First Nations paramedicine scholarships offered at University of Notre Dame

• Four scholarships will be on offer to First Nations Registered Nurses looking to get Paramedicine qualifications.
• Shaw and Partners Foundation donated $40,000 to create the First Nations scholarships.
• The scholarships will be offered in 2025 at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle.

The University of Notre Dame Australia, in partnership with St John WA (SJWA), is offering its first scholarship to First Nations Registered Nurses to undertake a Graduate Diploma of Paramedicine Program.

The scholarships were made possible by Shaw and Partners, who generously donated $50,000 via the Shaw and Partners Foundation to SJWA for further education and First Aid training to boost community resilience and improve capacity to manage medical emergencies for First Nations people.

The Shaw and Partners Foundation sets out to “instil and perpetuate real change in the fabric of Australian Society”.

Shaw and Partners WA State Manager and Foundation Chair, Russell Karlson, said a donation to St John WA not only aligns with this mission, it echoes the education support that the BPF Group strongly advocates and encourages through its community commitments.

“We are proud to be associated with St John WA and offer the donation to fund these scholarships, advancing the qualifications of First Nations Registered Nurses into the Paramedicine Program at Notre Dame University,” Mr Karlson said.

The four scholarships, valued at $10,000 each, will provide financial support and encouragement to First Nations students commencing the Graduate Diploma of Paramedicine Program in the School of Medicine at Notre Dame in Fremantle.

The program is for registered nurses doing additional education to become a paramedic and the scholarship will cover full fees for the year for students funded through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP).

Notre Dame National Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement, Associate Professor Clive Walley said the scholarships will be available in 2025, with the ambition that it is ongoing.

“This is great news and very important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students working towards a career in paramedicine,” he said.

“Notre Dame is pleased to partner with St John WA and Shaw and Partners on such an important initiative, which will make a real difference in the lives of our students.”

SJWA Paramedic and First Nations Relationship Specialist Jeremy Maitland-Smith said the scholarships will support SJWA’s expanding culturally responsive programs in First Nations communities.

“This is an incredible win-win situation which will accelerate SJWA’s regional programs with highly skilled culturally competent clinicians with thorough knowledge of hospital and prehospital skills,” Mr Maitland-Smith said.

Further information can be found here: FINAL-Shaw-and-Partners-First-Nations-Paramedicine-Scholarship-Conditions.pdf

Applications are now open via here: Notre Dame Scholarships Application | Notre Dame