Right now, students on placement are facing a crisis. For some nursing, midwifery and allied health students, like Casie, the rising price of basics like food, public transport and rent are making it nearly impossible to continue their studies.
Casie returned to university with a clear goal in mind – to devote her life to serving and nursing patients. Helping patients to thrive after a surgery or trauma brings her a great sense of joy and personal satisfaction. However, as she progressed in her Bachelor of Nursing, the mounting financial pressures began to take a toll on her mental health.
“The most challenging thing is the cost of living. The rise in rent and food has affected my mental health, and I must minimise spending and even cut down on meals just to survive. I cannot comprise my patients’ care should I choose to work outside of placement.”
Students like Casie are doing everything they can to build the practical expertise they need to graduate. They want successful and rewarding careers dedicated to helping patients recover. But they need your help to cross the finish line. Casie makes it clear the challenges students like her face.
“Nursing and allied health students are at a major disadvantage on placement as we incur a lot of costs, with the addition of school stress and assignment deadlines. Students like me can use the money from a placement bursary for groceries, rent and medical costs if needed. It will have a major impact and lessen the burden of stress.”
The fact that the current economic crisis is worsening existing financial difficulties for students is a dire one – but Industry Placement Bursaries can change this. Financially supporting students on unpaid placements has never been more important.
Universities do not receive funding to address the cost-of-living expenses associated with supporting students during their placements. However, institutions like La Trobe are making efforts to provide financial assistance to those students who are disproportionately affected through scholarships and bursaries.
La Trobe’s Industry Placement Bursaries can transform the experience of students like Casie. If a student is financially stable, they are more likely to follow their studies to completion. If they can devote more time to their studies – they’re able to go from simply surviving, to thriving.
The determination and perseverance exhibited by students like Casie serve as a testament to their resilience. Urgent support is needed to provide bursaries for hard-working and passionate nursing students like Casie, so they don’t have to give up on their dreams.
All gifts to the Industry Placement Bursary are tax deductible and every gift counts, no matter how small.
