Just a little update for you all.

The marking panel have selected two winners for The Victoria Thompson Scholarship. From a very high standard of applications, Katie Kelly and Rachel Clarke were selected.

The NUIG Foundation match our donation of €2,000. So, this means each winning student will receive €2,000 towards their fees. We wish to thank all applicants, the university faculty, the foundation, and all those working diligently in children’s palliative care services.

There was no formal presentation this year, but here is a little bio and photo of each candidate. Huge thanks and congratulations to both students in the Masters and Post Graduate programme in NUI Galway.

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Katie Kelly, Galway: RNID and RCN. Trained as an RNID in Trinity College, Dublin/Stewart’s Care, Palmerstown. Completed H. Dip in Children’s Nursing in DCU/ CHI Temple Street, Dublin. Staff nurse experience in varied areas: Intellectual Disability/ challenging behaviour, paediatric emergency department, Home care Nurse with the Jack and Jill Foundation, paediatric haematology and oncology in Saudi Arabia, children’s general medical and surgical and paediatric complex/ high dependency care in the UAE. Aspires to assist in the further development of specialist services in children’s complex and palliative care in rural Ireland.

Rachel Clarke successfully completed her undergraduate degree in Intellectual Disability Nursing in Trinity College Dublin in 2016. Following that, she worked in Hazel House, a children’s disability respite service for children with intellectual disabilities and complex care needs. It was during this time she started to work with the Jack and Jill Foundation, and continues to do so. The following year, she commenced a Higher Diploma in Paediatric Nursing in DCU and Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Once qualified, she worked on the neonatal ward in Temple Street for just over a year. Currently, she is employed as a Paediatric Client Care Manager with Communicare, a private home-care company. In her role, she supports children with complex care and palliative care needs in the community. She decided to do the MSc in Children’s Palliative Care and Complex Care in NUIG to become a specialist practitioner in this area. Her ambition is to support children and families by providing a holistic and evidence based approach in her practice.

Well done to all students and congratulations to the winners of The Victoria Thompson Scholarship!