Broken Hill local and Registered Nurse, Nikola Chrisakis, has been awarded the prestigious Fay Newell Scholarship for 2024.
Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Wendy Gleeson, extended her congratulations to Ms Chrisakis, who is currently studying to become a midwife and working part time in the Maternity Unit at Broken Hill Hospital.
“The Fay Newell 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,” Ms Gleeson said.
“I want to congratulate Ms Chrisakis on receiving this scholarship. We were very impressed with her application and commitment to furthering her studies, skills and knowledge in her chosen speciality.
“I also want to thank all of the passionate students who applied for this year’s scholarship.”
Ms Chrisakis was born and raised in Broken Hill and started work at Broken Hill Hospital as an Assistant in Nursing in 2021. She has since received her Bachelor of Nursing and completed her new graduate year in FWLHD.
Ms Chrisakis said she was very grateful for the scholarship and that it would be a big financial help in pursuing her studies.
“I have a passion for caring for people, especially those in rural and remote areas challenged by isolation and access to services,” Ms Chrisakis said.
“When I graduate, I would love to continue working in the Midwifery Group Practice Clinic at Broken Hill Hospital to extend my learning and increase my knowledge in preparing women for pregnancy and the care of newborns. I also have plans to study neonatal intensive care.”
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 Ms Fay Newell OAM.
Ms Newell was a nursing sister at the Broken Hill and District Hospital, having started her nursing career there in 1954 and retiring from nursing in 1991. In 2009, Ms Newell 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.
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.
This is one of a range of supports available to health students studying in regional locations, including in FWLHD.
Students are also eligible to apply for the NSW Government’s Tertiary Health Student Subsidy if they are studying a health-related university degree and intend to work in NSW Health on graduation. For more information visit the NSW Health website.
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