Arrow is proud to announce a series of scholarships awarded to outstanding healthcare professionals, enabling them to pursue advanced studies and attend leading international conferences in 2026. These scholarships are made possible thanks to the generous support of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the family of Professor Geoffrey Driscoll, and our new corporate sponsor Therakos. Their commitment ensures that nurses, allied health, and clinicians can access education and research opportunities that improve patient care and outcomes.

Travel Scholarships

Jemma Stewart

Jemma Stewart, Practice Development Nurse at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, has been awarded an Arrow Travel Scholarship to attend the EBMT-EHA 8th European CAR T-cell Meeting in February 2026 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Jemma works at Australia’s largest CAR T-cell therapy centre and has over six years experience in haematology. As a Practice Development Nurse for the Haematology, Cellular Therapies and Clinical Trials Inpatient Unit at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, she has spearheaded the creation of a Cellular Therapies Special Interest Group and leads initiatives to advance nursing practice in this highly specialised field. The conference’s dedicated nursing stream offers an exciting opportunity for Jemma to collaborate with international experts and share innovative approaches to caring for CAR T patients.

If accepted, Jemma will present research developed by her team on improving early detection and management of Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS) – a serious complication following CAR T-cell therapy. This work highlights the essential role nurses play in preventing serious patient deterioration through early identification and escalation of treatment related toxicities. It addresses a global gap in nursing guidance and provides an evidence based framework for nursing care that could be adopted internationally to enhance patient safety.

Shannon Cooper, Nurse Unit Manager at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, says “This research addresses a critical gap in clinical practice around standardised management for patients at risk of deterioration. It will be incredibly useful for organisations that are developing their own CAR-T service.”

Jemma adds:

“The Arrow Travel Scholarship will take me to Mallorca, Spain, to attend the EBMT EHA 8th European CAR T-call meeting. I look forward to learning from nursing colleagues worldwide and sharing our work to improve care for CAR-T patients. Thank you to Arrow and Jazz Pharmaceuticals for supporting my professional development.”

Ella Weisser

Joining Jemma is Ella Weisser, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, will also attend the EBMT-EHA 8th European CAR-T Cell Meeting in Palma de Mallorca, thanks to an Arrow Travel Scholarship.

Ella works on the Haematology and Cellular Therapies ward – the only inpatient unit in the precinct dedicated to caring for CAR-T patients during acute monitoring. With extensive experience in haemato-oncology, Ella is committed to improving patient care and advancing nursing protocols for this highly specialised treatment.

Attending the conference will provide Ella with valuable education to support both patient care and service development. By engaging with international colleagues, she aims to gather insights into how other centres monitor and respond to complex treatment toxicities from a nursing perspective. These learnings will inform improvement to local policy and nursing protocols, support targeted ward based education, and ultimately enhancing early recognition and management to improve patient safety and outcomes.

Ella joins Jemma, in submitting an abstract on their research into the nursing management of Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS). Her goal is to help standardise care in Australia in line with the international protocols and procedures she expects to learn at this global meeting.

Ella says: “Receiving the Arrow Travel Scholarship to attend the EHA/EBMT CAR-T Conference is an important opportunity for me as a bedside nurse. It will allow me to learn from international colleagues, compare practices, and share insights from our local experience. Engaging with global experts will help me to reflect on my own practice and identify ways we can improve our patient care in Australia.”

Heather Weerdenberg

Heather Weerdenberg, Senior Bone Marrow Transplant Pharmacist at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, has been awarded an Arrow Travel Scholarship to attend the European Bone Marrow Transplant (EBMT) Conference in Madrid, Spain.

Heather has five years of experience in her specialist role and is completing a PhD focused on supportive care for paediatric transplant recipients. At RCH, she leads initiatives to improve medication safety and access, develop clinical guidelines, and strengthen pharmacy’s role in multidisciplinary transplant care.

