Taranaki DHB scholarships to encourage careers in health

4 December 2014

Taranaki DHB awards scholarships to encourage careers in health

Taranaki District Health Board is helping young students achieve their aspirations of working in the health sector by awarding health scholarships to 25 students through its scholarship programme.

Charles Hunt, Taranaki DHB HR manager said, “the scholarship programme is a key component of the ‘Grow Our Own strategy’ that addresses the skill shortage and helps our local young people develop in a career in health.

Twenty-five students will be awarded Taranaki DHB health scholarships in a range of areas including; pharmacy, nursing, medicine, midwifery dental therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, medical imaging, clinical psychology and social work. “Of these, 13 will receive a work experience and mentoring scholarship for the duration of their undergraduate degree, subject to qualifying each year. The rest will receive a one off financial assistance scholarship,” said Mr Hunt.

“Of this group nine Taranaki secondary schools are represented and 33% are Maori,” he added.

Currently eight of the scholarship recipients are graduating with three having already secured positions with Taranaki DHB.

Mr Hunt commented, “The scholarship programme enables the students to build relationships with future employers and they can put the knowledge and skills they have learnt at university into practice on the floor”.

ENDS

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