Why specialist nurses matter and how TLR’s nursing scholarships help
Nursing scholarships are at the heart of TLR’s mission because we believe supporting passionate nurses leads to better care for people facing cancer.
Kirstie Williams is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. After six years working across a range of hospital specialties, she took a new direction in her career, inspired by her patients and her own family’s experiences with cancer.
In 2023, Kirstie was awarded TLR’s Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship, which allowed her to enrol in the Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing at the University of Sydney. The course helped her grow as a specialist nurse, meet peers from other hospitals and push through the challenges of combining full-time work and study.
“Words cannot fully express my gratitude for receiving this scholarship. The funding allowed me to focus fully on my studies while I put down roots in Australia, planning to marry here and saving for my first home with my partner.”
Nursing scholarships like this one are more than financial support. They help support cancer nurses to advance their skills and grow into leaders in cancer care.
The challenge of juggling full time work and postgraduate study
Alongside her studies, Kirstie stepped into acting roles covering leave for both the Nursing Unit Manager of the oncology and haematology outpatient unit and the McGrath Early Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant. These leadership opportunities would not have been possible without her postgraduate nursing qualification from the University of Sydney.
“These opportunities simply would not have been available to me without further study.”
Her story highlights how nursing scholarships Australia-wide are opening doors for future clinical leaders in haematology nursing and cancer care.
A powerful moment on World Blood Cancer Day
In 2024, Kirstie took part in a short film for The TLR Foundation as a way of giving back after receiving the scholarship. She is the nurse featured in the video on TLR’s website homepage, a quiet but powerful presence that reflects everything the foundation stands for.
But it was a year later, on World Blood Cancer Day in 2025, that everything came full circle.
During a stem cell donor drive held at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Kirstie met TLR co-founders Neil and Kathryn in person.
“It was amazing to connect the dots. I was just a week away from submitting my thesis, which TLR’s Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship had helped me achieve. I had been part of their video, and now I was registering as a stem cell donor myself.”
It was an emotional day that brought together study, advocacy and impact. Kirstie also helped TLR exceed its goal of registering 50 new stem cell donors to mark 50 years of transplants.
“Being able to thank Neil and Kathryn face to face made the entire master’s journey worthwhile. Tears were definitely shed that day.”
Looking ahead with gratitude and purpose
Kirstie has now submitted her thesis and is waiting for her final results. Her next goal is to step into a full time Clinical Nurse Consultant role.
“I will be forever thankful for the opportunities that TLR’s Trace Richey Nursing Scholarship has made possible. Thank you to everyone at The TLR Foundation. Please keep doing your amazing work. You are making such an incredible difference.”
Her story is a powerful reminder of why nursing scholarships are so important. Through cancer charity fundraising efforts like the City2Surf and generous donations from the public, The TLR Foundation has made it possible for nurses like Kirstie to complete postgraduate training in cancer and haematology nursing.
And this is just the beginning.
TLR’s scholarship programs are perpetual. They are designed to last forever, supporting not just one nurse, but generations of future leaders in cancer care. Each scholarship helps a nurse specialise, provide expert care to people with cancer and become a strong advocate for others.
By supporting TLR, you are not just helping one Kirstie. You are helping the hundreds of nurses who will follow in her footsteps, supporting patients and families across Australia.
Thank you to all our supporters who helped make this happen
We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who ran, walked, fundraised or donated during the City2Surf. This is what your support makes possible. Every dollar raised is helping nurses like Kirstie go further in their careers and give the best care to people facing cancer. You are making a real difference.
Support more nurses like Kirstie
TLR Scholarships help experienced nurses complete postgraduate nursing study and become specialists in cancer and haematology care. Every donation to The TLR Foundation helps fund the next nurse who will go on to make a life-changing difference for patients and families.
Whether you give through blood cancer fundraising events like the City2Surf or choose to make a direct cancer research donation, your support goes directly into scholarships for nursing students.
Learn more about TLR’s Nursing Scholarships
References
The University of Sydney – Master of Cancer and Haematology Nursing