Scholarships draw pharmacy students to the bush

The scholarships, each valued at $10,000 a year for four years of study, were offered in 2008 as well as participation in a mentor program.

The Rural Pharmacy Scholarships were established to provide financial support to students from rural and remote communities, to encourage and enable them to undertake undergraduate studies in pharmacy at university.

15 students studying pharmacy at Charles Sturt University's (CSU's) Orange and Wagga Wagga campuses were among those named as successful scholarship recipients in 2008. They came from regional Victoria and NSW as well as on the north and south coasts of NSW.

"The Scheme is proving extremely valuable in supporting students from rural and remote areas to undertake pharmacy, as those coming from rural and particularly remote Australia have a number of barriers and hidden costs to face in getting themselves to university," said Patrick Ball, professor of rural pharmacy at CSU.

"Many pharmacy graduates from CSU have now purchased a stake in a business in rural Australia as around 70 per cent of them began their careers in rural or remote pharmacy.

"When they attend CSU, many students also develop long-standing relationships, strengthening their ties to rural Australia.

"We believe the Scholarship Scheme is a highly beneficial investment in the future of rural and remote pharmacy in Australia.

"That our students figure so strongly in the Scheme reflects both the regions from which we draw students and the quality of our candidates and our programme," Prof Ball said.