Scholarship recipient seizes opportunity to further her education

15 Jun 2023

Ireen is using the Sister Bridget Clancy Scholarship for the Empowerment of Women through Education to study a Graduate Diploma of Nursing at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

“The scholarship will enable me to complete my postgraduate studies and complete courses with a focus on clinical governance, professional role development, management strategies, quality care, and evidence based practice,” she said.

“Higher education enables me to further develop my knowledge, skills and experience in leadership in the safety and quality field.”

The scholarship, which was first offered in 2021 in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Sister's foundation, seeks to continue the legacy of the visionary and courageous women who founded St John of God Health Care in Australia.

The scholarship was open to female caregivers undertaking studies focused on leadership development or related to women's health.

Ireen has worked at St John of God Murdoch Hospital for the past 12 years, and is passionate about patient safety because she believes it is the cornerstone of high quality care.

“I am passionate about building a culture of safety and facilitating a shared understanding of how each and every individual in our hospital plays a role in ensuring we deliver safe and quality care,” she said.

“I am also a staunch believer in empowering women through education. In my birth country, the Philippines, I have seen first-hand how a lack of access to education, especially in the rural communities, perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

“However, I have also witnessed the transformative effect of how an educated woman can raise their families out of poverty through informed choices, not just in raising a family, but also in overcoming employment segregation and increased political participation.”

Ireen said that her background is what drives her to make the most of opportunities, especially when it comes to education.

“I am committed to developing myself as a leader and as a safety and quality professional,” she said.

“Personally, I also know how privileged I am to even have the option to further my education.

“I carry with me the heritage of my parents who had to overcome the challenges of being immigrants from a third-world country, and of my grandparents whose mission in life was to provide their children with a university education, despite their poverty and their own lack of higher education.

“Just as importantly, I want to be a role model for my daughters in the pursuit of higher education and in the betterment of oneself.”

She said the most enjoyable part of working in healthcare is the strength and compassion that her colleagues show every day in how they care for patients and each other.

“We have had a very challenging few years in the healthcare industry due to the pandemic and we are still feeling the effects of it. Healthcare workers have shown their incredible resilience through this time and I truly feel privileged to work with them.”