Pregnancy, labor and the first few weeks following birth can be challenging for women who live in the outback, hundreds of kilometers away from a medical center or hospital.
A trip to the doctor for regular checkups, blood tests and ultrasounds can cost hundreds of dollars in travel expenses, plus time away from their family.
Thanks to support from the Dalara Foundation and Maureen Stevenson, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) offers midwifery scholarships to registered nurses with a background in critical care to help them gain qualifications they need to become a flight nurse.
Since 2019, 22 nurses have been recipients of the scholarship and have joined the RFDS to provide life-saving aeromedical retrievals and essential primary health care and midwifery services to mothers at remote clinics.
RFDS Flight Nurse (Midwifery) Jenay Scannell heard about the scholarship a few years ago and knew she had to apply.
“I had no expectations when applying as I knew how many others had the same dream as I did to become a RFDS flight nurse,” Jenay said.
“I can still clearly remember the day I was told I was successful, I burst into tears.
“It was one of the best days of my life.”
Jenay said the financial burden of full-time study as well as working and maintaining a work-life balance is often what deters critical care nurses from undertaking further post-graduate midwifery studies.
As part of the scholarship program, nurses receive up to $10,000 to put towards a midwifery qualification.
While she had to relocate, Jenay said it was a small price to pay to land her dream job.
“Given the unpredictable nature of pregnancy and birth, having midwifery services available is vital for the safety of women in regional, rural and remote communities,” Jenay said.
“For example, my colleague recently attended a job where he supported a woman through an unexpected breech birth in a non-birthing facility.
“It goes to show how valuable and vital the RFDS services are given that he was the only midwife available at the time in such a remote setting.
“Following this, an aeromedical transfer was organised to a specialist maternity service where the baby and mother could be cared for after delivery.
“There are many circumstances that can arise in a day working as a flight nurse that require midwifery skills and knowledge.”
RFDS Flight Nurse (Midwifery) Dempsey Carr applied for the scholarship in 2022 and said becoming a midwife was a career highlight.
“I had been thinking about taking that step for a long time, but it was always going to be a financial risk for me,” Dempsey said.
“Thanks to the RFDS scholarship program, I was able to study midwifery which has improved my own nursing knowledge and patient care.
“Most of the communities we support don’t have access to a midwife in their local area.
“I have already used my midwifery skills within my short time in Mount Isa and the community is always so grateful for our services.”
Dalara Foundation’s Allan and Lyn Davies and their family are long-term supporters of the RFDS and have seen firsthand the importance of the Service in regional, rural and remote Queensland.
“We have been working with the RFDS for more than 15 years because it is an organisation that is vital to bush communities and aligns with our focus to contribute to education, medical research and human welfare,” Allan said.
“Our support assists the RFDS to keep a full pipeline of flight nurses.
“Midwifery is vitally important because when babies are born out in the bush there can be emergency situations which require quick action, and if you are a long way from help, you are very grateful for this service.”
The RFDS (Queensland Section) is offering a midwifery scholarship to suitably qualified registered nurses with a background in critical care in 2025.
This scholarship is kindly donated by the Dalara Foundation and Maureen Stevenson. Applications close on 15 December 2024.
For more information about becoming an RFDS nurse please visit our website, contact Talent Acquisition at recruitment@rfdsqld.com.au or call 07 3852 7553.
