For Carissa Beddows, a registered nurse living in Windera, South Burnett, life is a balance of professional dedication and personal growth. Working across multiple locations, she can often be found at a local GP practice tending to patients and providing the critical care her local community needs.
While Carissa has many years of experience under her belt, there was once a time where she was learning, a university student in fact.
Scrolling through Facebook, Carissa came across a post about the Red Earth Bursary, shared by her network of friends involved with local companies and Red Earth volunteers. Encouraged by the idea of support designed specifically for women in her region, she decided to apply.
“I was still at uni studying nursing at the time,” Carissa recalls.
“I had this incredible chance to go to Vietnam on a placement through my university. It was an amazing opportunity to expand my skills and immerse myself in a completely different healthcare system, but I needed extra funding to make it happen.”
The bursary not only provided the financial boost Carissa needed to make her Vietnam placement a reality but also inspired her to continue growing.
“I funded my own spot in the leadership workshop the Red Earth Foundation runs,” Carissa shares.
Despite the support she received, Carissa notes that opportunities for women in South Burnett to access similar assistance could be expanded.
“There could definitely be more,” she says. “My daughter is studying nursing down the coast, and we’ve struggled to find bursaries or scholarships she’s been successful with so far.”
RRR Women and Red Earth have renewed this bursary fund to once again support South Burnett Women.
The Red Earth Bursary provides $1,000 in support for women aged over 30 who live in the South Burnett. It’s designed to help women access training or personal development opportunities, empowering them to take the next step in their professional journeys.
If you’re a South Burnett woman seeking to upskill or pursue a dream, now is your chance. Let Carissa’s story inspire you to take that leap.
“Go for gold and apply – it could help you achieve your end goal!”
For more information visit https://bit.ly/3VruttB
