Hannah’s Scholarship Success

Meet Hannah Waters! A proud Mandandanji  women living and working in Yagara and Yugambeh country in Logan, Hannah has been a part of our Indigenous Scholarships Program (ISP) since 2023. She has recently graduated with her Masters in Advanced Nursing, specialising in Paediatrics. 

On Hannah’s graduation from the program she said, “Thank you to the Waalitj Foundation for the opportunity to be included and considered for this scholarship.”  

“I applied for this scholarship on a whim and never imagined being successful. At the time I hadn’t even enrolled into uni and really wasn’t sure what path I was going to go down career wise or whether I would study at all.” 

“Having someone, or a community, believe in me through offering this scholarship has helped me believe in my own capabilities. I don’t think I ever would have decided to study a Masters degree without the support from the Waalitj Foundation and this scholarship.” 

Supported by Shell’s QGC business, ISP participants are guided by an Individual Career Plan, which they establish with their mentor, ensuring they have all the support and tools required to reach their goals. The delivery of this program is guided by consultation with Traditional Owners to ensure its success. Local Indigenous staff coordinating the program are empowered to adjust the content and delivery to a local community and individualised context. 

Hannah, currently working in Yagara and Yugambeh country in a Nurse Navigator role, spoke on how her studies through ISP have supported her in successfully applying for new opportunities. “Thanks to the new knowledge I obtained through studying my Masters, I felt capable of applying for higher duty roles and after my graduation ceremony, I found out that I was successful in my application for a job working in paediatrics with First Nations kids, which is two grades above my current role. I am really excited and can’t want to take on this new opportunity” 

Congratulations Hannah, we are so proud of your achievements. You are a great role model and an inspiration to anyone who may need that small push to gain success and achieve their goals. We wish you the best of luck with your future endeavours!   

The Indigenous Scholarship Program, delivered by the Waalitj Foundation in partnership with Shell’s QGC business, aims to increase First Nations Australians with tertiary and trade qualifications. The program is facilitated by local First Nations mentors who utilise their contextual and cultural understanding to provide individual mentoring for each participant. For more information about the Indigenous Scholarship Program, click here.