Three new scholarships offered by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) to Pacific tertiary students pursuing a career in health will be named after three members who have made a significant contribution to the organisation – the late Dr Joe Williams, (MBChB, QSO, QSM) Dr Robert Woonton and Director of Nursing (Pacific) for Auckland District Health Board, Mr Abel Smith.
The new scholarships will complement the 13 awards that have already been established and awarded each year to the value of $120,000.
PMA chief executive Debbie Sorensen says the namesakes of the new scholarships is a fitting tribute to their lifelong devotion of service for Pacific families.
“The new scholarships recognise three leaders in our health sector, both in New Zealand and in the Pacific region, who have shown incredible leadership not only in their careers but also in their service to the Pacific communities.”
Since 2018, PMA has provided financial support from its Education Fund for Pacific students to complete their tertiary education in health and increase Pacific doctors and nurses in the health workforce.
Mrs Sorensen says adding three more scholarships is evidence that more support is needed to help Pacific students reach their goals and forge careers in their chosen medical profession.
“It’s clear that one of the barriers to completing both medical and nursing training in New Zealand for our Pacific students is the financial barrier. We have seen more demand and more need rising, particularly in the wake of the Covid 19 events over the last 18 months.
It is only right that we extend the level of support and funding available through our scholarships to our young people in our communities.”
Each scholarship is named after PMA Life Members who have shown exemplary service to improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people in New Zealand and the Pacific region.
The Dr Joe Williams Scholarship will be awarded to an indigenous Pacific medical trainee accepted into a specialist training programme in their second year. The recipient will receive $10,000.
Dr Joe Williams was the inaugural patron of PMA and was a former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He was a member of the World Health Organisation’s executive board and served on many committees, task forces and organisations over the length of his career. He established the Mt Wellington Integrated Health Centre and continued to practice and serve his community right up until his passing last year.
The Dr Robert Woonton Scholarship is awarded to an indigenous Pacific medical trainee accepted into a specialist training programme in their second year of study.The recipient will receive $10,000.
Dr Woonton is a trained medical doctor, Cook Islands politician and diplomat. He served as Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from 2002 to 2004, and later as High Commissioner to New Zealand.
The Abel Smith Nursing Scholarship is awarded to an indigenous Pacific nursing student undertaking registered nursing undergrad studies at an approved NZQA accredited tertiary provider in New Zealand. The recipient will receive $10,000.
Mr Smith completed his training in Fiji and New Zealand and is currently the Director of Nursing Pacific at the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB). He holds many positions of service in nursing and health, including the President of the Fiji Nurses Association NZ, Treasurer of the Pacific Nursing Section and Chair of the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) Pacific Nursing Advisory Committee.
The new scholarships will complement the other awards offered by the PMA each year.
Online applications for the 2021 Pasifika Medical Association Scholarships will open on Friday 21 May 2021.
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Date: Thursday 13 May 2021