Local woman Clare White is passionate about wanting to give back to the community she loves.
In 2019, Clare was the recipient of the City of Mandurah’s annual Nikki Wise Scholarship, which provides one local resident with $2000 to further their studies in community services.
She’s now well on her way to becoming a qualified counsellor, and attributes the scholarship in helping her along her journey.
The Mandurah mother used the money towards her tuition fees for a Diploma of Community Services, and is now in the middle of completing a Diploma of Counselling, which she hopes to finish in July. She then plans to return to more general studies which will allow her to help the community in even more areas.
Clare’s goal is to volunteer at Peel Connect once she finishes her studies, which offers free counselling services to the community.
“I’m very thankful for the scholarship, it’s been paramount in helping with my HECS debt which means I can do further studies towards helping people,” Clare said.
“I’ve lived in Mandurah for seven years, and this community has given so much to me. I feel comfortable and accepted here, this is my safe haven, so it’s easy for me to want to give back to the community.
“Peel Connect has also really helped me to get where I’m going. Mandurah is such a supportive community where everyone is trying to work together.
“To anyone that’s thinking of applying for the scholarship, I say give it a try. Don’t sell yourself short because you never know, just give it a go.”
Clare is also helping the community, including single parents with disability, through her organisation, A1 Ability Empowerment Inc.
The scholarship honours the legacy of Nikki Wise, who was devoted to helping those in need and sadly passed away in 2016. In 2012, Nikki founded the ‘Reach Out Drop In Centre’, a food service for street present people in Mandurah’s City Centre. By 2014, the food service was providing more than 200 meals per week. Nikki’s dedication to assisting the homeless also extended to the planning of many fundraising events to support the service and increase awareness of homelessness in Mandurah.
Applications for the 2021 Nikki Wise Scholarship are now open, closing on Friday, May 7. For more information go to www.mandurah.wa.gov.au or call 9550 3835.
