Did you know...
Residents of rural and remote Australia have poorer health outcomes than their metropolitan counterparts?
Those in rural and remote parts of Australia and Victoria live shorter lives, acquire greater levels of chronic disease, experience poorer mental health and have a much harder time accessing many primary health care services, let alone specialist care.
A key contributor to these health disparities is a severe shortage in our rural health care workforce.
Attracting and retaining skilled health professionals to work and live outside of metropolitan areas is an issue right around the world, not just in Australia.
In a special edition of the Australian Journal of Rural Health released late last year, the authors noted that:
“Having appropriately and effectively resourced health services in rural communities, now more than ever, should be one of our highest priorities...With increases in populations, increases in mental health concerns, possible decreases in physical activity and an already stretched rural health system, the time for action is now.”
When you also consider that Australia’s rural populations are ageing, then having effectively resourced health services in rural communities should now more than ever be one of our country’s highest priorities.
Without a robust rural health workforce, the health of our most vulnerable communities is sure to suffer, making quality of life in Victoria’s countryside all but unsustainable.
To bolster our commitment to supporting the rural health workforce, RFDS Victoria launched the Give Them Wings scholarship program.
Since 2012, these scholarships have been awarded annually to first year university students from regional and rural Victoria who are studying nursing or an allied health discipline.
RFDS Victoria recognises that students from rural and remote locations often face additional expenses when undertaking their studies, including in terms of travel and accommodation costs, and the scholarship program therefore seeks to provide financial assistance to help these students complete their course.
In addition to providing financial assistance, the scholarships also offer students valuable hands-on work experience, with the opportunity to spend a day with one of our patient transport or primary health care teams – either on the road or in the air.
The Give Them Wings scholarship program is also intended to encourage students to seek employment in regional or rural Victoria upon graduation, and put their vital skills to work in the communities that need them the most.
In 2022, we had five outstanding recipients.
These worthy recipients not only demonstrated a passion for their respective chosen fields of study, but for pursuing a career that would actively support health outcomes for rural Victorian communities.
They will each receive $5,000, as well as some invaluable work experience with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
And the scholarships go to...
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