A truly heartfelt donation is available for palliative care clinicians in the Western Local Health District, offering funds for recipients to further their learning and professional development.

The scholarships are offered by Newcastle Permanent, a customer-owned financial institution based in Newcastle. The organisation has a charitable foundation that funds projects aimed at improving community health and well-being for those most in need.

It also has employees who not only ‘talk the talk’ of charities, but ‘walk the walk’ as well. Each year, Newcastle Permanent employees donate around $50,000 via payroll deductions and nominate charities for causes they are passionate about. Employees then vote to select four charities each year to receive funding. 

These latest scholarships come after Newcastle Permanent employee Taylah Vickers nominated Palliative Care NSW to receive a boost in funding.

Ms Vickers said the nomination, known as Penny’s Promise, was made in memory of a dear colleague and friend who lost her battle to cancer last year. 

“I know a lot of people at Newcastle Permanent have great memories of Penny, and nominating a charity in her name for our Employee Donation Program was an easy choice. It’s a way for us, as the organisation where she worked for almost 25 years, to be part of Penny’s Promise and honour her memory,” she said. 

Two scholarships are available to clinicians working in our region, through the Western Local Health District, which is made up of 247,000 square kilometres and includes Cobar, Dubbo, and Lightning Ridge.

Ms Vickers said she was touched that the donation will directly support clinicians and go towards further education opportunities, saying it “is what Penny would have wanted.” 

Penny’s husband, Paul Heagney, said he was grateful to Newcastle Permanent for making the bequest possible. 

“Newcastle Permanent was such a large part of Penny’s life. She developed lots of strong friendships with good people during her working days,” Mr Heagney said. 

“To see Palliative Care NSW receive this funding feels like a shining light at the end of what has been a dark tunnel – you couldn’t find a better cause.” 

Applications are now open and will close on Friday, October 4, with the recipients to be announced and invited to the upcoming Palliative Care NSW State Conference, to be held in Tamworth, where 250 clinicians are expected to attend. 

The conference will be held in November and provides a wealth of knowledge for participants including 45 concurrent presentations and seven keynote presentations, on a range of topics including models of care, paediatrics, culturally sensitive care, communication, multidisciplinary team approaches, and technology in palliative care. 

Further information on scholarships and applications can found by clicking this link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GXDLDBK