APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
This scholarship is named in memory of Olwyn (Ollie) Johnston, one of the first endorsed nurse practitioners in Australia and a pioneer who paved the way for nurse practitioners nationally. Ollie passed away in 2006 but her life contribution to remote nursing will be remembered by her radio call sign “by Golly….it’s Ollie”.
Ollie was the first Nurse Practitioner approved to work in a remote area of far western NSW and was recognised for her specialities in rural and remote health care. A pioneer, Ms Johnston paved the way for Nurse Practitioners nationally. She found a setting to learn beyond the norm and had to think creatively to meet her client’s health needs. Through her passion for the area, she developed a deep sense of commitment to rural and remote health.
This educational scholarship is offered to endorsed Nurse Practitioners for the purpose of growing the body of knowledge on the nurse practitioner role in Australia.
Awards, Scholarships & Recognition Program Booklet 2026
For any inquiries, please use the Contact Us form.
PRIZE:
The prize is a scholarship of up to $5,000 and may be provided to one individual.
The scholarship funds are to be used towards the education outlined in the application.
About Ollie Johnston
Following her arrival in Australia from New Zealand, Ollie commenced her nursing career in 1979 in Sydney, working as an AiN. In 1980 Ollie undertook her enrolled nursing course and went on to complete her RN training in 1982.
Ollie took her love of the outback to the areas surrounding Lightning Ridge where she worked full time in Accident and Emergency. In 1998 Ollie moved to Wanaaring Community Health Centre, where she completed her Masters of Nursing in Rural and Remote Areas.
On 7 May 2001, the day before International Nurses’ Day, Ollie was endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner, the first working in a remote area, and was recognised for her specialities in rural and remote health care. As a Nurse Practitioner, Ollie had the skills and knowledge to initiate diagnostic tests and prescribe specific medications within her scope of practice.
Ollie moved to Goodooga Health Services, where she remained until her illness.
Abstract from Lamp-April2006-web
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Must be a Nurse Practitioner (endorsed by NMBA) residing in Australia
- Must be a current financial member of ACNP
- Must be working at least 0.6 FTE as a Nurse Practitioner in a clinical role
SELECTION CRITERIA
The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who can best demonstrate that the proposed activity will add to the body of knowledge on nurse practitioner roles and models of care. Applicants must complete the selection criteria and the declaration included in the online application.
TIMEFRAMES
Please refer to the opening, closing, notification and presentation dates listed on the ACNP Awards and Scholarships webpage.
JUDGING
The judging will be conducted by the ACNP Awards and Scholarships Committee.
Final recommendations will go to the National Board for endorsement.
Please note that the judging panel’s decision is final.
PRIVACY
Applicants' submissions are provided only to the judging panel.
RECIPIENT OBLIGATION
The successful applicant is required to submit a brief report to ACNP within three months of completion of the education activity outlining how the scholarship funds were used. The successful applicant will be required to complete an abstract and present it at a subsequent ACNP National Conference, within the next 2 years.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please refer to the ACNP Ollie Scholarship Terms and Conditions listed within the scholarship application form.
Online applications only
Download the ACNP Referee Pro Forma form here:
Sarah Krupowicz née Webb
Sarah is a respected educator and mentor, currently undertaking a PhD and holding two master’s degrees in Nursing. She has a strong commitment to rural and remote health which stems from living in Longreach in central western Queensland. Sarah brings a unique perspective on the diverse challenges and opportunities facing NPs across Australia, exemplifying the vision and values of the Ollie Scholarship.
AusMed representative Emma Piercy with Sarah Krupowicz.
Previous Recipients
Linda Kirby
Linda is a Nurse Practitioner(NP) specialising in Forensic Nursing in central Queensland. Linda’s knowledge and clinical skill-set uniquely demonstrates how a Nurse Practitioner’s metaspecialities can give an innovative lens to the delivery of care for a person disclosing sexual assault. Linda has also in her role as the nurse practitioner and co-ordinator for forensic services in Central Queensland, demonstrated not only the functional components of a forensic examination pathways but the integral working relationships which are required for the holistic care and treatment for a person disclosing sexual assault. Linda has built essential collaborative relationships with external stakeholders such as Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection Investigation Unit, Women’s health counselling service, Indigenous Health services and Social work team at Queensland health by initiating the first community of practice for sexual assault services in Central Queensland.
Congratulations to the 2023 Ollie Scholarship recipient, Fiona Jennings.
Fiona is a Nurse Practitioner(NP) specialising in Trauma Care at the Princess Alexandra Hospital(PAH) in the acute and outpatient department, with specific focus on rib injury. She began practicing as a trauma N P in early 2018. A key initiative of the trauma NP role was the development and implementation of an NP-led trauma out patient clinic predominantly for patients with rib injury, addressing acritical gap in care after discharge.
Ausmed representative with Winner Fiona and ACNP CEO Leanne Boase
Congratulations to the 2022 Ollie Scholarship recipient, Lee-anne Pedersen.
Lee-anne Pedersen is a Nurse Practitioner in Karumba Clinic and Normanton Hospital located in Queensland, where she provides primary and emergency health care.
Lee-anne has published articles on a variety of topics, including Paediatric Palliative care and the use of telehealth to deliver services.
She has been a teacher across the Asia Pacific region and has been the recipient of various scholarships and grants, including the National Quality of Care Collaborative Commonwealth Health and Ageing grant since 2014.
Lee-anne is delighted to be awarded the 2022 Ollie Scholarship and will use the scholarship funds to extend her skills in the area of use of ultrasound in rural areas, thereby enabling additional service provision to her community.
Lee-anne Pedersen (left) with ACNP President Leanne Boase
2021 Recipient
Congratulations to Amor Kisling.
Amor is an Emergency Nurse Practitioner in regional Victoria and is currently completing a masters of Traumatology and developing a hip fracture pathway to enhance patient outcomes. The Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) course will enable Amor to implement this pathway, as well as being trained to administer fascia iliaca blocks. The course will also enable Amor to implement skills in assessing trauma patients. Amor’s colleague outlines “Developing the knowledge and skill to operate the ultrasound will allow nurse practitioners to broaden and refine their practice and aid them in reducing time to diagnosis, vascular access, analgesia or recognition of significant pathology that will help improve the timeliness and overall standard of care. Amor takes an active role and interest in achieving the best possible standards of care. She has led the development of the new fast track department and taken an active role in guideline development from trauma to hip fracture pathways.”
This education will help overcome current barriers to practice by providing Amor with the knowledge and skills to provide her patients a quicker and more in-depth health care experience and increase better health outcomes.
2019
Congratulations to Giuliana Murfet
Giuliana was one of the first Nurse Practitioners endorsed to practice in Tasmania. She has extensive diabetes experience including leadership and advisory roles nationally. Key works includes: Retrospective Diabetes in Pregnancy Outcome Study; Assessment and Management of Obesity and Self-maintenance Study; A competency-based approach to expanding the diabetes healthcare workforce (current PhD).
The Ollie Nurse Practitioner Scholarship supports attendance to the 11th International Council of Nurses’ NP/APN Nursing Network Conference in Nova Scotia in 2020. The award was cosponsored by ACN.
2020 - The Scholarship was not awarded/
2018 - Mark Jones. Emerency and Acute Care SA
2017 - Mark Shah Diabetes and Eendocrinology WA
2016 - Mary Fenech BBV, STI & Viral Hepatitis Qld
2015 - Giuliana Murfet Diabetes Tas
2014 - Kym Boyes Womens Health & Research Qld