The local group provides financial assistance to local students furthering their careers.
Najem, 22, received assistance from the group in the first year of his nursing degree at La Trobe University in Bendigo in 2015.
He said it was a helpful start and allowed him to achieve his goals.
‘‘It really helped me a lot,’’ he said of the scholarship.
‘‘What I really needed it for was rent, living on residence (on campus), and for travel.
‘‘It also helped me purchase some of my text books.
‘‘I’ve just finished at university and I start my grad year very soon.
‘‘Grad year is like an internship with a hospital. I’ll be based with Rochester Hospital and St Anthony’s Clinic is Strathfieldsaye.
‘‘It’s pretty strange knowing I have finished uni, and there’s a lot of nerves now (about going in to grad year).’’
Najem was born in Iraq and came to Deniliquin in 2008 where his father, Salah, was waiting for him, having already established their new home.
The former Deniliquin High School student said he inherited a love of medicine and science from his family.
‘‘My pop was a nurse in Iraq and my uncle studied medicine in America. And my dad has always had an interest in health and science too.
‘‘I’ve always been interested in science and the human body.
‘‘You can do so many things with a nursing profession — you can be a surgical nurse, or it could take you in to research.
‘‘Later down the line I want to be a nurse practitioner, which will allow me to be able to prescribe medicines among other things.’’
The Edward River Country Education Fund provides financial assistance to local youth seeking to further their studies or career in a broad range of education and career pursuits — university students, apprentices, trainees, cadets and other forms of degrees, diplomas and certificate level studies.
Edward River Country Education Fund member Bruce Simpson said youth aged 16 to 24 are eligible, and candidates can apply each year even if they were successful in previous years.
All applications are judged initially on a set of key criteria, including:
●You have a demonstrated financial need
●You are aged between 16 and 24
●You have attended school in or currently live in the region covered by your local CEF
●You demonstrate commitment to achieving your goals
Mr Simpson said the judging panel will also take community and personal circumstances into consideration.
Applications close next week, on January 31. To apply, go to http://cef.org.au/apply-now/.
