Our Grants
Annual study grants have been established to support Tasmanian nurses and midwives in achieving their goals in nursing and midwifery education and research.
The Study Grants are offered to nurses and midwives that are registered (resident in Tasmania for two years prior to application) and undertaking relevant post graduate studies within Australia.
Applications open each year from 12 May until 31 August.
The Nell Espie Study Grant
Nell Espie trained at the Royal Hobart Hospital (General), King George V Hospital, Sydney (Midwifery) and Tasmanian Department of Health (Child Health). She also undertook Nursing Administration and Community Health Nursing courses at the College of Nursing. Nell joined the army in 1951. She served overseas in Japan, Korea, Malayan Emergency and Vietnam. She spent 30 years in the army, retiring in 1980 as Matron-in-Chief and Director of Army Nursing Services, Australia.
The Nell Espie Study Grant may be awarded up to $4 000.
Applications
Applications are open each year from 12 May until 31 August
Please note that all applications, references and supporting documents must be submitted online, Please ensure you have all of the required information to complete your application. You can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it before the due date. Incomplete/draft applications will not be assessed by the Selection Committee.
The Leonie Sidebottom Study Grant
Leonie Sidebottom was the first Registrar of Nurses in Tasmania. She took up this position on 1 July 1951 and held it until 6 April 1963 when she retired. She had previously held the position of Supervisory Nurse – from 6 February 1945 – as this was the forerunner of the Registrar’s position. She applied the Nurses Registration Act in 1952 which set up the nurses registration system in Tasmania.
The Leonie Sidebottom Study Grant may be awarded up to $3 000.
Applications
Applications are open each year from 12 May until 31 August
Please note that all applications, references and supporting documents must be submitted online, Please ensure you have all of the required information to complete your application. You can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it before the due date. Incomplete/draft applications will not be assessed by the Selection Committee.
The Robyn Whitworth Study Grant
Robyn Whitworth was a community health nurse and supervisor on the North West Coast. She was one of the first palliative care nurses appointed in the community. After her untimely death, her nursing colleagues started a fund to provide a grant for Tasmanian nurses in her name.
The Robyn Whitworth Study Grant may be awarded up to $2 000.
Applications
Applications open each year from 12 May until 31 August
Please note that all applications, reference and supporting document must be submitted online. Please ensure you have all of the required information to complete your application. You can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it before the due date. Incomplete/draft applications will not be assessed by the Selection Committee.
The Returned Sisters Memorial Grant
The Returned Sisters Association of Tasmania Memorial Trust offers an annual Grant to nurses and midwives who are registered and having practised in Tasmania for at least five years to undertake a proposed leadership program or project within Tasmania, interstate or overseas.
The Returned Sisters Memorial Grant may be awarded up to $10 000 depending on the recipients proposed leadership program or project and financial plan.
Mission Statement/Objectives of the Grant
- To offer an annual Grant to nurses and midwives registered in Tasmania who wish to further advanced clinical nursing and midwifery practice and knowledge through developing leadership and advanced nursing and midwifery practice roles in the respective professions.
- To assist and support nurses and midwives registered in Tasmania to develop, achieve and realize their goals in professional nursing and midwifery practice.
Applications
Applications are open each year from 12 May until 31 August
Please note that all applications, references and supporting documents must be submitted online, Please ensure you have all of the required information to complete your application. You can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it before the due date. Incomplete/draft applications will not be assessed by the Selection Committee.
The Margaret Allwright Award for Achievement in Nursing Practice
The Margaret Allwright Award for Achievement in Nursing Practice was launched on International Nurses’ Day, 12 May 1992. The Award is offered annually to recognise a nurse or midwife whose work is of a high level of achievement and who has made a significant contribution to the principles and practice of nursing or midwifery.
The Margaret Allwright Award is a significant professional award that recognises a leader in the nursing or midwifery professions in Tasmania. The Margaret Allwright Award consists of a citation and gratuity valued at up to $1 000.
Margaret Allwright OAM
Margaret Allwright trained at St. John’s Hospital in Hobart and is the only trainee from the hospital to then become Matron (D.O.N) of St Johns. Margaret was the second Registrar of Nurses at the Nursing Board of Tasmania and Chair of the Royal College of Nursing in Tasmania from 1983-1986.
