A $140,000 gift from the Country Women’s Association Armidale Branch to the University of New England has established a new medical scholarship for women from regional, rural and remote communities.

The endowed fund will support the CWA of NSW Armidale Branch Medical Scholarship, providing $5,000 each year to a female student in their 3rd, 4th or 5th years of the Joint Medical Program. With the capital preserved, the scholarship will be offered in perpetuity from 2026.

CWA Armidale branch president, Llani Pevitt, said members wanted to create something lasting for their community.

“Several years ago, we sold our CWA Hall in Rusden Street and were asked to use part of the proceeds for a community project. One of our members, Dr Ann Cunningham, suggested establishing a scholarship for female medical students at UNE,” Ms Pevitt said.

This idea captured everything we wanted – supporting women, strengthening healthcare in the regions and delivering long-term community benefit.

Vice-chancellor Chris Moran, chancellor Sarah Pearson, CWA president Llani Pevitt and CWA PR officer Donna Harris at the presentation of the CWA of NSW Armidale Branch Medical Scholarship.

“We are proud to partner with UNE to launch this scholarship. It is a meaningful way to invest in the future of healthcare and show our confidence in the next generation of regional doctors.”

UNE vice-chancellor and CEO, Professor Christopher Moran, said the gift reflected the strong bonds between the university and community organisations.

“UNE was established as Australia’s first non-metropolitan university of the region for the region. This generous gift from the CWA Armidale Branch shows how those community connections continue to define us,” Professor Moran said.

“As a regional university, we have a special obligation to make education accessible for rural students and those from all socio-economic backgrounds. Donations such as this help ease financial worries, allowing students to focus on their studies.

“Our students are facing a significant cost of living pressures. Many are making difficult choices between necessities and educational expenses, and the demand for financial assistance has grown significantly.

“Every additional scholarship creates an opportunity for a student who might otherwise abandon their studies,” he said.

Applications for the scholarship opened on September 22 and the first scholarship will be awarded in Semester 1, 2026.