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Recipients Announced for NACCHO 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarships, Supported by Sanofi
NACCHO has announced the successful recipients of the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship, supported by Sanofi.
NACCHO has announced the successful recipients of the 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship, proudly supported by a grant from Sanofi Australia.
This scholarship program provides subsidy and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy students, with the goal of strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacist workforce.
Isaac Burgoyne, 2024 scholarship recipient, commented:
“I am incredibly honoured to have been granted this scholarship from NACCHO for 2024. Pharmacy has always been a passion of mine and the opportunities that this scholarship will open for my future are endless. I am very excited to see what my future will hold with the support from NACCHO and generosity of Sanofi Australia. I will put my rural upbringing to good use and form greater connections between my community and the pharmacy practice.”.
The program, which began in 2022 for 2 students, has now been expanded to include five recipients annually and will continue until 2025, demonstrating Sanofi’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Sanofi Australia and New Zealand Country Lead congratulated this year’s recipients, the judging panel, and the NACCHO team for their ongoing leadership in this vital scholarship program. Building the skills of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists is essential for ensuring culturally safe care within the pharmacy profession.
Out of over 35,000 pharmacists in Australia only around 100 identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, representing less than 0.3% of the pharmacist workforce. Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in the health sector account for only 1.8% of the total health workforce, despite accounting for 3.2% of the Australian population.
This disparity impacts patients, policy and pharmacists themselves and this scholarship is a step in the right direction to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people graduating from pharmacy studies and entering the workforce.
Dr Dawn Casey, declared:
“Congratulations to all the remarkable recipients of this year’s pharmacy scholarships. The quality of applicants was outstanding once again. We wish you all the best in your pharmacy studies and look forward to supporting you in your professional journey”.
Liz Selby, Sanofi Australia, and New Zealand Country Lead congratulated this year’s recipients, the judging panel, and the NACCHO team for their ongoing leadership in this vital scholarship program:
“Building the skills of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacists is essential for ensuring culturally safe care within the pharmacy profession. We’re immensely proud to continue our support of NACCHO, this program, and ultimately more equitable health outcomes. Congratulations to Dean, James, Shi-Anne, Matthew, and Issac.”
Chastina Heck, Selection panel member, commented:
"It is incredibly exciting to see growing numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are choosing to study pharmacy. I personally know scholarships such as these provide financial assistance, but for some recipients the value may also translate to a sense of belonging to university life and the pharmacy profession."
Selection panel member Professor Faye McMillan AM FPS, a proud Wiradjuri Yinaa woman spoke to the relationship with NACCHO Sanofi and students:
“I am thrilled to see the relationship between NACCHO, Sanofi and the Pharmacy profession strengthened through this years scholarship and congratulations to all the recipients.”
NACCHO 2024 Winners: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship:
The 2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pharmacist Scholarship winners are:
1. Dean Webber
2. James Sowter
3. Matthew Cloake
4. Isaac Burgoyne
5. Shi-Anne Wallace
Source: NACCHO
