Student scholarships

After the shock of having a stillborn son, James Cheesman, at 33 years of age, was prompted to assess his values and busy work life. He moved with his young family to the Riverland to seek a slower pace of life, and took up a nursing degree at Flinders University’s Rural Clinical School in Renmark.

During his studies, James had the opportunity to do his required eight-week nursing placement at the Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department and with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. However, he struggled to meet the travel and accommodation costs involved in doing the placement away from home.

To relieve the costs of taking up the placement James received a financial hardship scholarship, allowing him to gain invaluable real-life experience.

‘The scholarship enabled me to focus on learning and on my nursing practice while I was in the Northern Territory,’ says James. ‘It was an opportunity I wouldn’t have been able to take up without the additional financial support.’

‘Working in this high calibre environment showed me what I was capable of, and has had a huge influence on my nursing practice and the future plans for my nursing career.’

Thanks to the support of our donors, James has now finished his degree and is working as a Registered Nurse at the Renmark Paringa District Hospital. He now lives in Monash, in the Riverland, with his wife and two children.

This year the University’s Student Impact Scholarship program was able to provide ten students in financial need with a $5,000 scholarship. The funds help to ease the financial burden of relocating from rural and regional areas to study, purchasing necessary study resources, and meeting living expenses so that students can focus on their studies, achieve their degree and work towards their personal career goals.

100% of your tax-deductible donation will support Flinders University students in financial need through our Student Scholarships program.

_{^{Published 2018.. Author: Lynda Allen.}}

James Cheesman gaining real-life experience on his nursing placement.