Garawa Nursing Scholarship
Learn more about the Queensland University of Technology students on placement in Borroloola.
Gwendolyn and Genevieve are students from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) who have embarked on a unique placement in Borroloola thanks to QUT’s Garawa Nursing Scholarship.
The Garawa Nursing Scholarship supports third year nurses to undertake a primary health care placement in a remote Northern Territory Aboriginal community.
After spending a few weeks in the remote community of Borroloola – which is about seven hours drive from Katherine and has a population of around 900 people – Gwendolyn said remote nursing is definitely for her.
“It has been a really hands-on placement – I’ve gained so much knowledge and it’s helped me to build confidence in my nursing practice. All the specialties at the health centre work so closely together and the communication is great, it’s like a little family.”
“I’d encourage any nursing students or nurses with an interest in remote health care to give a placement a go. The nursing staff at Borroloola Health Centre really want to teach you, and really want to help you. Their roles are so broad it’s an amazing opportunity to gain skills from those who’ve had really interesting careers and are dedicated to supporting the community.”
“After I graduate, I’m motivated to give back and provide care for those who live in isolated areas,” said Gwendolyn.
For Genevieve the experience she has gained from working in Borroloola is nothing like what she’d had in tertiary hospitals in the Brisbane metro area.
“The sense of community has been heart-warming. I’ve meet people, seen things and done things that I would never have the opportunity to do in a big city,” Genevieve said.
“I applied for the Garawa Nursing Scholarship as it supports third year nurses to undertake a primary health care placement in the remote Aboriginal community of Borroloola in the Northern Territory. I thought it would be the perfect stepping stone to start building a career in remote nursing while still under the university’s wing.”
“Over just a few weeks, there have been so many amazing learning opportunities – from being paired up with nursing staff for the day to jumping in the car to deliver medicines and provide home care in the community. I’ve also supported specialist services when they fly in to visit, including paediatrics, ophthalmology, dental and ear, nose and throat care.”
Genevieve said the placement had taught her some of the key characteristics that make a great remote area nurse, such as being adaptable, a willingness to learn and work within a large scope of practice and, above all, a want to genuinely help the community.
“The nurses at the Borroloola Health Centre are amazing – they have great rapport with the community and know so many people by name. When one family member comes to the health centre, you end up also treating others, because you get to have a yarn about their children, aunties and uncles. That connection is what helps create better health outcomes,” Genevieve said.
We’re proud to facilitate the collaboration of interstate students with our fantastic regional health workforce.
Learn more about remote health area opportunities in the NT
For more information about the Garawa Nursing Scholarship.
