We were delighted to host Dame Quentin Bryce as our special guest at the presentation of this year’s recipient of the Dame Quentin Palliative Care Nursing Scholarship.
The successful recipient of this year’s scholarship, Emily Hicks, was inspired to become a palliative care nurse when her aunt, Kathy Webster, was admitted to St Vincent’s Caritas Christi facility in Kew.
It was a difficult time for her family as they entered one of the most challenging stages since the diagnosis of her aunt’s brain tumour.
“I was really touched by how gentle the staff were with her and how they kept us all so well informed in such a dignified way,” Emily recalled.
IMAGE CAPTION: Pictured, from left: Angela Nolan, Emily Hicks and Dame Quentin Bryce.
Emily studied nursing at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and did her placement training at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne but it was her experience watching the staff in action at Caritas Christi from the other side that ultimately led to Emily choosing palliative care nursing as a vocation.
“I felt it in my gut; I just knew this was my calling,” said Emily, who has been a palliative care nurse for eight years at Caritas Christi.
Dame Quentin said she was excited by the opportunity this scholarship has created for Emily, and others, to further education in palliative care.
“I believe scholarships to be a very significant and powerful way to invest in our country’s future,” she added.
Please support Caritas Christi
This tax time, we are seeking support to help the dedicated team at caritas Christi to continue to provide the best patient care. We hope you will consider giving a gift to help us purchase items will enrich patients’ experiences during a very vulnerable time.
