Scholarship program for Aboriginal students

Left to Right, CEO Michelle Bradbury, Executive Manager of Mental Health and Community, Zona Gabriel, and Chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, Joel Smeaton

Local not-for-profit, Central Coast Primary Care, has announced that it is establishing a Scholarship Program for Aboriginal students.

The program will provide support to the Central Coast Aboriginal community and aims to improve diversity of the local community services workforce through the creation and ongoing commitment to Aboriginal Student placements.

The program provides financial assistance for textbooks and other learning supports for people undertaking studies in community services related fields, along with a commitment to prioritising Aboriginal people when engaging student placements.

Central Coast Primary Care’s Board unanimously voted in favour of establishing the program at its November meeting.

Chair of the Board, Peter Coomber, said it was a great opportunity for many in the local community.

“[The Scholarship Program] is a great opportunity for us to give back to the local community,” Coomber said.

Central Coast Primary Care will work with Newcastle University and NSW TAFE to develop application processes for scholarships.

Central Coast Primary Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Bradbury, said they are working closely with the learning institutions and will release program specifics in the coming months.

“Having engaged Aboriginal students for several years, we are proud to be able to expand on this by providing financial support for textbooks and other expenses that students face,” she said.

“Our sector will be enriched by the outcomes of the scholarship.”

Central Coast Primary Care had committed to running the scholarship program for an initial period of three years.

Source:
Media release, Jan 18
Central Coast Primary Care