Hayley grew up in Broken Hill and studied chemistry after high school, and did a PhD in Chemistry before embarking on a medical degree at University of Wollongong.
She is currently nearing the end of a 12-month placement in Broken Hill and has worked in the Broken Hill Health Service emergency department and GP placements at the Clive Bishop Medical Centre, mentored by Dr Justin Gladman.
“My experiences in the ED and the GP service have been very rewarding and it’s been lovely to see doctors who grew up in Broken Hill returning to work here,” she said. “Once I finish my training, I can see myself returning to Broken Hill to work and I’d like to follow the Rural Generalist pathway.”
The Fay Newell Scholarship is an annual award of $5,000 funded through a generous gift provided to the Broken Hill Health Service by the late Fay Newell OAM.
Ms Newell was a nursing sister at the Broken Hill and District Hospital, having begun her nursing career there in 1954 and retired from nursing in 1991. In 2009, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Broken Hill as a nursing sister, mentor to nurses and allied health professionals, palliative care volunteer and historian. The previous year, she was named Broken Hill's Citizen of the Year in the annual Australia Day awards for her contribution to the community. Ms Newell passed away in Broken Hill on 24 August, 2020. She was 82.
The scholarship is awarded to encourage excellence in the education and training of students in medicine, nursing, aged care or specialisation as a doctor or nurse to care for newly born infants and their mothers and fathers, care of toddlers, children and young adults.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be undertaking studies in one of the areas as listed above, and must reside and work in Broken Hill.
Hayley will use the scholarship to assist with costs associated for her medical placements and next year, her internship.