News

A new partnership between AUT and the Southern Cross Health Trust offers student nurses an unprecedented level of support as they navigate their studies and clinical placements.

The Southern Cross Nursing Scholarship is offering 17 scholarships to AUT students for the 2025 academic year, while every first-year nursing student – likely to be more than 400 – will receive vouchers worth around $300 each to pay for nursing uniforms and shoes.

Southern Cross Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer Monica Goldwater says the organisation is committed to supporting continued education and career advancement for nurses.

“Nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare system, but they are in short supply and high demand across the sector. We co-designed the scholarship programme with AUT to address the specific needs of student nurses and help lessen the financial challenges they face while studying.

“Ultimately, we want to see more nursing students continue through to graduation and enter the workforce.” she says.

“I am so excited about this programme and the positive impact it will have on aspiring nurses. Together with AUT, we are paving the way for a brighter future in healthcare.”

The Southern Cross Health Trust is funding five scholarships for each year of the three-year Bachelor of Nursing programme and two scholarships for Master of Nursing Science students, worth about $121,000 in total next year. The whole package is worth more than $300,000.

Scholarship recipients will receive a $500 per week stipend while on clinical placement (five weeks in year one, 10 weeks in year two and 17 weeks in year three), money towards course fees and $500 per year for general health and wellbeing. The Nursing Council of New Zealand state exam to become a registered nurse, will also be paid for in the final year of study.

All the incoming 2025 nursing student cohort will also be eligible for a funded flu vaccine, courtesy of Southern Cross Healthcare.

Scholarship students will also be offered priority clinical placements in Southern Cross hospitals, the opportunity for part-time work during their studies and a ‘buddy’ relationship with a graduate nurse from a similar background.

AUT’s Heads of Nursing, Dr Jan Dewar and Dr Rachel Macdiarmid, say they are delighted to have worked with the Southern Cross Health Trust to co-design the programme, a first for the university.

“Helping students is our priority and we know a huge pinch-point is the clinical placement aspect of the course, which is generally when finances are most stretched.”

Southern Cross Health Trust and Southern Cross Healthcare CEO Chris White says AUT was the ideal partner for the scholarship programme.

“AUT has a great nursing school and is close to several of our hospitals,” he says.

“We’re incredibly proud to have worked with them to co-design this innovative initiative, which we see as a step towards establishing a nationwide programme to support the education of our future healthcare workforce.”