EGHS awards scholarships

Since 2009, the EGHS Building for the Future Foundation has awarded scholarships to staff valued at more than $700,000, to enable them to undertake further studies in their chosen field.

At the 30^th Annual General Meeting, EGHS awarded scholarships to 10 staff, including scholarships from the Foundation, as well as Epworth Healthcare, the Angela Laidlaw Clinical Scholarship and the Ord Family Scholarship.

The Building for the Future Foundation made available scholarships up the value of $30,000 this year to ensure the long-term viability of services. The recipients of the 2025 Foundation scholarships were Shonna Stewart and Joshua Ramsdell who will both undertake a Bachelor of Nursing.

Kate Pitcher was the recipient of the Building for the Future Foundation $20,000 scholarship to support an EGHS employee to complete a Master course. Kate will undertake a Master of Leadership and Management in Healthcare.

The Foundation also made available three scholarships in the name of Joe Kapp up to the value of $15,000.

The recipients of the 2025 Joe Kapp scholarships were Leslie Pyke, who will undertake a Diploma in Leadership and Management, Hannah Jennings, who will undertake a Women and Leadership Australia Impact Program and David Romeril, who will undertake a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.

Epworth Healthcare generously made available a scholarship up to the value of $15,000, to ensure improvements in the long term viability of obstetric services.

EGHS is grateful for the support of Epworth Healthcare who assists EGHS in recruiting and training midwives.

The recipient of the 2025 scholarship was Bree Lowe, who will undertake a Graduate Diploma of Midwifery.

The Angela Laidlaw Clinical Scholarship is donated by the Laidlaw family in memory of Angela. This scholarship creates opportunities for staff working in clinical areas to be supported in recognition for effort and where they are prepared to demonstrate commitment to study in addition to the usual requirements of their role.

The recipient of the 2025 Angela Laidlaw Clinical Scholarship was Marnie Skiller, who will undertake a Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing.

Keith Little generously provided two scholarships in the name of Ray and Wayne Ord.

Decades after receiving a free university education degree, he gave the proceeds of the sale of a block of land to EGHS to fund scholarships.

The recipients of the 2025 Ray and Wayne Ord Scholarship were Neen Neen Wai Ju, who will under a Graduate Certificate of Perioperative Nursing, and Angela Nagpal, who will undertake a Certificate IV in Human Resources Management.

The EGHS Building for the Future Foundation also made available five $500 scholarships for local secondary students who are studying in a health related field.

Recipients were Teyjeshwar Thandi (Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging), Miki Hermosilla (Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science), Emma Vallance (Diploma of Nursing), Seth Dairo (Diploma of Nursing) and Kiara Davis (Bachelor of Nursing).

EGHS Board Chair Cameron Evans congratulated all staff who were awarded scholarships and wished them well in their studies.

“East Grampians Health Service is grateful for the support of the Building for the Future Foundation, Epworth Healthcare, the Laidlaw family, Keith Little and Monika and the late Joe Kapp, in enabling our staff to pursue further study and improve their skills, which ultimately benefits the health service and the community,” Mr Evans said.