Newcastle Honours Lord Mayor’s Scholarship Recipients

The City of Newcastle recently celebrated nine recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Scholarship at a special reception hosted by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes. The scholarship program, initially established in 2015 with the University of Newcastle and expanded in 2022 in partnership with the NSW TAFE Foundation, provides financial support to students facing personal or financial challenges. This year, scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 were awarded, totalling over $16,000.

Lord Mayor Nelmes highlighted the significance of the scholarships in supporting educational access. “These outstanding Novocastrians embody what can be achieved through fair access to tertiary education for everyone. Already, each one of these high achievers is contributing to our common goal of making Newcastle a more livable, sustainable, inclusive global city,” she said. Nelmes also noted the council’s commitment to supporting students, with 37 scholarships awarded in the past four years.

Among the scholarship recipients was Dominic Julius Gudis, who transitioned from a civil engineering background to nursing. Gudis, a 29-year-old Filipino expat, completed his Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW Newcastle and now works as an Enrolled Nurse at Lingard Hospital in Merewether. Reflecting on his journey, Gudis expressed his passion for nursing, saying, “Nursing is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid… As soon as I started nursing, I thought, this is my place.”

TAFE NSW’s Executive Director of Education and Skills North, Jason Darney, praised the scholarship program for helping students overcome financial barriers to education. “These scholarships, along with the ongoing support from the NSW TAFE Foundation, will allow students who are experiencing hardship to reach their full potential and their education goals,” Darney said.

University of Newcastle’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kent Anderson, acknowledged the positive impact of the scholarships. “The scholarship empowers students to pursue their dreams, making sure that financial hardship does not stand in the way of academic achievement and making a positive contribution to society,” Professor Anderson stated.

Other recipients recognised at the event include Astro Haddon, Chloe Hooper, Emily Lloyd, Winnie Lynn, Maddison Innis, Leanne Swainson, Chen Tai, and Sharnie-Marie Withers, each excelling in their respective fields at TAFE NSW and the University of Newcastle. The scholarships have enabled these students to pursue their educational and professional aspirations, highlighting the program’s importance in fostering talent and opportunity in the Newcastle community.