Brighter future for Elliot Springs medical student

The future looks bright for Elliot Springs resident Natalie McFarlane, who is on the path to achieving her dreams of becoming a registered paediatric nurse, having recently been awarded the inaugural Elliot Springs Brighter Futures Bursary.

The inaugural Elliot Springs Brighter Futures Bursary program officially launched in December aimed at providing a helping hand to eligible residents, supporting learning outcomes to reach their full potential in 2023.

Natalie received a bursary, to support her study related expenses such as course costs, study materials and textbooks.

Growing up in Singapore, Natalie relocated with her family to Townsville, before moving together to Elliot Springs in 2022. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Nursing Science at James Cook University.

“I am thrilled to have been awarded the bursary and I’m using the funds to help pay off my university subject fees, which will be a big help,” Natalie said.

“I live here in Elliot Springs with my parents, and I just love the friendly community. Everyone here is always willing to stop and have a chat to you about anything and everything, and it is such a supportive and caring environment to live in.

“I am currently studying but my dream is to work at the Townsville University Hospital as a paediatric nurse.”

The Elliot Springs Brighter Futures Bursary is a social impact program that aims to assist with education expenses to support academically motivated students from Elliot Springs who are currently enrolled in, or have been offered, a full-time or part-time place at an Australian education institution (university or TAFE) to study in 2023.