The Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship Fund is supporting the dreams of female health work students!
KTF implements the Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship which provides full financial support for students facing significant financial hardship who are also passionate about delivering accessible primary healthcare to remote communities.
Carolyn Lister embarked on her nursing career in 1992, the majority caring for patients at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital. She was also a Captain in the Australian Army who, with determination and compassion, used her nursing skills to help those in need.
Keen travellers, Carolyn and her husband John visited PNG in 2002. On this trip, they realised how under-resourced, underfunded and inadequately supported the healthcare system was, with rural and remote communities bearing the brunt of its struggles.
Carolyn left us too soon, tragically in a cycling accident. In loving memory, John established the “Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship” to support young female nursing students in Papua New Guinea. A tribute fitting of Carolyn’s legacy of care and service.
The students selected are passionate about serving their communities and want to pursue careers as Community Health Workers. Scholarship students hail from the remote catchment region of the historic Kokoda Track, where the friendship between Papua New Guinea and Australia was forged during the battles of WWII.
To date, the scholarship program has supported Serah Teonda and Vanessa Sime to complete their Certificate in Community Health Work at St. Margaret’s School of Nursing and Community Health in Popondetta.
Excitingly, the scholarship is currently supporting five students on their educational journey:
Lydia Jovei
Coleena Hotopu
Mary Rose Mainimat
Sharlyn Gaiari
Finella Hanji
Let us introduce you to these remarkable young women who have been awarded the life-changing Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship.
First up! Our most recent graduates…
Vanessa Sime (Carolyn Lister Scholarship graduate 2021-2023)
Vanessa's hard work and dedication have finally paid off and she has recently graduated as a community health worker. Vanessa then completed a 6-month internship under the supervision of an experienced Community Health Worker, which she completed at Kokoda Memorial Hospital. Vanessa is now working as a qualified CHW at the Sanananda Aid Post, bolstering the rural healthcare system.
“I would like to thank my sponsors through the Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship, for your great support. I know you have shown your kindness by helping me complete my studies and I have now graduated. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart. I have learnt so much in nursing and I love my job.”
Serah Teonda (Carolyn Lister Scholarship graduate 2020-2021)
Today, Sarah is on KTF's payroll and works as a CHW at Popondetta Urban Clinic. She specialises in maternal and child health, including immunisations.
She has attended all of KTF's training workshops, including a recent in-service training delivered by KTF in neonatal resuscitation training, snakebite management and orientation to the new clinical textbook for Community Health Workers in PNG. She has ambitions in a few years time to undertake further tertiary studies and become a midwife. In the meantime, her experience working in the labour ward is giving her a great foundation.
We are thrilled to currently support five deserving students with the Carolyn Lister Scholarship. Here are their stories…
Lydia Jovei (Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient 2022 - present)
Lydia is completing her final year of study. In June 2023, Lydia travelled to Hariko with a small cohort of her classmates to undertake a 10-week internship at the Hariko aid post. She worked under the supervision of KTF’s Community Health Worker, Ruth.
“I went to Hariko and did my practical and I have learnt many things under the supervision of nurse Ruth that I have never learnt before. I dealt with different types of diseases, went out on patrol at Siremi, gave immunizations and gave a health talk at a primary school.”
Due to delays caused by Covid-19 Lydia will graduate in June 2024 and plans to return to her remote home village and work at Hariko aid post. She is very thankful to the Carolyn Lister Memorial Scholarship for allowing her to follow her dream.
Finella Hanji (Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient 2021 - present)
Finella Hanji is a previous Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient who, due to personal reasons, had to take a leave of absence from studying. We are excited to welcome her back and support her in finishing her last year.
Mary Rose Mainimat (Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient 2023 - present)
Mary Rose Mainimat is from Tufi, ljivitari District, Oro Province. She is mainly supported by her father who is an Anglican Parish Priest at Kiorota village. She is a very bright and intelligent student, who is confident and outspoken. She will continue her second year in the Community Health Worker program.
“Whatever little money my family finds they support me. I want to study health because I want to help save lives. I want to contribute towards the growth and development of PNG by promoting health within our local communities.”
Coleena Hotopu (Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient 2023 - present)
Coleena Hotopu is from Girua village, in Oro Province. She is supported by her single mother who has a small business on the street at Girua village to sustain her family. Coleena is a bright student who also performs well above average. She is currently enrolled in her first year in the Community Health Worker course.
“I have faced many struggles and challenges with finance and family issues as I journey through education. I want to study health to help my community and save the lives of the people in my country.”
Sharlyn Gaiari (Carolyn Lister Scholarship recipient 2023 - present)
Sharlyn Gaiari is from Banderi Village, Jivarti district in Oro Province. She is currently doing her first year and has received excellent academic results. She is someone who takes initiative and is always eager to learn. With a confident and outspoken personality, she has demonstrated leadership qualities in school. She is supported by her parents who rely on subsistence farming to provide for their family.
“Where I live has poor health services, I want to help fight the sickness and diseases that affect families, communities and the nation as a whole. I want to develop the health standard of the country.”
This scholarship is a lifeline for students from remote communities who are dedicated to becoming Community Health Workers, the cornerstone of the rural healthcare system in PNG.