Two students at CQUniversity’s Rockhampton campus have been awarded scholarships as part of our CQUniCares Queensland Country Bank Scholarship which provides up to $10,000 for ambitious students to complete their higher education.

Mother-of-three, Kate Watson, is studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy full time and was awarded $10,000 to assist with her studies. Ms Watson was inspired to study Occupational Therapy through her work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and has witnessed first-hand the benefit of Occupational Therapy as the parent/carer of a child receiving therapy.

“The work that Occupational Therapists do help people achieve their goals through engagement in occupations of self-care, work, leisure, school, and play,” Ms Watson says.

“As a mother to three boys, one of which has had significant medical needs and required the support of specialists and Allied health professionals, I have seen first-hand the difference Occupational Therapy can make on a person’s life.

“Being the recipient of the Queensland Country Bank Scholarship means so much, not only to myself, but to my family. This will relieve some of the financial costs associated with attending university and free some of my time to focus on my study and caring for my family.”

Queensland Country Bank also awarded a one-off scholarship of $2,500 to Thalep Ahmat, who is studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science part time, to upgrade his laptop.

“My computer is 10 years old and is slowing down. It freezes during online lectures and takes a long time to complete assessments using it,” Mr Ahmat explains.

Mr Ahmat, who is of Torres Strait Island heritage and works as a counsellor, regularly travels to Woorabinda for work and hopes that completing his studies will help him fill the gap in the availability of culturally and clinically appropriate services in Central Queensland.

“Though my work as a Counsellor is meaningful to the community, it’s not enough,” he says.

“I’m hoping to gain more skills to be able to help improve Indigenous mental health in the region. I’m already familiar with the community, I understand the hardships they’ve faced and continue to face. I’m visible and accepted by the community and I really want to help.”

Queensland Country Bank Rockhampton Branch Manager, Jodie Hare says they are proud to be supporting these two students who are striving to be leaders in their fields but also in their community.

“As a member-owned organisation we are always looking at ways to support people and organisations that aim to bring meaningful and positive change to their community,” Ms Hare says.

“Kate and Thalep are two great examples of people who are looking to make a positive difference in their community and we couldn’t be more proud to be able to support them in their academic endeavours.”

This is the sixth year Queensland Country Bank has donated to the CQUniCares Scholarship program and follows a long history of supporting the community through grants with over $2.5 Million injected into community projects across Queensland since 2005.

“CQUniversity is thankful for Queensland Country Bank’s continued support of the CQUniCares Scholarship Program,” CQUniversity’s Deputy Director Philanthropy, Francois Gallais says.

“Through their backing we have been able to award scholarships to nine students from a variety of study areas over the past six years, providing them with much needed financial support and contributing to their study success.”