Recently Mary presented the 2014 and 2015 Peter Sharp Scholarships to Amanda Steel and Jordan Savage at an award ceremony held at the Australian National University (ANU).
The scholarship program is named after Dr Peter Sharp AM, who made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the community, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the local region; and serves to support medical students enrolled in the Indigenous health stream throughout their studies.
“The program aims to address regional Indigenous health issues by increasing enrolment rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students, and by providing a targeted support program for students who are studying Indigenous Health at ANU Medical School.
“As a person who worked as a remote area nurse in Aboriginal communities for 12 years, I am pleased to have presented the 2014 and 2015 Peter Sharp Scholarship awards to Amanda and Jordan.” Mary said.
“Amanda is a Wiradjuri woman with family originating from and residing in Cowra. She completed her undergraduate degree in Science at ANU and is heavily involved with the Indigenous community at ANU.
“Jordan is a Kaandju descendant on his mother’s side, Badu Island descendant on his father’s side and has completed undergraduate studies in medical science at the University of Canberra. He is currently a first year ANU medical student and has worked with the local Aboriginal Medical Services at Winnunga Nimmityah and as a child and adolescent mental health worker.
“The Peter Sharp Scholarship program contributes to achieving the vision of ACT Health’s Reconciliation Action Plan that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the ACT and region enjoy a quality of life, life expectancy and health status equal to all Canberrans,” Mary concluded.
Gallery 2015 Image 18
