Congratulations to Westpac Future Leader Scholar, Tasmanian, Catelyn Richards whose postgraduate studies will help shape the future healthcare system with a nursing focus.
Through the scholarship, Catelyn will undertake a Master of Leadership in Health and Human Services at the University of Tasmania to build her capacity to shape healthcare systems to be more accessible, equitable, sustainable and nurse-driven.
Catelyn, based in Bridport, is a proud Registered Nurse, humanitarian, and passionate advocate for environmental sustainability.
She has worked volunteering with organisations such as the Oaktree Foundation, AusAid, the Australian College of Nursing and the Climate and Health Alliance. Catelyn has previously been recognised as an Emerging Nurse Leader with the Australian College of Nursing and has been a finalist in the Tasmanian Southern Cross Young Achiever Awards.
“I fervently believe that leadership must be deeply grounded in a desire to improve the communities in which we live and work,” Catelyn said.
“Nurses make up approximately 60 percent of the health care workforce nationwide. I’d like to see nurses being more engaged in conversations about how we can make our health system better, hence my pursuit of the master's degree I’ve chosen.
"The Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship program will challenge me to take bigger leaps than I have previously had the courage to, with the best support available."
Having grown up in a regional setting, Catelyn is passionate about rural and regional health, and minimising waste, such as plastics and electricity in hospitals. She is also interested in workforce sustainability, and how issues such as extreme weather events can put extra loads on nursing staff.
The postgraduate scholarships, each valued up to $120,000, will enable these PhD and master's students to pursue their research, as well as connect them to a network of like-minded individuals who are driven to find innovative solutions to problems facing our local and global communities.
Acting CEO of Westpac Scholars Trust Amy Lyden says investing in these ambitious individuals is important to building Australia’s future prosperity.
“As the nation seeks to build a sustainable and inclusive future, Australia is looking to a new generation of leaders. As well as the financial support, a key part of the Westpac Scholars program is for each scholarship recipient to undertake a transformative leadership development program to equip them with the skills, networks and opportunities they need to reach their potential.
“We’ve worked closely with our university partners and Westpac to deliver transformational programs that not only challenge the Scholars’ thinking, but also increases their access to new networks and opportunities,” Lyden said.
Scholarship recipients also become lifelong members of the program’s alumni, the Westpac 100 Scholars Network (W100).
Learn more about applying for the the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship.
For information about studying postgraduate qualifications in Nursing.