The WA Branch of the Association in conjunction with the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway) offers scholarships to graduates with appropriate health qualifications to work in the field of health promotion. The graduate scholarships provide training and work experience opportunities to graduates commencing careers in the field of health promotion and provide hosting organisations with valuable funding to deliver professional projects.

2008 ATSI and Graduate Scholarships – Information and application forms now available.

Information and application forms for the 2008 ATSI and Graduate Scholarships are now available!

IMPORTANT DATES:
Noon Friday 30 November 2007	Applications close.
Friday 14 December 2007	Interviews with shortlisted applicants conducted.
Monday 17 December 2007	All applicants notified of the results.
Early February 2008	Formal announcement of successful recipients at AHPA WA Branch AGM.
Friday 29 February 2008	Successful scholarship recipients to have commenced placements.

For additional information, or a copy of the application kit, please contact: Janet Gethin (Executive Officer, WA Branch) on ahpa@heartfoundation.org.au or 08 9382 5921.


Graduate Scholarship Recipient 2007

Blanche Waddell is completing her AHPA Graduate Scholarship at the WA School Canteen Association. Having graduated last year from UWA with a Bachelor of Health Science, Blanche feels "the scholarship is offering a fantastic opportunity to begin my career in health promotion".

Blanche is undertaking a pilot project aimed at improving the nutritional value of foods and beverages sold in sporting and racing club food outlets. Blanche commenced in early March and is working closely with five sporting and racing clubs in the metropolitan area to develop resources to support the implementation of healthier food and beverages.

Following this, it is intended the resources could be adapted to suit other sporting organisations and local government agencies. The project is exciting and challenging and is continually presenting me with new experiences in the field of nutrition and health promotion.


Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarships

AHPA WA, with the generous support of Healthway, has for the third year offered scholarships to Indigenous people interested in a career in health promotion. The scholarships provide funding for a six month placement with an agency providing training and health promotion experience. Scholarship recipients must have post-secondary qualifications in health or social sciences. Their applications must describe a plan to coordinate a specific project under the supervision of an appropriate health promotion professional. The project can form part of an existing program or a new initiative. This year three scholarships were awarded, bringing the total number to thirteen, with two being conducted in rural areas and one in Perth.

Vattessa Colbung is a descendant of Noongar and Wongatha families and was born in Kalgoorlie. She will be working with WA Country Health Service - Goldfields as a Smoke Free Indigenous Project Officer for the region. During 2007 the health service will be making all sites smoke free for staff, patients and visitors. Vattessa's role is to assist implementation by developing culturally appropriate promotional resources, provide information to communities regarding the Smoke Free procedures, support people who wish to quit smoking and report issues raised by Indigenous people about the smoke free policy.

Annette Pepper is a Nhanda woman from the Yamaji region in the states Midwest. She will be on placement with the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health in Geraldton working with Aboriginal women in breast cancer education and support. "I want to increase the understanding of early detection of cancer in my community and also create a mechanism to improve the support for Aboriginal women living with cancer" Annie says. She will also investigate the use of traditional heelers and bush medicine in the treatment of cancer.

Betty Ugle is one of 13 children. Her father was from Narrogin and her mother from Moora. With a family history of Type II Diabetes, Betty is very keen to promote healthy lifestyle as a means of preventing chronic disease. Her project, Weight-off Management, Activity and Nutrition – WOMAN, will be conducted at the South Lake Ottey Family and Neighbourhood Centre and involves delivering information regarding diet, exercise and the importance of regular medical check-ups.

AHPA WA is committed to building health promotion capacity in Indigenous people. The committee and members wish these women well in their projects and future health promotion careers.




Graduate Scholarship Recipient 2006

2006 Graduate Scholarship Recipients (Alexa Wilkins, Sarah Neumann, Gemma Malatesta and Shane Pope with Jo Clarkson (Healthway)		2005 Scholarship recipients Jasmin Chipper and Colby Sidebottom with Jo Clarkson (Healthway).
2005 ATSI Scholarship Recipients (left to right): Jo-Anne D'Cress, Drug and Alcohol Office, Lynette Jetta, South West Community Drug Service Team; Roberta Mongoo, Carnarvon Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation; Glenys Rivers, North Metropolitan Population Health Unit - East; Bill Turner, South West Community Drug Service Team, Joan Lever, Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service; and Rhonda Cox, North Metropolitan Population Health Unit - East.