General News
7 April, 2023
RNH celebrates Leo Casey Scholarship
Named for the former long-serving chair of Rural Northwest Health, the Leo Casey Scholarship is designed to increase the capability and capacity of the organisation’s workforce to deliver high-quality and safe care and other services to agency...
Named for the former long-serving chair of Rural Northwest Health, the Leo Casey Scholarship is designed to increase the capability and capacity of the organisation’s workforce to deliver high-quality and safe care and other services to agency customers.
The scholarship holds true to the values of Mr Casey, who advocates life-long learning and developing knowledge and skills to enrich the lives of others, particularly in a rural health setting.
The 2022 Leo Casey Scholarship was presented to Katrina Fallon, who works at Yarriambiack Lodge.
Ms Fallon is a two-time recipient, having also received the scholarship in 2019.
The scholarship has assisted her to undertake the first unit of a Transition to Speciality Palliative Care course delivered as part of the Australian College of Nursing's Graduate Certificate.
Ms Fallon was attending a lesson from the Palliative Care Team at Federation University in Horsham as part of her enrolled nurse training when she experienced the epiphany that would become a consuming interest.
“The old cliché of two things being certain in life connected directly with me and my work," she said.
"I knew then that assisting with dying with dignity would be a consuming passion."
Ms Fallon said that rural shortages of palliative care specialist places pressure on agencies that supported people to live as long as possible in familiar environments.
“Eventually, I hope to be able to provide advice to other organisations and community members,” she said.
Mr Casey reiterated his best wishes for Ms Fallon.
“I'm so pleased that Katrina is pursuing her interest in palliative care as it's so important for smaller rural communities,” he said.