A priority for KAPCS is to promote and encourage all children's services personnel to attend training courses, conferences, workshops and seminars.
Each year, local people can apply for a scholarship of $500 to help with the cost of formal accredited courses that will assist them to attain recognised qualifications.
Please contact Liz Thomas for information about the Scholarships. Phone 9192 9122.
Congratulations to recent recipients of KAPCS scholarships:
2007 Pilbara Michelle McKinney (Karratha)
2007 Kimberley Elizabeth Lawson (Broome)
2006 Pilbara
Tanya Long (Newman)
2006
Kimberley
Jasmine Richards (Broome)
2005
Kimberley
Shaharifah Bin Sulaiman
Kaori Shimizu
Read Reema's story "A Shining Beacon" below for inspiration!
A Shining Beacon Greetings from Karratha!! My name is Reema Pandit and I have been a Caregiver at Millars Well Early Learning Centre since May 2003. I immediately decided to enrol myself in Certificate 3 at Pilbara TAFE. I have come a long way hence, for within two weeks, I will complete my Diploma in Children's Services and will be termed as a Qualified team leader, a big feather in my cap. It is true that I was employed on an exemption, as a qualified caregiver on the basis of my university degree in Child Psychology. But the Catch 22 was that I had to complete my Diploma as soon as possible. It was left up to me to prove my educational worth, within a limited time frame. A tall order for a woman who was in a rut, being mum to a seven year old boy, a full time job and hands on education. On top of all this was a considerable financial burden to pay Out of School Care fees for my son, and the term fees for myself. The whole scenario was frightening at the very least. However the silver lining came, when the Co-ordinator of my centre, Melissa Taylor, showed me a scholarship application form, sponsored by
Kimberley and Pilbara Children's Services. This was a heaven sent opportunity to replenish my dwindling resources - too good to be missed. To my utmost delight, I got a surprise birthday gift on 27th JULY 2004 - a letter of congratulations from KAPCS for a $500 scholarship. My first reaction was WOW! No term fees this time. I had an incentive to get enrolled again as quickly as I could. IT ALL CAME AS A SHINING BEACON!
The commitment shown by KAPCS to local students is highly commendable. My special thanks to Liz Thomas and the KAPCS committee members, for arranging this thoughtful channel, of looking after the interest of students who try to embark upon a career path of limited income and study at the same time. Keep up the good work!
The scholarship will be paid to the Tertiary Institution on a term by term basis to the total value of $500. Continued payment for each term will depend on the successful completion of the units in which the student has enrolled.
The Scholarship must be taken up within 12 months of being informed of their successful application.
Applications must be made on the Application Form, addressing all criteria.
The monetary value of the Scholarship will be paid, where possible, to the appropriate training organisation/group.
The successful applicant/s will be asked to produce a written report to the KAPCS organisation at the completion of their program of study.
