At Aspiring Village, we believe that great care starts with great people. That’s why we’re proud to have launched our first scholarship programme – a $1,500 award to support a local Wānaka Year 13 student who is heading into tertiary study in nursing or an allied health profession.
It’s a small investment with the potential for a meaningful impact, both for the recipient and for the future of healthcare in our community.
Why We Created This Scholarship
Working in aged care is one of the most rewarding careers a person can choose. It’s also one that doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Every day, the nurses and health care assistants at Aspiring Care show up with skill, patience and genuine warmth. They remember birthdays, notice when someone’s having an off day, and provide the kind of care that can’t be measured in clinical outcomes alone. Finding people who bring that combination of capability and compassion to the role is something we think about seriously.
This scholarship is our way of encouraging young people in our community to consider a career in health – and to give one student a head start when the costs of tertiary study can feel like a barrier.
Who the Scholarship Supports
The scholarship is open to Year 13 students at a Wānaka secondary school who are planning to study nursing or an allied health profession. Allied health covers a broad range of disciplines – physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, paramedicine, and more – all fields that contribute directly to the health and quality of life of older New Zealanders.
Beyond the $1,500 award, there’s also the opportunity for paid holiday work at Aspiring Care. For a student heading into a health career, that kind of real-world experience – working alongside qualified professionals in a functioning care environment – is genuinely valuable. It’s the difference between knowing what aged care looks like in theory and understanding what it feels like in practice.
What Our Residents Get Out of It
This isn’t just a one-way relationship. Our residents genuinely enjoy the presence of students and younger staff in the village. There’s an energy and enthusiasm that comes with someone who is just starting in their career, and our residents respond to that warmly.
For many of our residents, seeing young people choose a career in care is deeply meaningful. It’s reassuring to know that the next generation of health professionals is coming through – and that some of them are coming from right here in Wānaka.
A Career Worth Considering
If you’re a student, or the parent of one, and a career in health has ever crossed your mind, aged care is worth a closer look. It’s a growing sector across New Zealand and Australia, with strong long-term demand as populations age. Entry pathways are varied, progression is real, and the work is anything but ordinary.
At Aspiring Village, we’re proud to be part of that picture – both as a place where people receive excellent care and as a workplace where careers are built.
Want to learn more about life at Aspiring Care, or find out about work opportunities? Get in touch with our team, we’d love to hear from you.
