Lily Thorpe, a proud Ngiyaampa and Wiradjuri woman from Wagga Wagga NSW, recently received the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship. Lily found UOW after attending the university’s discovery day and after a tour of the campus and surrounding city, she was convinced to apply to study at UOW. Lily applied for a Bachelor of Nursing and was admitted through Woolyungah’s Indigenous Centre's (WIC) Indigenous Admissions Pathway.
Lily first applied for the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship in October of 2021 after being notified of the opportunity by WIC. Fortunately, due to her previous cadetship experience, the application process was “very smooth.” Lily did have some minor setbacks, however. In December of 2021, she was told that she was unsuccessful for the scholarship and was placed on a waitlist. After several months, in May of 2022, Lily received an email from the ACN stating she received the offer.
Lily states that The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship has changed her life immensely:
“The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship has completely changed my financial situation. This scholarship has made me 100% financially secure and has eased the pressure to work whilst studying full time.”
Through this scholarship, Lily is enabled to focus more on her studies and save money, which she hopes to put towards her university debt and eventually towards establishing her life as a nurse.
Lily has goals to become an orthopaedic clinical nursing specialist. She shares:
“I am hoping to secure a new grad position in an Orthopedic ward. To me, it is amazing to see patients come in for a total hip replacement one day and see them walk out of the hospital 4 days later, yes, only 4 days!”
Lily is currently in her second year of university study. Through her cadetship she has been offered a new grad position in her hometown's base hospital.