WSLHD Board launches first ever bursary program
Western Sydney Local Health District’s Board has launched its first ever bursary program, providing staff with financial support to further their careers.
The bursary program has been generously funded by a philanthropic trust, voluntarily contributed by members of the WSLHD board and its comittees, keen to support individual staff in their education and training pursuits.
The inaugural bursary recipients were announced on October 31 by board chair Richard Alcock and NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff, who were on-hand to present certificates to the successful applicants.
Mr Alcock said the bursary was a milestone for the board.
“This program represents the board’s dedication to philanthropy and investing in the LHD’s hard-working staff,” he said.
“All the recipients will receive a one-off payment to support their personal clinical or research training; we are proud to be able to support these staff in their future endeavours.”
NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff congratulated the board for taking a “courageous and innovative step.”
The bursary recipients and members of the board enjoyed afternoon tea before staff from the Westmead Redevelopment took Ms Koff, board members, Sydney Children’s Hospital chief executive Michael Brydon and University of Sydney Professor Chris Peck on a tour of key 2017 project milestones.
The contingent and the Westmead Redevelopment team, led by project director Matt Vizard and strategy and business development director Stefan Perkovic, visited the new Westmead Education & Conference Centre (WECC) before heading to the refurbished gastroenterology ward.
The tour concluded with a viewing of the site of the new central acute services building, due for completion in 2020.
Funding for the bursary program will be distributed annually and grants are available to all individuals who work within WSLHD.
The 2017 bursary recipients were:
- Rebecca Lee – for Masters in Health Professional Education from Monash University Melbourne.
- Dayle Tierney – for Diploma in Mental Health through HETI
- Nigina Hashimi – for Honours/Masters program in research & Bachelor of Nursing & Midwifery
- Belinda Ford – for an international study tour of world-leading eye centres in Finland & England
- Dr Marjan Khajehei – for a research project into the effect of length of postnatal hospital stay
- Marie March – for Doctor of Philosophy from University of Sydney
- Christine Coorey – for Preceptorship at the Quality Use of Medicines & Pharmacy Research Centre at the University of South Australia
- Dearne Cruz – for National Paediatric Dietetic Training Course
- Sally Neideck – for Masters of Quality Services (Health & Safety)
- Richard Baldacchino – for Master of Mental Health Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
- Bobbi Henao Urrego – for Social Work Leadership Enhancement program in New York
