Sister Elizabeth Kenny Scholarship

In 2024, UniSQ will offer one Sister Elizabeth Kenny Scholarship to support a student continuing their studies in the Bachelor of Nursing.

Elizabeth Kenny was born in Warialda in NSW in 1880. Moving to Queensland, she became a bush nurse, travelling through the outback, treating anyone who couldn’t get to a doctor. Before World War I she set up a cottage hospital at Clifton in Queensland. With no formal training as a nurse, Sister Kenny became one of Australia’s most famous therapists and helped thousands of people around the world. Her treatment helped polio patients and those with cerebral palsy by using hot baths and encouraging movement.

In 1940, Sister Kenny travelled to the United States where she was given almost instant celebrity status. In 1942, the Sister Kenny Institute was established in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1943 "And They Shall Walk: The Life Story of Sister Elizabeth Kenny" was written by Martha Ostenso, in collaboration with Sister Elizabeth Kenny, while in 1946, the biographical film "Sister Kenny", starring Rosalind Russell, was released. Suffering from Parkinson’s disease, she retired to Toowoomba in 1951 and passed away on 30 November 1952. She is buried at Nobby, where there is a dedicated museum in her honour.

The scholarship was initiated by the Sister Elizabeth Kenny Memorial Fund (SEKMF) and has been supported through the SEKMF's generous donation for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance to nursing students interested in rural and remote nursing opportunities.

The scholarship will have a maximum value of $4000 to be paid in one instalment.

Applicants must:

be a domestic student currently residing in Australia
be continuing their studies full-time at UniSQ in the Bachelor of Nursing in Study Period 1 2024 (e.g., Semester 1 2024)
have, as at the release of results for Semester 2 2023:
- a minimum of 8 study units completed and credited towards their current program
- a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 4.0.

For further details, please view the Scholarship Award Conditions.

Applicants must:

address each personal statement question below (250 words maximum per question):
- your reflections on your studies at UniSQ to date and how you will make the most of your remaining studies
- how you see yourself as a future professional within your field
- your interest to practise nursing in rural and remote communities.
provide evidence of your current financial circumstances.

*Applicants will also be assessed on academic achievement.

Please Note: If an applicant holds other UniSQ awarded scholarships, this may be taken into consideration in selection. There are some scholarships that cannot be held together.

Application must be made via the UniSQ Scholarships Online Application Management System.

If you require assistance in completing your application please download the Scholarship Online Application Manual.

Monday 20 November 2023 at 11.59pm (AEST)

University of Southern Queensland
Phone: 1800 269 500
Email: study@unisq.edu.au

UniSQ reserves the right to alter the conditions of the scholarship/bursary based upon exceptional circumstances. UniSQ reserves the right to not award the scholarship/bursary in a given year.