Hervey Bay’s Chloe Amarandos has been awarded a special USC scholarship that encourages women with leadership potential from the Fraser Coast and Gympie regions to study sport or health science.

The aspiring paediatric occupational therapist received USC’s $20,000 June Canavan Regional Scholarship to help with the cost of relocating to the Sunshine Coast to study a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours).

“This degree has been a dream of mine for many years, although the financial pressure of moving from a regional town to study was always in the back of my mind,” Chloe said.

“By receiving this generous bursary, I will be able to focus on my studies and achieve my best without worrying about the financial costs and pressures associated with university.”

Introduced last year, the June Canavan Regional Scholarship supports higher education opportunities in regional areas, and is awarded to one first-year female student living or relocating from the Fraser Coast or Gympie region to study at USC.

The scholarship is in recognition of respected Sunshine Coast sports physician Dr June Canavan, who died in a plane crash in 2009. Dr Canavan spent her younger years growing up in a country area.

Chloe, 17, said she intends to take her skill set back to the regions when she graduates.

“Growing up in Hervey Bay, I know that there are often shortages of skilled practitioners in the allied health sector and my objective is to help to address this imbalance.”

The former Fraser Coast Anglican College house captain said she had planned to specialise in paediatric occupational therapy from a young age.

“As soon as I heard about the work they perform I instantly knew it was the career for me, and work experience with an Occupational Therapist in Year 10 confirmed my desire for this study path,” she said.

Chloe said while university was a big step up from high school, she was settling into campus life and tertiary study.

“Having completed a USC Headstart subject last year, I am only enrolled in three subjects this semester which has taken some of the pressure off me.”

The Headstart program allows students to complete a USC subject while in Years 11 and 12, and earn credit towards their Queensland Certificate of Education and a degree at the same time.

— Clare McKay