The EBMT conference is a leading international meeting showcasing the latest advances in bone marrow transplantation, with dedicated sessions for paediatric practice and pharmacy. Heather explains:

“EBMT provides a unique platform to gain cutting-edge knowledge, share best practice, and bring global perspectives back to local clinical care. As a pharmacist, this scholarship supports my ability to translate emerging evidence into safer, more effective medication use for transplant patients and strengthen pharmacy practice within multidisciplinary teams.”

Heather plans to submit up to three abstracts for oral or poster presentation, covering topics such as antifungal use in paediatric HSCT, eculizumab in transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy, and introducing a pharmacist-led HSCT outpatient clinic. These projects highlight the innovative work being done at RCH and its impact on patient safety.

Therese Cole, co-lead of the BMT department at RVH says:

“Presenting these initiatives will highlight the important contributions of RCH on an international stage. Heather’s participation will foster collaboration, inform local practice, and strengthen our transplant program.”

Heather adds:

“I am deeply grateful for the Arrow Foundation for investing in pharmacist education and supporting ongoing professional development that ultimately improves patient outcomes.”

Postgraduate Scholarships

Kate Park

Kate Park, a Registered Nurse from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Oncology Day Therapy and Apheresis Unit, has been awarded the Professor Geoffrey Driscoll Nursing Scholarship. With over seven years of experience in haematology, oncology, and apheresis care, Kate’s dedication to advancing cancer nursing is evident. As Kate shared in her application, “Caring for patients with complex haematological and oncological conditions has shaped not only my career but also my passion for advancing cancer care.”

She is eager to undertake the Principles of Cancer Care module at the Australian College of Nursing to deepen her knowledge of evidence-based treatments and prepare her for greater leadership responsibilities in specialised nursing care.

Kate described the scholarship as a turning point in her nursing journey, explaining that “Financially, the scholarship will allow me to dedicate myself fully to the program, and personally, it has provided the motivation to pursue further study and strengthen my expertise in cancer care—an opportunity that would otherwise be difficult to undertake.”

Kate’s Nurse Unit Manager, Therese Hayes, praised her as “a remarkably skilled Cancer Care nurse and a true asset to the team… Kate consistently demonstrates a high level of critical thinking and detail-oriented patient assessment skills. She is professional and thoughtful in her interactions with patients and carers…and demonstrates exceptional resilience to navigate the daily challenges of nursing.”  This scholarship will empower Kate to continue her commitment to cancer care nursing and enhance the quality of care for haematology patients.

Madison Norman

Madison Norman is a dedicated Registered Nurse with over six years of experience in Oncology and Haematology care across inpatient and outpatient settings at the Cancer Care Day Suite at Westmead Hospital. Having previously completed a Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing with the Australian College of Nursing, Madison is now returning to study to undertake the newly offered elective module, Therapeutic Apheresis Nursing, thanks to the Arrow Professor Geoffrey Driscoll Nursing Scholarship.

This scholarship, she says, “not only eases the financial burden of education but also gives me the motivation to continue learning and growing in the nursing field.”

Madison anticipates that this study will open the door to further learning opportunities, specialised senior nursing roles, and ultimately enhance the care she provides to her patients. As Madison explains: “I am eager to continue my career in the haemato-oncological specialty and will continue to develop the skills needed to continue supporting, educating and caring for my patients.”

Madison’s aspirations include becoming a Clinical Nurse Consultant and commencing a Master of Nursing in 2026, moving into advanced practice roles where she can contribute to patient care planning, clinical education, and research.

Her manager, Adelia, describes her as “an extremely motivated nurse who takes ownership of her professional development,” and fully supports her pursuit of the Professor Geoffrey Driscoll Nursing Scholarship, stating that it will “enable her to progress further into personal development opportunities, clinical education, management and specialised nursing roles.”

Madison’s passion for specialised care and leadership will undoubtedly enhance patient outcomes and strengthen the future of cancer and apheresis nursing.

Tracy King

These scholarships reflect Arrow’s commitment to empowering healthcare professionals through education and research. Congratulations to all scholarship recipients! We wish you every success in your studies and travels in 2026.