Former Mackay resident Eve Murray is one step closer to her career goals thanks to the support of the CQUniCares Queensland Country Bank Scholarship, which provides up to $10,000 for an ambitious student facing financial challenges to complete their higher education at CQUniversity.
Ms Murray, a second-year student studying a Bachelor of Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology/Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography, relocated to Brisbane to pursue her degree and says the scholarship is a much-welcomed relief after struggling to balance her work life and studies.
“Receiving this scholarship has heavily reduced my financial stress and means I can focus on clinical placement and assessment tasks without having to worry about working additional hours to make an income and pay my bills,” explains Ms Murray.
“It will also assist in covering the cost of my interstate placement where I am often away from home for extended periods and needing to pay for travel expenses and accommodation.”
Ms Murray is aspiring to become a cardiologist and says the scholarship will assist in fulfilling her passion for helping others both inside the classroom and out in the community.
“Both my brother and stepmother suffer from health conditions, which inspired me to pursue this degree and help others who are also suffering,” she explains.
“This scholarship will not only enable me to put more time towards studying, but it also means I can now participate in more community activities and volunteer with the Australian Youth Mentoring Network.
“I am so grateful to Queensland Country Bank for their generosity as this opportunity will truly change my life.”
Dean of the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Professor Michelle Bellingan, also embraced the generosity shown by Queensland Country Bank in supporting CQUniversity students.
“Now more than ever, many students are experiencing financial hardship,” says Professor Bellingan.
“The CQUniCares Queensland Country Bank Scholarship will allow Eve to focus on her education, without the distraction of worrying about making ends meet. Eve is most deserving of this support.
“At CQUniversity we change lives. Partnering with Queensland Country Bank to provide tangible support, Eve is well on her way towards a fulfilling career that will allow her to give back to the community.”
Queensland Country Bank Chief Executive Officer Aaron Newman says they are proud to invest in the next generation of changemakers striving to make a positive difference.
“As a member-owned Bank, we take great pride in being able to reinvest our profits back into the community,” explains Mr Newman.
“Eve is an excellent example of someone who is studying to build a career that will make a difference in the lives of others.
“This scholarship is one of many ongoing initiatives in Queensland Country Bank’s community engagement program, and we’re extremely proud to have the opportunity to support individuals like Eve who are passionate about improving the lives and communities around them.”
This is the fifth year Queensland Country Bank has run the CQUniCares Queensland Country Bank Scholarship and follows a long history of supporting the community through grants with over $2.5 million injected into Queensland community projects since 2005.