr Melissa Robinson-Reilly Charles Sturt University Nurse Practitioner – Oncology and Palliative Care
- Dr Pauletta Irwin Charles Sturt University Associate Professor School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare
Honoring Nurses and Investing in the Future
The morning tea celebration included guest speakers from Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW. The four scholarship recipients announced were:
- Garden Village Auxiliary Scholarship for two Enrolled Nurses at TAFE NSW, generously funded by the Auxiliary Committee. ($5,000 each)
- Erwin Hendrawan & Kristen Newall
- Garden Village Scholarship Fund for two Registered Nurses at Charles Sturt University. ($3,000 each over three years)
- Alexia Charlemagne & Mikaela Parker
“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our nurses, past, present, and future,” said Craig Wearne, CEO of Garden Village. “Supporting their education is an investment in the quality of care we provide to our residents. We are thrilled to partner with the Auxiliary Committee, Charles Sturt University and TAFE NSW to offer these scholarships.”
The Economic Power of Care
This year’s International Nurses Day theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future,” emphasises the vital role nurses play in healthcare. “Nurses are fundamental to support our growing ageing population especially in regional New South Wales,” said Mr Wearne. “By investing in their education and wellbeing, we pave the way for a stronger healthcare future.”
A Time for Celebration and Recognition
Many Garden Village residents now in their eighties and nineties held nursing careers in their younger years. Garden Village is a caring community and the Auxiliary has generously given back to support future nurses.
Garden Village Auxiliary President Cheryl Pearson said “The GV Auxiliary is delighted to fund two Garden Village Scholarships to support the next generation of nurses. International Nurses Day is a special day for many residents and it’s wonderful to bring nurses together across the generations. The scholarships support students undertaking the Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW. This is a great opportunity to upskill as an Enrolled Nurse with $5,000 to support nursing studies.”
Charles Sturt University leads the way for Registered Nurse Students
“As Australia’s leading regional university, one of our core functions is to serve our communities through the provision of a highly skilled and compassionate healthcare workforce. Creating meaningful and lasting place-based partnerships with industry and other institutions is a key component to ensure successful outcomes for our students and to deliver high quality health outcomes for the Port Macquarie- Hastings community.
We recognise the importance of this collaborative opportunity with Garden Village to assist our students to hone their skills in empathy, patience, and respect for the dignity of our older community members. We work in partnership to prepare our nurses to provide high-quality, compassionate care for our rapidly growing elderly population.
We are thrilled that successful Charles Sturt Nursing students are the beneficiaries of these scholarships and can combine their clinical studies in our nursing simulation labs on campus with the invaluable on the ground work placement and employment opportunities in a residential setting,” said Associate Professor Pauletta Irwin – School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Health Sciences
TAFE NSW showcases Diploma of Nursing
“TAFE NSW is committed to working in partnership with businesses to deliver industry-led and customer focused outcomes for our community, and relationships with local organisations like Garden Village are critical to ensure we’re providing our learners with the best opportunities for work placement and employment.
TAFE NSW is proud to be involved in the Garden Village Enrolled Nurses Scholarship program by delivering the education and training for scholarship recipients. We appreciate the opportunity to showcase the Diploma of Nursing education pathway with staff, residents, and guests,” said TAFE NSW Team Leader Allied Health and Nursing, Gabrielle Rodda.
Sue Macri spoke about Dr Lowitja O’Donaghue who became the first Aboriginal person to train as a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Dr O’Donaghue was the first Aboriginal person to be named a Companion of the Order of Australia, and the first to address the UN general assembly. Garden Village acknowledges the important work of The Lowitja Institute to advance Indigenous health outcomes and the Foundation also offers scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses.
The Lowita Foundation was established in honour of the extraordinary legacy of the dedicated lifetime of work of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation creates opportunities for advancement and change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Garden Village is currently working towards our Reflect Reconciliation Plan so it’s great to hear more about Dr O’Donoghues legacy during Reconciliation Action Month,” added Craig Wearne.
