Bundaberg nursing student Mahkaylia Walsh couldn’t stop shaking with excitement when she discovered she had been awarded the prestigious Puggy Hunter Scholarship valued at $15 000 per year of study.

The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarships Scheme (otherwise known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Scholarships Scheme) was established in 2001 to address the under-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health professions and to assist in increasing the number of Aboriginal health workers with qualifications.

This scholarship will ease the financial pressure facing this bright and highly motivated second-year nursing student, allowing her to concentrate fully on her study.

“We are all absolutely delighted and very proud of Mahkaylia,” said Vicki Pascoe, Coordinator of Nulloo Yumbah, CQU's Indigenous Learning, Spirituality and Research Centre.

“Vicki suggested that I apply for the scholarship so I took the forms home and looked at them, wondering if I had a chance, but I filled them out anyway,” Mahkaylia said.

“I must admit that I put so much hard work into study last year because I didn’t want to get low marks. I wanted to build myself up and I ended up exceeding my own expectations. I wanted to be ready to get straight into it this year.

“I want to stand up for the Indigenous community and help give them a voice.” .

Mahkaylia is the eldest child in her family and the first to go to university. She hopes to provide a good example for other Indigenous students to follow.

Challenges facing Indigenous primary healthcare services include under-representation of Indigenous peoples in health professions and ensuring that Indigenous health workers have appropriate qualifications.

Mahkaylia Walsh is a fine example of these problems being overcome through the provision of a sound scholarship scheme.