Margaret then went on to become the Chief Nursing Officer for Tasmania. Among many achievements, she was the National President of the Royal College of Nursing and received the medal of the Order of Australia in 1983 in recognition of her service to nursing.
Applications
Applications are open each year from 12 May until 31 August
Please note that all applications, references and supporting documents must be submitted online, Please ensure you have all of the required information to complete your application. You can save your application as a draft and come back to complete it before the due date. Incomplete/draft applications will not be assessed by the Selection Committee.
Stories about previous award winners
Claire Morley
Clare Morley received the Nell Espie Study Grant in 2017 to enable her to attend the 6th Annual Worldwide Nursing Conference and present a research paper as part of her PhD.
Her research saw her investigating the factors driving emergency department (ED) presentations in Tasmania. Her research identified a link between increased ED utilisation by the elderly in the South of Tasmania and patient-perceived access to care in the community for the management of chronic conditions.
Her attendance and presentation at the conference benefited her and her research in many ways. The presentation was very well received, with a number of international experts offering advice on how she could improve the next stages of her research project. She also made a number of connections with Australian and international nursing academics that she remains in contact with today.
Claire said: “Being a successful award recipient made a huge difference to me and my studies. Thank you.”
Cindy Weatherburn
As a recipient of the Leonie Sidebottom study grant in 2017, Cindy was able to attend a course – Foundations of Qualitative Methodologies, Data Collection and Analysis run by The Australian Consortium for Social & Political Research Inc.
The course consisted of a 5 day program that included practical sessions that focused on qualitative research styles and design, data collection techniques such as interviewing and conducting focus groups, data analysis and management, interpretation and display of data.
Cindy says “The knowledge and practical skills gained by attending this course have consolidated my knowledge in this area and have assisted me to conduct my research project on the Role of the Intensive Care Nurse in the Medical Emergency Team (MET).”
She added “I am grateful to the Committee for supporting me to undertake this course and look forward to completing my own research project by the end of 2020.”
Monique Johnson
Monique Johnson received the Robyn Whitworth Study Grant in November 2019. The financial assistance made it possible for her to complete her Bachelor of Nursing with Professional Honours (Primary Health) in December 2020. A huge challenge as a single mother working full time in a management role in rural community nursing.
Monique is passionate about the holistic approach of primary health and as part of her study chose to focus on palliative care and wound care as these are core services offered in community nursing.
She says, “My health special interest project was to identify the barriers to community palliative care nursing in order to develop a set of guidelines as a strategy to improve the delivery of palliative care in the community. I have been able to use these guidelines in my practice to assist new graduate nurses and new community nurses when approaching palliative care.”
Monique is now looking forward to completing her Master of Clinical Nursing (Primary Health) in 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced her passion for the delivery of health care.
Erin McLeod
In 2018 Erin McLeod was awarded the Returned Sisters Memorial Leadership Grant. The grant gave her the opportunity to pursue her professional goals in clinical based education and leadership development for nurses and midwives.
Erin said “The grant supported my application to explore and gain learnings from identified high achieving organisations within Australia and internationally that are recognised for leadership and professional and quality nursing and midwifery practice.”
With the grant Erin was able to travel to Banff, Canada and Baltimore, USA. She says “The experience of learning and working alongside and being immersed with the nurses and midwives in these identified organisations was one that inspired and has led to direct changes.” Changes now implemented in THS South as a result of this include:
Design and implementation a mentoring program with THS South for Nurses and Midwives Review of Transition to Practice education program/framework Integration of leadership into education attributes that shape the development of education programs and outcomes.
Oncology Group
The Oncology Outpatient Service at the Royal Hobart Hospital were recognised for their innovative work in caring for oncology patients by being awarded the Margaret Allwright Award for Achievement in Nursing Practice in 2017.
Since receiving the award the oncology service has presented findings from the Nurse Led Oncology Triage Service to several meetings. This included the oncology workforce at the Royal Hobart Hospital in June 2018 and following on in September an oral presentation at the International Council of Cancer Nurses Conference in New Zealand.
The award funds were shared between the two outpatient oncology units at the Royal Hobart Hospital and have contributed towards nursing staff development.
The oncology nurse triage system remains in place, with an average of ten calls being received from patients each day by the oncology nurse. The oncology nursing service are exploring options to develop and train a workforce which supports the long term sustainability of the oncology nurse triage model.