Alison Thomas

New Nursing Scholarship Recipient Alison Thomas Driven
to Make a Positive Impact in Mental Health Care.

The University of Wollongong (UOW) announces Alison Thomas as the recipient of the Recovery Camp Nursing Scholarship 2023. This scholarship, awarded annually, aims to support and empower aspiring nurses.

Alison Thomas, a dedicated nursing student at UOW, is thrilled to have been selected as the recipient of the Recovery Camp Nursing Scholarship. With a personal connection to mental health illness and two children with special needs, Alison’s desire to make a difference in the lives of others is deeply rooted in her own experiences.

Expressing her gratitude, Alison remarked, “Thank you so much for the scholarship. It was unexpected, and I am extremely grateful. I applied for the scholarship as I feel drawn to the mental health industry due to my own mental health illness and having two children with special needs. I would like to think I can relate to other people with similar issues.”

Alison’s selection as the scholarship recipient has brought excitement and gratitude to her and her family.
Recognising the immense value of the scholarship, she added, “It will help me tremendously in my nursing journey to help with costs associated with textbooks or when on placement. I’m also very much looking forward to attending placement at Recovery Camp and believe I will get so much out of it.”

Alison shared her aspirations for her future career, saying, “I aspire to pursue a career in mental health, specialising in either adult or child care. I definitely feel drawn to the mental health industry and am very interested in it.”

The Recovery Camp Nursing Scholarship provides Alison with the financial support of $1000 per year for three years, assisting with various educational expenses, including textbooks and placement-related costs. Additionally, the scholarship offers an invaluable opportunity for Alison to attend Recovery Camp as part of her nursing clinical placement requirements, with all program expenses covered.

Recovery Camp is an evidence-based program where attendees spend 5 days and 4 nights, undertaking therapeutic recreation activities. Camp is a shared learning experience, focused on fostering connection and hope to fight stigma. It provides empowering, lived-experience-led education for nursing students and recovery for people living with mental health conditions.

Dr. Christopher Patterson, a Co-founder and Director of Recovery Camp, emphasised the significance of supporting student nurses. “At Recovery Camp, we’ve seen the real impact of quality education on students and people with lived experience of mental ill health. Offering scholarships like this allows us to support future health professionals like Alison, who can create real positive change in their careers,” stated Dr. Patterson.

Recovery Camp, established in 2013 as a research project by UOW academics, has since evolved into a social enterprise revolutionising the clinical placement of health students. By reducing stigma and supporting mental health recovery, Recovery Camp plays a vital role in preparing future healthcare professionals for their careers.

Recovery Camp warmly congratulates Alison Thomas on being selected as the recipient of the Nursing Scholarship and is excited to follow the positive contributions she will make in the realm of health care and beyond.