Mackay nursing students Kahla Edwards and Brittany Power are developing their skills and experience in their chosen career thanks to support from an annual scholarship program that is now open for 2012 applications.

Since 2009, the Hail Creek Mine CQUniversity Partnership Program has been offering scholarships worth $4000 each over two years to first-year nursing, health, business, science, IT, and engineering students.

Pictured left to right: Hail Creek Mine's Fiona Kruger and scholarship recipients Brittany Power (nursing), Phillippa Cary (business), and Markeen Valdez (IT) during a visit to Hail Creek Mine.

This year seven scholarships worth a total of $28,000 are on offer and applications are being accepted now until the closing date of March 2.

In addition to the financial benefits of the scholarships, the program can offer various opportunities in career development including work experience, mentorship, networking opportunities, and mine site visits.

As former scholarship recipients, both Kahla and Brittany are currently working at Hail Creek Mine two days a week to assist the site in delivering its health and wellbeing program to workers.

They are strong advocators of the scholarship program, and encourage first-year students to apply for this year's round.

"I'm enjoying the opportunity to apply my university studies on a mine site in my local region," 2010 scholarship recipient and final-year nursing student Brittany said.

Hail Creek Mine exhibited at the 2011 CQUniversity Open Day to promote the mine's scholarship and graduate program. Left to right, scholarship recipients Kahla Edwards (nursing), Hail Creek Mine's Stephanie McCracken, Hannah Austin (sonography), Hail Creek Mine's Rebecca Moolenbroek and Marie Cameron, and scholarship recipient James Mogg (engineering)

"I'm from Mackay and I want to stay here after I finish my degree, so the opportunity to study locally and gain work experience at the mine through the scholarship has made a huge difference.

"When people think of working for a mining company, they typically think of truck drivers, trades people, and engineers, not nurses or other health practitioners.

"However, health and safety is a key priority for the industry and it's been a great opportunity to help Hail Creek Mine carry out their health and wellbeing program.

"When I'm not here or studying, I also work as a nurse assistant at the Mackay Mater Hospital and it's been interesting to experience first-hand two different workplaces where I can apply my degree.

"In the hospital environment, I deal with a lot of sick people whereas on site I have the opportunity to help workers make improvements to their health and it gives me a great sense of achievement."

Meantime, 2011 scholarship recipient and second-year nursing student Kahla Edwards said while the financial benefits of the scholarship has helped pay for school books, the non-financial gains have been just as rewarding.

"I've always had a strong interest in health and wellbeing, both in the people side of the business but also the science side of it too," Kahla said.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity that the scholarship has brought, enabling me to develop my patient-interaction skills to help improve the quality of life for many of the sites' workers.

"Brittany and I have also had the opportunity to be involved in a number of the site's community activities including Cancer Council Queensland's Relay for Life, CQUniversity Open Days, and mine site visits.

"It's challenging yet exciting and having this opportunity has helped develop my confidence too - I can't wait to finish university and start working as a nurse in the real world."

Hail Creek Mine general manager operations Rowan Munro said the scholarships support local people in their chosen fields and provide opportunities to pursue their career in Central Queensland.

"We open these scholarships to a variety of disciplines so that we can continue building the skills capacity of the entire region, which benefits not just mining but a wide range of other industries as well," Mr Munro said.

"I strongly encourage people who are looking to study any of the specified courses next year full time at CQUniversity's Mackay Campus to apply.

"The experiences that they can gain through the scholarships will be a great advantage when they pursue employment after university."

To apply for one of the scholarships or to find out more, please contact Hail Creek Mine's Marie Cameron on 07 4951 6437 or email marie.cameron@riotinto.com. Applications are being accepted now and close February 24.