Tom Sutherland Engagement Prize

A mother of four children and an Australian Army veteran win the 2021 prize.

One year since the passing of Tom Sutherland, an outstanding Flinders University Paramedicine student, prizes have been awarded to two students exhibiting the qualities that made Tom such an inspiring person.

In 2020 the Tom Sutherland Engagement Prize for Paramedicine students was established by his family to recognise first-year students who show the same passion, mateship, academic excellence and commitment to their studies, that characterised Tom.

Voted by their student peers and Paramedicine first-year coordinator, this year’s prize winners are Storm Young, a mother of four children studying at Flinders NT, and Patrick Marks, an Australian Army veteran who has returned from duty to study Paramedicine at Flinders’ Bedford Park campus.

This year is the first time Paramedicine has ever been taught in the Northern Territory. To highlight this milestone the Sutherland family decided to award an additional prize to a first-year Paramedicine student in the NT.

Storm says receiving the NT prize has reaffirmed her desire to study, despite the challenge of juggling it with her busy home life.

Along with the support and understanding of her husband and four children, she says, “I've also been extremely fortunate to have an exceptional cohort of encouraging students supporting me through this journey. Knowing that I was nominated for this prize by my peers makes it extra special to me.”

Storm grew up in Lake King, a small farming town in Western Australia, where her Mum was a volunteer St John Ambulance officer.

“She's my biggest inspiration in choosing this degree,” says Storm, who will use her prize to purchase equipment and books she hasn’t been able to afford.

“I've been borrowing old textbooks from friends who studied many years ago. I can now purchase items that can support my learning, so that one day I can become an intensive care paramedic.”

Frank Seeley AM FAICD with scholarship recipient Kieran Lobban

Storm Young, studying Paramedicine at Flinders NT

Patrick Marks has recently discharged from the Australian Army after serving seven years in the Royal Australian Regiment. His army Combat First Aid course sparked his interest in pre-hospital emergency care, and he enrolled in online Paramedic Science studies while on deployment to Afghanistan in 2019.

At Flinders University Patrick is working towards gaining his qualification on the ground and hopes to become a paramedic with SA Ambulance Service’s MedSTAR.

While very appreciative of the prize, Patrick has decided to donate his prize money to the Stafford Wulff Opportunity Scholarship – a Flinders University scholarship that supports paramedic students facing financial hardship.

“Thank you to Tom’s family for establishing this prize. It’s a privilege and an honour to receive the prize in memory of Tom,” says Patrick.

If you would like to join Tom’s family in remembering him and showing your support for Paramedicine students at Flinders University, please donate to the Tom Sutherland Engagement Prize.

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_{Published 2021. Author: Lynda Allen}