Health promotion scholarships to inspire next generation of leaders

A $660,000 funding boost from Healthway will support the next generation of health promotion leaders through a scholarship program run by the Australian Health Promotion Association.

Healthway CEO Colin Smith said six exceptional graduates have recently been awarded a Health Promotion Scholarship, providing them with an incredible opportunity to launch their career.

“This program is among the few capacity building workforce programs available nationally in public health,” he said.

“Each scholarship, valued a $110,000 each, pays for 12 months full-time salary, working at an organisation of the graduate’s choice on a project they want to develop.

“Congratulations to all scholarship recipients, we look forward to your contributions to health promotion in the years to come.”

Australian Health Promotion Association National President Melinda Edmunds expressed gratitude for the long-standing partnership with Healthway.

“Over 30 years, we have provided opportunities for 85 graduates and 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarship recipients,” she said.

“Not only does this scholarship program pave the way for the next generation of WA health promotion leaders, but it significantly boosts the health promotion capacity within the host organisation.”

“For many past recipients, their contributions have been so significant that the host organisations have chosen to retain them even after the scholarship has ended,” she said.

To find out more visit Health Promotion Scholarships.

Scholarship recipient

Host organisation

Project description

Jade Ashwell from Wanneroo

Foodcore

Project aims to empower Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) educators through capacity building activities and
direct food and nutrition support and resources

Charlene Carlisle
from Jane Brook
Aboriginal recipient

Act Belong
Commit at Curtin

Project aims to promote mindful movement for children and young people through the Deadly Minds Project, a culturally safe Indigenous yoga teacher training. Deadly Minds supports children’s social and emotional
wellbeing by teaching mindfulness based movement
practices with a trauma informed lens and integrating
them with cultural knowledge.

Laura Thum from Inglewood

Collaboration for
Evidence, Research, and Impact in Public Health, Curtin

Project aims to support Western Australian health
promotion organisations to increase meaningful
participation in peer-based health promotion by
underserved populations, specifically young people,
LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds, by establishing and
piloting a capacity-building Community of Practice
(CoP), PEER+.

Isabelle Falantin from Broome

Regional recipient

Broome Regional
Aboriginal Medical
Service

Project aims to create a preventative health program
targeted at primary schools that encourages children to
engage with a range of healthy behaviours.

Samantha Elliott from Carine

National Nutrition
Foundation

Project aims to create health promotion and nutrition
education messages specifically tailored for adolescents aged 12-17.

Kirsty Mullane from Sorrento

North Metropolitan
Health Service

Project aims to facilitate local solutions to food
insecurity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people livingin the north metropolitan catchment of
Perth.