2011 SHARP President Emma Harvey (centre) with 2010 SHARP Award winne...

Emma Harvey and Kay Kent accept the CSE Club of the Year Award for 20...

Kay Kent (SHARP Administrator) with Melissa Zaccagnini (Centre for St...

Latest News 

Former SHARP president elected onto NRHSN Executive

 The National Rural Health Students’ Network (NRHSN) Council has elected the NRHSN Executive for 2012. The 2012 NRHSN Executive will comprise of:

• Co-chair Simon Reid (medical student at University of Sydney, and former SHARP president!!)
• Co-chair James Roth (medical student at Deakin University)
• Secretary Ben Crough (pharmacy student at the University of New England)
• Executive Officer Helen Murray (Rural Health Workforce Australia)

The NRHSN Executive represents the NRHSN membership at important meetings with politicians and stakeholders, and works closely with the NRHSN Council to advance the network’s goals and support rural health club activities.

SHARP named 2009, 2010 and 2011 Clubs & Societies 
“Club of the Year”

SHARP’s efforts and achievements were recognised at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Centre for Student Engagement Awards Nights. In 2009 SHARP scooped 3 out of 4 awards, taking home the awards for “Club of the Year”, “Service Club of the Year”, and Teesha Downton, secretary, being recognised as “Club Person of the Year”. In 2010 SHARP was awarded “Club of the Year” for the 2nd year in a row and was also named runner-up for the Service Club of the Year Award. In 2011 SHARP was again awarded “Club of the Year”, as well as “Campus Engagement Award” for our Close the Gap Day event.

A huge thank you to all our SHARP members for your continued support and for making 2011 another successful year.

The Emerging Nurse Leader Program

The Emerging Nurse Leader Program, an initiative of The College of Nursing, aims to identify those nursing students with a passion for the profession and who have the ideas and capacity to inspire their peers, for change.  Commencing February 2012, ENL offers a 5 year program of early career support activities for undergraduate and early registered nurses. Applications for the 2012 ENL Program close 31st October 2011 at 5.00pm.  Details at http://www.emergingnurseleader.com.au/

SHARP Member of the Year Awards 

SHARP is pleased to announce the introduction of 2 Member of the Year Awards. Each year, these awards will recognise 2 SHARP members who have made a significant contribution to the club. Award winners will be decided upon by a vote by SHARP members.

• SHARP Leadership Award - This award acknowledges a student who has been a SHARP member for at least 1 year at the time of nomination, and who has made a valued contribution to the Club and/or the field of rural health, showing outstanding commitment and enthusiasm toward rural health throughout their period of membership.
• SHARP Rookie of the Year Award- This award acknowledges a student outside of the SHARP Exec, who, during their first year of SHARP membership has demonstrated continued dedication and support to the ongoing success of the Club.

Each award winner will receive a $100 prize, certificate, and their name engraved onto the SHARP Member of the Year plaque.

All SHARP members are eligible to nominate themselves or be nominated by another SHARP member. To nominate, please email Kay Kent (kkent@uow.edu.au):

• a brief outline (200 words or less) of why the candidate is deserving of such an award. These outlines will be published on the SHARP website during the voting period.
• the nominee’s name, contact details, degree, and year of study.
• where the nominator is not the nominee, the nominator’s details also be provided.

The awards are presented at the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Annual Prize Night. The 2010 recipients were:

• SHARP Leadership Award – Teesha Downton
• SHARP Rookie of the Year Award – Nicholas Corr

Nominations for the 2011 awards are expected to open in early 2012. 

SHARPies elected to NRHSN Council as Portfolio representatives

2 SHARPies have been elected onto the NRHSN Council for 2011 as Portfolio representatives. Portfolio representatives facilitate communication between the NRHSN and its stakeholders and advocate for NRHSN members on a range of issues. In 2011, Teena Downton will be a co-junior liaison officer in the Community and Advocacy Portfolio and Justin Cain-Bloxsome will be the junior liaison officer in the Indigenous Health Portfolio. Congratulations Teena and Justin!