New Scholarship for Western Queensland Aged Care Staff

Leading not-for-profit aged care and community services provider Churches of Christ Care is partnering with a philanthropic foundation to provide opportunities for those wishing to study and work in western Queensland.

The newly announced scholarship set up by the Stockwell Webber Foundation and Churches of Christ in Queensland will provide support to people from Central West and South West Queensland wishing to undertake studies in nursing, management, or another field directly related to the provision of aged and community services.

Those applying for the $5,000 scholarship need to be committed to remain in, or return to, rural or remote communities to live and work in their area of study.

Acting Chief Operating Officer Gerry Weatherall said that the scholarship honours the organisation’s mission of bringing the light of Christ into communities.

"We are proud to have partnered with the Stockwell Webber Foundation to offer this educational funding to those caring in communities, many of which are in great need," Mr Weatherall said.

"Those living in the Central West and the South West of Queensland have been through very tough times, from droughts to the downturn in a number of industries and significant financial hardship."

"If this scholarship enables someone who was thinking they had to leave the area to study and work, to now stay and build a career caring for people in the local area, then this is a win-win for all involved."

While the organisation provides multiple aged and community services through Churches of Christ Care, the scholarship is open to all those working in these fields, regardless of employer.

Stockwell Webber Foundation director and Blackall local Owen Stockwell said he was pleased to be able to support western care staff in pursuit of their goals.

"Nurses, carers, managers, basically anybody working in the fields of aged and community care work exceptionally hard for those they care for and the wider community," Mr Stockwell said.

"To be able to encourage some of these caring staff to become caring professionals in our rural areas strengthens the delivery of care and helps strengthen the resilience of local communities."

Applications for the Stockwell Webber Foundation and Churches of Christ in Queensland Scholarship are now open. As an ongoing scholarship, multiple recipients will be announced each year.

To find out more information or to obtain an application form, please contact Lorraine Lane from Churches of Christ in Queensland on 07 3327 1606 or email leadlearndevelop@cofcqld.com.au.

Click here to find out more about Churches of Christ Care's aged care services.