Palliative care scholarships to honour Penny’s last wishes

Central Coast palliative care clinicians have been invited to apply for a scholarship to further their learning and professional development, made possible by a heartfelt donation of more than $22,000 from Newcastle Permanent’s employees.

Applications will close on Friday, October 4 with the recipients to be announced and invited to the upcoming Palliative Care NSW State Conference at Tamworth, where 250 clinicians are expected to attend.

The conference will be held in November and will include 45 presentations and seven keynote presentations, covering a range of topics including models of care, paediatrics, culturally sensitive care, communication, multidisciplinary team approaches, and technology in palliative care.

Newcastle Permanent’s donation was made in honour of an employee who lost her battle with cancer last year, Penny Heagney, whose final wish was to raise as many funds as possible for palliative care.

The scholarships come after Newcastle Permanent employee Taylah Vickers nominated Palliative Care NSW to receive a boost in funding through the customer-owned organisation’s Employee Donation Program.

Each year Newcastle Permanent employees donate around $50,000 via payroll deductions and nominate charities for causes they are passionate about.

Employees then vote to select four charities each year to receive funding.

Ms Vickers said the nomination, known as Penny’s Promise, was made in memory of a dear colleague and friend who lost her battle to cancer last year.

“I know a lot of people at Newcastle Permanent have great memories of Penny, and nominating a charity in her name for our Employee Donation Program was an easy choice,” she said.

“It’s a way for us, as the organisation where she worked for almost 25 years, to be part of Penny’s Promise and honour her memory.