A brand new scholarship to boost leadership development for women nurses as they take the next step in their careers has been launched today by Chief Executive Women.
Made possible by the generous support of Chief Executive Women (CEW) founding member Bonnie Boezeman AO and Southern Cross University, the annual scholarship will support Australian registered nurses to undertake postgraduate education in healthcare leadership.
"Southern Cross is delighted to partner with CEW to offer this unique opportunity to women who aspire to be healthcare leaders in this country," said Professor Adam Shoemaker, Vice Chancellor of Southern Cross University.
"We developed the Master of Healthcare Leadership course a few years ago to empower registered nurses to take that next step in their careers. It is now one of our most popular offerings."
CEW is the pre-eminent organisation representing more than 550 of Australia's most senior women from the corporate, public, academic and not-for-profit sectors.
The inaugural Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship will allow a nurse to undertake the Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University.
Ms Boezeman says she created the scholarship in response to the nurse shortage crisis in Australia.
"Modelling has shown that in five and a half years there will be a shortfall of 85,000 nurses in this country, and that number will grow to 124,000 by 2030.
"We need to find ways to support women nurses to develop the leadership skills and capabilities that will help them both advance their own careers and grow the nursing sector as a whole.
"We need to ensure talented nurses also have access to the pathways they need to realise their leadership potential," said Ms Boezeman.
Watch Ms Boezeman talk about her vision for leadership in nursing.
Since 1992 CEW has provided opportunities for more than 150 talented women across sectors to develop the leadership skills to become the leaders of tomorrow.
About the scholarship
