October 16, 2017

Students with disability to benefit from new scholarship

Movement Disorder Foundation gifts more than $1M to UOW. 

Students with a physical disability are set to benefit from a $1.35 million donation to the University of Wollongong (UOW) by the Movement Disorder Foundation (MDF).

The MDF is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the lives of people with a physical disability by funding research and fundraising.

The donation will be used to fund the Movement Disorder Foundation Scholarship at UOW, giving financial support to students with a physical disability. The Movement Disorder Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 2014 and initially supported students studying engineering and medicine.

From today (Monday 16 October), the scholarship program will expand to cover all disciplines at UOW, with five scholarships to the value of $7,000 per annum offered biennially.

The Movement Disorder Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 2014, with James Turner OAM (Bachelor of Engineering) and Georgina Healy (Bachelor of Medicine) the first students to receive the scholarship. James was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia earlier this year for his service to sport in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he won gold and broke a world record in the T36 Men’s 800m.

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joe Chicharo said the shared vision between the University and MDF to transform lives and the community also highlights the importance of education.

“This collaborative partnership has been centred on building aspirations and empowering those who are living with a movement disorder to realise their potential through participation in education,” he said.

“The University is committed to shaping the next generation of innovators and creators who will leverage from their opportunity to attend University and go on to contribute to the greater good, influencing social chance and becoming leaders in their chosen fields.”

Pictured L to R: Georgina Healy, MDF Executive Chairman Roland Bigg, James Turner OAM