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02 Sep 2019

Secure a scholarship for 2020

  • VCCC Alliance
  • University of Melbourne

VCCC is once again providing generous support to develop Victoria’s cancer workforce.

Australia’s first cancer-specific, wholly online program was launched in February this year and aims to provide an innovative, multi-disciplinary option for health professionals wishing to join the cancer workforce or gain leading-edge knowledge in the rapidly changing field.    

For 2020, the VCCC will award up to 20 scholarships covering 50% of tuition fees for the first year of the Master of Cancer Sciences. Five scholarships will be assigned to support clinical trials professionals.

We asked some of the inaugural students who work in quite different disciplines what they gained from their study this year.

Clinical nurse educator at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Antonela Vogranic says, “I have learned an enormous amount from collaborating with like-minded peers from a range of disciplines.  We all have different perspectives of cancer and it is these diverse experiences which have been intellectually stimulating and challenged me in many ways. Foundations of Cancer enabled me to take an in-depth exploration of cancer at a molecular, cellular and organ level that I haven't previously had the opportunity to do.  Cancer Research has really excited me about what lies ahead with the Research Thesis Capstone subjects and how I can apply it to a cancer nurse-led research project which will enhance the care or experiences of people affected by cancer.” 

Medical Oncology Fellow Shehara Mendis agrees, “The course has been a fantastic opportunity to hone my basic science knowledge in Foundations of Cancer, develop and pitch a research project in Cancer Research and delve into global and economic perspectives on cancer care through Cancer in Society.

The enthusiasm of the teaching staff and the collegiality of the group through the discussion board have made this an extremely engaging course.”  

Research Assistant, Sheilajen Alcantara, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, found value in the course as she was recently asked to represent her lab at open forums and commented that her learnings helped in her preparation for her talks, “It is so good to have access to a multitude of resources: for example, I could easily find global cancer statistics to make my talk more incisive, give it more breadth and make it more human as well. I probably would have found it eventually anyway, but because of what I learnt a few weeks ago, I knew exactly where to look. I talked quite comfortably about cancer and treatment side effects - as if I were a cancer expert!

Applications for 2020 are now open. Applicants are asked to prepare early as statements, transcripts and referees are required.  The application form is available on our website.

Image: Some of the inaugural cohort of students at the February 2019 launch.

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