Helping students in crisis

Helping tomorrow’s healthcare heroes

Many of the students in need of financial assistance are studying nursing. Despite facing significant personal challenges, they want to care for others and believe in giving back.    

Will you please give back too, and donate to the Equal Access Scholarship today? 

Impossible choices

Every day, disadvantaged students need to make impossible choices in order to continue their studies. Go to class or work an extra shift to help pay the rent? Buy groceries or textbooks?

Every day is a struggle to overcome the barriers to finishing their degree.

For these vulnerable young people, the COVID-19 crisis not only threatens their health and financial circumstances, but their education.

The Equal Access Scholarship is a lifeline for disadvantaged students. But with unprecedented demand for support, we don’t have the funds we need to assist them all.

Will you please help these students continue their studies during this challenging and uncertain time?

Donate now

100% of your donation will go towards supporting students in need.

Transcript

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Hi, my name is Maddy and I'm 22 years old.

I'm currently in my second year of a Bachelor of Nursing here at UTS.

At 17, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I underwent 12 months of extremely intensive chemotherapy and radiation.

I'm now in my fourth year of remission.

However I still continue to feel the full effects of what treatment has left on my body such as chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment and also the exacerbations of being a menopausal woman at 22.

The Diversity Access Scholarship is one of the main reasons I can immerse myself into my studies without the worry of financial burden.

It has equipped me to help cover the cost of rent, textbooks, course materials, transport and groceries.

It even helped me to restart my new life and move to Sydney from the Central Coast to be closer to uni.

The scholarship has changed my life in so many ways.

Although I'm just one of many thousands of students here at UTS.

University is a financial struggle for many of us for many different reasons and different circumstances.

But the reality is unfortunately there is not enough funding for every student in need.

Especially now, being in such uncertain times.

So every gift big or small will make a huge impact and change another person's life through the Diversity Access Scholarship.

With many thank you's. Your help goes a long way, and can help impact a student's life in the most beautiful way.

From myself to you, thank you.

Madison beat cancer, now she's battling to stay at university

“When I was 17, I was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma,” explains Madison Ritchie. “The doctor said I had three months to live. But I’m a bit of a stubborn person, so I was like ‘I’ll get back to you on that.’” 

Thankfully, the treatment worked – and Madison is cancer-free today. But it did bring some lifelong consequences. She struggles with extreme fatigue, cognitive impairment and a compromised immune system caused by her aggressive treatment.

“Sadly, the treatment also left me infertile,” says Madison. It was difficult news to cope with, but it ultimately led Madison down a new path – studying to become a midwife.

Last year, Madison moved from the NSW Central Coast to begin a Nursing degree at UTS. And although she’s successfully made it to her second year, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

“It’s very expensive living in Sydney, and I still have many doctors’ appointments,” she says. “I’m 100% determined to finish my degree, it will just take me a little longer than other students.”

Without the financial support she receives from the Equal Access Scholarship, Madison says there’s no way she’d be able to complete her degree. 

“I can’t tell you how relieved I felt when I saw the word ‘Granted’ on my scholarship application. For me, it meant that I could buy a stethoscope for prac. That I wouldn’t have to skip a meal here and there. That I could afford to catch the train to the Central Coast to see my family and oncologist.”

But next semester, there are no guarantees. With an unprecedented number of requests for assistance, we can’t help all eligible students unless we raise enough money.

Please help us provide more Equal Access Scholarships to students in desperate need of support.

Support students

You can help students in crisis

Please help us provide more Equal Access Scholarships to disadvantaged students as they work hard to complete their degree.

Your gift will help provide textbooks, food, housing and certainty to vulnerable students whose lives have been turned upside down. More nursing students like Madison will have the support they need to finish their degree, playing a vital role in our overstretched health sector. And after this crisis is over, your support will ensure other students in need are empowered to complete their studies and reach their full potential.

*All data from Universities Australia Student Finances Survey, August 2018