A new scholarship program is aiming to deliver 100 trained Endometriosis Specialty Nurses to regional, rural and remote communities across Australia that often experience limited access to health services.
Launched by Endometriosis Australia, in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), each scholarship is valued at $2,900.
During the 10-week unit of study, nurses will learn essential attributes to be advocates for all individuals experiencing chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis, a common disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it in other parts of the body. Nearly 1 million Australian girls and women live with endometriosis at some point in their life, with the disease often starting in teenagers.
The unit of study will provide students with the necessary theoretical knowledge to improve how they assess and manage endometriosis and pelvic pain in the clinical setting, including exploring endometriosis pathophysiology, pain physiology, and contemporary, evidence-based treatment and management within various clinical settings. A holistic, individual, person-centred approach is core to the unit.
The Endometriosis Australia Nurses Scholarship is a part of Endometriosis Australia’s ongoing campaign, Endo Academy, which is an initiative of Endometriosis Australia to provide further education and training for the endometriosis health and research sector.
Candidates meeting the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
- living in regional, rural, or remote areas,
- have diverse backgrounds (First Nations and CALD),
- academic background and interest in women’s health.
Applications will be accepted from 1 September 2024.
Successful applicants will be announced on 1 December 2024, and the first intake will begin in January 2025.
Chair of Endometriosis Australia, Monica Forlano, said the scholarships would help address the inequities in healthcare access, especially in rural and remote communities, including reducing the alarming delay from the onset of the first symptoms and diagnosis, which is typically six years.
“We know many Australians are living with the symptoms of endometriosis undiagnosed for years, especially in rural and remote areas. Having access to an endo nurse can have an enormous impact on patients’ experience – from diagnosis to treatment,” she said.
Woolgoologa nurse Lucy Downey recently completed her graduate certificate in community and primary health care, specialising in endometriosis and chronic pain, at ACN. She is now using her knowledge to raise awareness of endometriosis among other nurses and to help educate and connect with those living in her rural community who are affected by endometriosis.
“Nurses are advocates for patients, and we have much more time to spend with them than doctors or other healthcare professionals,” she said.
“If we are upskilled in conditions like endometriosis, it means we have the potential ability to recognise the signs and symptoms faster, even through seemingly unrelated conversations with patients, ultimately improving the quality of care patients receive.”
“The fact that this new scholarship is focused on upskilling nurses in regional and rural areas is important to improving care for those who could have potentially gone undiagnosed or experienced a significant delay in diagnosis.”
Learn more about Endometriosis Australia and the scholarship program here
Editor’s note: We have been informed the Australia College of Nursing Foundation will be running the scholarships which will be formally opened in October 2024.
To find out what it’s all about listen to the Living with Endo podcast which is also on spotify.
The podcast helps explain the course offered by ANCF and how it benefits the whole community if the nurse is based in a regional community.
24 Responses
I currently work as a community nurse in Sydney. I am interested in continence and women’s health. I would like to learn more about this educational opportunity.
Editor’s note: We have been informed , the Australia College of Nursing Foundation will be running the scholarships which will be formally opened in August.
To find out what it’s all about listen to the Living with Endo podcast which is also on spotify.
The podcast helps explain the course offered by ANCF and how it benefits the whole community if the nurse is based in a regional community. (See links in story)
Interested Thank You.
Very Interested.
Lived experience and have an adult daughter also with lived experience. Regional Victoria.
My area of interest is women’s health.
Where can we find more info to apply?
I am very interested in women’s health and have been looking at enhancing my skills . I work as a school nurse (boarding ) in an all girls school. I see an immense number of girls suffering with menstrual issues. I would also like to pursue sexual health. I am mature age but also experience endometriosis and PCOS .
Very interested, I too have had since 19 yrs old with diagnosis and lived with for 30 yrs, now seeing my daughter also exhibiting similar occurring frustrations with her own health struggles in woman’s health issues. I’d love to able to help more woman get the answers in better management for their health and wellbring.
Interested thank you
I’m interested in this pr anything women’s health or chronic health
Extremely interested. I have worked rurally most of my nursing career and am now working in a girls boarding school. I would love to be part of the program
I am very interested in this scholarship opportunity. Working rurally in maternity and special care I feel this would enhance my midwifery skills and open up possibilities for the local health service too.
Are enrolled nurses able to do this?
I’m very interested in this, I am a community nurse, but also live with endometriosis and would like to be able to support other women through this.
Working in remote aboriginal communities as a Women’s Health Nurse and Midwife has its challenges in adequately managing “Secret Women’s Business “ and I would be interested in gaining further knowledge and management skills to deal with this equally challenging condition through this course being offered
Very interested. Lived experience. Live regionally. Where do we find more information please.
Very interested, lived experience, happy to work remote and rural. Love to learn
Very interested as I’m an endo and adenomyosis sufferer and would love to be able to complete this scholarship as I want to be able to advocate for others in my predicament
Very interested
I work in ED and Maternity o. The Capricorn Coast and would love to K oe more.
I have endometriosis stage 4 and have already researched the condition to determine medical etc methods to assist with my symptoms. I am RN in rural
Community and definitely interested in supporting women to identify this debilitating condition early on and use my current knowledge and working knowledge to continue to assist women .
I am currently working in an AMS un rural town in the Far North Queensland . I am interested.
Interested. Work in Remote Rural.
I am a Registered Practice Nurse at a Rural Medical clinic in the rural southeast Queensland. I am interested in the scholarship opportunity to improve my nursing consulting skills to provide a safe space to talk about their women’s health awareness in a variety ages. I am have seen challenges when supporting women and their families for their healthcare throughout the clinic in a rural community area. I personally started my endometriosis fight when I was 13 yrs and continued to fight for 40 yrs. Please send me more information to continue to support womenfolk.
Editor’s note: We have been informed , the Australia College of Nursing Foundation will be running the scholarships which will be formally opened in August.
To find out what it’s all about listen to the Living with Endo podcast which is also on spotify.
The podcast helps explain the course offered by ANCF and how it benefits the whole community if the nurse is based in a regional community. (See links in story)
I am an Eligible Midwife/ Women’s Health/Child health nurse currently working Rural and Remote contracts with and amongst First Nations Women. Not only would this course be honour to be involved with but what an amazing opportunity to support the Women in understanding and overcoming this often debilitating condition