Scholarships and grants worth more than $65,000 were awarded to staff at last week’s Donor Awards hosted by the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation.
Eight members of staff, selected for their outstanding contribution to the Women’s and the local community, were each awarded significant funding towards qualifications and studies in their respected fields.
Award recipients thanked donors for their generous support and spoke of how the grants will enable them to pursue their passion and commitment to women’s and newborn health.
Social worker Nina Grillo is a co-recipient of the Diane Foster Bursary, which will go towards supporting her post-graduate studies in Grief and Bereavement Counselling and Interventions. Nina said she felt privileged to be part of the bereavement care that the Women’s offers to families and she’s excited about furthering her education and clinical skills in this area.
CEO of the Women’s Foundation, Sarah Bernard, said the annual Donor Awards show the strong partnership between generous supporters and the hospital.
“The awards given to our workforce at this event have a profound impact – not only on the recipients, but the patients and families they care for. Each award is a powerful gift,” said Sarah.
“We look forward to seeing these eight incredible staff members continue their professional development, leadership goals and career aspirations.”
Award recipients
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Emma Steele, MRI supervisor at the Women’s and research assistant at University of Melbourne’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology received the Soroptimist Club of Chisholm Travel Grant. Emma will be presenting the results of a study aimed at exploring the physical, psychological and social needs of women with endometriosis at The 14th World Congress on Endometriosis in Shanghai next May.
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Mothercraft nurse Leanne Myers and social worker Nina Grillo received the Diane Foster Bursary. Leanne will complete the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants exam to better assist mothers with breastfeeding their infants. Nina will undertake post-graduate study in Grief and Bereavement Counselling and Interventions.
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The Oscar and Luca Scholarship in Neonatal Nursing was awarded to Lily Gawthrop and Jeanine Reyes, both neonatal nurses at the Women’s to further their learning in this area.
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The Pat Baer Scholarship for Social Work was awarded to counsellor Barbara Drossos and Kerri Felemonow from the Women’s Alcohol and Drug Service. Barbara will complete a Clinical Supervision course at The Bouverie Centre and Kerri will complete a course at the Anna Freud Centre in London and travel to Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark to learn about the therapeutic and clinical interventions they provide.
- The Betty Amsden Women’s Leadership Award was presented to Jo O’Connor, the Women’s Director of Access. She’ll attend Columbia Business School in New York to undertake the course ‘Women in Leadership: Expanding Influence and Leading Change’.