News

ACU & Bank First Partnership

ACU is pleased to announce another year of Scholarships are available from our partner Bank First, a member-owned bank for today and tomorrow’s nurses, allied health professionals and teachers – the people who care.  Bank First and ACU share common values, empowering educators, caring for their members and acting with integrity, which underpins the partnership activities.

In 2023 and again in 2024 Bank First will be providing scholarships for ACU Nursing students based in Ballarat, to assist with regional placement costs, including accommodation and travel expenses.

“This scholarship is a unique offering for our Nursing students and we welcome support from Bank First for these students. Regional students often have to travel long distances from home to undertake placements, so these scholarships are very appreciated.”, advises Beth Jacob, ACU Head of School of Nursing, Victora.

Bank First have provided two scholarships for $5,000 each, which were awarded to 2nd year students in 2023.  The students, Tazarni and Luke, both undertook nursing placements.

Tazarni, 20 years old, a proud Gunjijumurra woman from Echuca, travels weekly to study the Bachelor of Nursing at ACU Ballarat.  Tazarni completed a 2 week placement in Warrnambool, 4 hours drive from Ballarat.  “The Scholarship helped with accommodation, food, fuel and uniforms while on placement.” said Tazarni.

Tazarni chose to study Nursing because “Being indigenous you see how poor health outcomes are and the stigma attached to hospitals and healthcare, I want to change the stigma. I’m a caring person and I want to improve health outcomes for indigenous people”.

Scholarship recipient Luke, 22 years old, who is originally from Perth, studies the Bachelor of Nursing/Paramedicine in Ballarat but lives in Melbourne.  Luke undertook two placements, first in rural Victoria’s Bairnsdale and then in Ballarat, and was fortunate to be able to use the Bank First Scholarship to support the days away from home and work.  “The Scholarship funds have been invaluable, living out of home in Melbourne, on placement for six weeks, you can’t work and you’re constantly saving every penny, you can’t do much in your free time” Luke stated.

When asked why Luke studies Nursing/Paramedicine, he replied “I love people. In this profession you help all sorts of people from different parts of life, people you may not speak to in your every day, I like helping people and making difference.  All the things you say are a bit cliché, but they are true”.

Luke was fortunate to undertake his placement in Paramedicine with the Royal Flying Doctors’ Service and found the experience unlike any other, and far from his usual studies. 

ACU and Bank First have formed a partnership because we have similar values, Bank First’s Head of Community Partnerships, Mr Adrian Wilson explains, “At Bank First, our dedication to the education and healthcare community goes beyond banking. We believe in accessibility, equity and opportunity in education – particularly for future nurses and allied health professionals. That’s why we’ve chosen to support nursing and aged care students who are based in remote locations through scholarships. These students are the catalysts for positive change, unlocking the potential of healthcare in regional areas.”

In 2023 ACU and Bank First formalised their partnership in a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to provide opportunities for ACU students in Scholarships, financial well-being and work integrated learning.

Explore the current Scholarships

Find out more about Bank First