Melbourne COVID-19 nurse awarded Leadership in Nursing Scholarship

The scholarship will see Le Truong undertake a Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University.

Ms Truong led a St Vincent's team of 50 through the 2020 pandemic on a designated COVID-19 ward. In 2021 she is celebrating 10 years of service at the Melbourne hospital.

The resilience shown by Ms Truong and many other nurses during the pandemic is a key quality of leadership, according to Bonnie Boezeman AO, scholarship benefactor and a founding member of CEW.

“As essential workers, they’ve shown enormous resilience showing up every day and not knowing what challenges would face them and they take it in their stride, like true leaders,” Ms Boezeman said.

“From clapping in the streets to the tribute at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games, nurses have been publicly recognised for their contribution like never before. It is well overdue.”

Ms Truong is passionate about the future of the nursing profession with this growing recognition. She said she was looking forward to further developing her leadership skills to make meaningful changes in the nursing profession.

“I see so many young, eager nurses who are willing to move towards leadership positions, and this scholarship will help me foster that environment for them,” Ms Truong said.

Southern Cross University Chancellor Sandra McPhee AM said the online Master of Healthcare Leadership course was designed with flexibility for working nurses.

“It allows nurses to engage with the latest evidence-base to further develop their confidence and leadership, whilst extending their skill set to enhance their day-to-day nursing practice,” Chancellor McPhee said.

“As a long serving member of Chief Executive Women, I am particularly pleased to celebrate this important partnership with Southern Cross University as we both strive to develop the future health workforce, recognising the critical role that female nurses play on a daily basis in our healthcare.”

This is the third year CEW has offered the Bonnie Boezeman AO Leadership in Nursing Scholarship for a nursing professional studying the Master of Healthcare Leadership at Southern Cross University. The inaugural recipient was Danielle Coates (2019) followed by Lisa Vilé (2020).

About Chief Executive Women

Chief Executive Women’s shared mission is ‘women leaders enabling other women leaders’. CEW’s 640 members hold leading roles in Australia’s largest private and public organisations. Since 1985 CEW has influenced and engaged all levels of Australian business and government to achieve gender balance. Through advocacy, research, targeted programs and scholarships, CEW helps to remove the barriers to women’s progression and ensure equal opportunity for prosperity. More information at cew.org.au

About the Master of Healthcare Leadership

The Master of Healthcare Leadership is designed to give professionals a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on the changing face of healthcare. For example, registered nurses with many years of experience who want to move out of direct care; or allied health professionals, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, counselling or optometry, wanting to start their own practice. Completing the Master’s in healthcare leadership online gives professionals more flexibility, more opportunities, and more transferable skills for the future. For more information, visit Postgraduate Health Specialisations at Southern Cross University.

Media contact: Sharlene King, media office at Southern Cross University, 0429 661 349 or scumedia@scu.edu.au