Mercy is proud to again offer financial scholarships in 2023 to assist Pacific students completing nursing qualifications through Te Pūkenga.
Established in 2019, the scholarships have assisted 8 Pacific students to achieve their goals through financial support towards their second or third year fees, along with assistance into clinical placements at Mercy Hospital Dunedin.
In 2022, the scholarship recipients were Natasha McNaught and Harmony Mataafa. Mercy Hospital CEO Richard Whitney says he has no doubt that the scholarship recipients will make exceptional nurses.
Recent statistics report 1250 Pacific and 3000 Māori students are currently registered at the University of Otago, out of an enrolment of just over 16,000. Overall, one third of university students are first generation tertiary attendees. Within the Māori and Pacific students, this moves to 65% first generation.
"Mercy is proud to contribute in a very modest way in this important transitioning and empowering of our Māori and Pasifika whanau," says Richard Whitney, Mercy Hospital CEO.
As outlined in Te Whatu Ora's Health Workforce Plan, growing and developing New Zealand’s Māori and Pacific health workforce is key to improving health outcomes in Aotearoa.