A student from La Trobe University has been awarded the PSA Insurance Scholarship Program in Dentistry for Rural Victoria.
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Nicole Reii Wong moved from Melbourne to commence study in Bendigo because she was impressed with La Trobe’s rural focus.
“For a long time I’ve been passionate about closing the gap between rural and city communities- whether in education or health,” Miss Wong said.
“Being able to study here will give me a better pathway to work rurally and help communities who have limited access to health services.”
The $68,000 scholarship which is sponsored by the Victorian Medical Insurance Agency will assist Miss Wong with tuition expenses, accommodation and other costs related to her study.
“This scholarship will ease the financial pressure on me and my family, and it will allow me to reduce some of my work hours so I can focus more on my study and community involvement,” Miss Wong said.
She currently travels back to Melbourne every weekend to work as a tutor.
Miss Wong was born with a cleft lip and has had multiple interactions with surgeons and dentists throughout her life.
“They really inspired me to give back in the same way and help others who might be having trouble eating or who are being bullied at school,” Miss Wong said.
A cleft lip or palate is a common birth condition where a lack of tissue in the mouth or lip results in the area not joining properly.
Miss Wong’s career goal is to become an Oral and maxillofacial surgeon which requires qualifications within dentistry, medicine and first-hand clinical placement training.
Bachelor of Health Sciences in Dentistry/Master of Dentistry course coordinator David Goode said the announcement of the scholarship was an example of La Trobe’s commitment to supporting health outcomes in rural communities.
“By fully immersing our undergraduate dental students in rural clinical placements, we expose our students to life and practice outside the major metropolitan centres, ultimately increasing the number of graduates seeking employment within rural practice,” Dr Goode said.
“The PSA Insurance Scholarship provides significant financial support for one financially disadvantaged student to attain their aspirations to become a dental practitioner and thereby support the mission of La Trobe.”
