A KANGAROO Island teen is one of two young and passionate advocates for rural and remote health services being given a leg-up to Darwin, NT, to attend the 13th National Rural Health Conference.
Erin Morrison from Emu Bay and Russell Lamb, Woomargama, NSW, are the recipients of the National Rural Health Alliance 2015 Des Murray Scholarship.
Des Murray was a rural health leader who supported many self-help initiatives in rural and remote areas.
The biennial NRHC plays a key part in inspiring future leaders of the sector and Des Murray scholars are among the best and brightest.
Erin Morrison is a community member of the KI Health Advisory Council and is a strong advocate for young people and their health needs.
She chairs the KI Youth Council and was the Island’s Young Achiever of the Year 2013.
At only 17, she has been accepted into the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) degree at Flinders University.
Ms Morrison was nominated for this award by Philippa Kneebone, KI Community Health’s mental health social worker, with the application supported by Nigel Jefford, Director of Nursing, and they are delighted to see that Erin’s chosen field of psychology has received such a boost.
Erin will attend university in 2016, but in the meantime, she is continuing her work and volunteering on the island.
"I have an interest in the area of youth mental health," Ms Morrison said.
"By attending the conference in Darwin, I’m hoping to learn as much as possible from what’s being done in other remote areas so that we might make improvements on KI."
In 2015, Ms Morrison is volunteering for Youth Parliament, and working with KI Players.
She will continue her role on the Health Advisory Council too, meeting to discuss all the health issues affecting people on the island, including the delivery of services and the manner in which volunteer groups can assist to improve things at the hospital in particular.
Before going to university, Ms Morrison is going on an extended tour of Europe.
Those eligible for the Des Murray Scholarship are young people from a remote area committed to improving the health of people in their region.
Through the Scholarship they are supported to attend the NRHC and join a special group who have shown outstanding commitment to their local community.
