So far, you've helped us raise
A dedicated fund to support rural nurses and midwives in West Moreton
The Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Fund supports the education and professional development of rural nurses and midwives across the West Moreton region.
The Fund was established in memory of Robert (Bob) Soltys, in recognition of the Boonah Hospital nurses and Ipswich palliative care staff who cared so wonderfully for Bob in his final weeks. West Moreton Health Foundation is proud to support the Fund and its vision to provide long-term support for rural nurses.
Watch: ABC News covers Susan's story and the impact of the Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Fund
About the Fund
Bob's wife, Susan Soltys, made a significant donation to establish the Fund and continues to partner with West Moreton Health Foundation to guide its growth.
The Fund is built on three pillars: nurse education, research and fundraising. Through the Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Scholarships, nurses and midwives can access leadership development, conference attendance, specialised education and professional development opportunities.
In its first year, nearly $20,000 in scholarships were awarded to 14 nurses from Boonah Hospital. A pilot research study led by Professor Daniel Terry from the University of Southern Queensland is also exploring the impact of scholarship-supported learning.
Looking ahead, the Fund will expand scholarships to nurses and midwives at Esk, Gatton and Laidley Hospitals.
The difference your support is making
Amanda Banks
"As a rural nurse leader, I have seen firsthand the difference this Fund makes. It not only invests in the growth and development of individual nurses and midwives but also strengthens entire teams and services.
"The Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Fund demonstrates the power of community support for the community, recognising that investment in rural nurses and midwives is essential to maintaining high-performing, sustainable healthcare services.
"I am excited about the future growth of the Fund and its expansion across Esk, Gatton and Laidley Hospitals, creating opportunities for more rural nurses and midwives to develop their clinical expertise, leadership capability and career pathways while remaining connected to the rural communities they serve.
"It has been a privilege to work with Susan Soltys, Daniel Terry from the University of Southern Queensland, the West Moreton Health Foundation and the West Moreton Health executive to see this project become a reality."
– Amanda Banks, Director of Nursing and Facility Manager, Boonah Hospital
Alisa Hall
Through a Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Scholarship, Alisa attended a Suturing, Plastering and ENT Assessment Skills Course. The experience provided both practical skills and the confidence to apply them in her day-to-day practice.
"The course gave me the confidence to return to work and immediately put what I learned into practice. It provided a strong foundation and helped me feel more capable in delivering care to my patients."
For Alisa, one of the most valuable aspects of the experience was learning alongside her colleagues.
"Being able to attend training as a team was an amazing opportunity. We were able to learn together, share knowledge, and support each other in developing new skills."
Alisa expressed her heartfelt thanks to the donors who contribute to the Fund and invest in the future of rural healthcare.
"I am so grateful to the donors who make these scholarships possible. Your support gives healthcare professionals opportunities to expand their knowledge, build confidence, and bring new skills back to their communities. It was an incredible experience, and I would encourage others to take advantage of these opportunities to broaden their horizons and strengthen their practice."
– Alisa Hall, Registered Nurse, Boonah Hospital
Christine Maroni
A Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Scholarship enabled Christine to complete a Maternity Emergencies Course, an opportunity she says would not have been possible without the financial support provided through the scholarship.
Just eight days after completing the training, Christine was involved in caring for a pregnant woman who presented to the hospital with complex health needs that extended beyond routine maternity care. Thanks to the skills and confidence she gained through the course, Christine was able to work alongside doctors and fellow nurses to provide high-quality care locally at Boonah Hospital.
"The scholarship gave me the opportunity to undertake professional development that I otherwise would not have been able to access. The training increased my confidence and helped me feel more prepared to manage a variety of situations in my role."
Christine is deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity made the scholarship possible.
"I would sincerely like to thank everyone who supports the Fund. Your generosity is making a real difference to rural healthcare by giving nurses and midwives access to valuable training opportunities. I would highly recommend applying for a scholarship when the opportunity arises. It can change the way you work, broaden your skills, and give you greater confidence when caring for patients in unfamiliar situations."
– Christine Maroni, Registered Nurse, Boonah Hospital
Building evidence for rural nursing and midwifery: update on pilot research study
"We are excited to commence a pilot research study, supported through an internal UniSQ research grant, exploring the impact of scholarship-supported professional development on rural nurses.
"Working with scholarship recipients from Boonah Hospital, the study will examine how education and training opportunities influence nurses' skills, confidence, leadership development and ability to provide high-quality care within rural communities.
"The findings will help guide future scholarship investment and ensure the Fund continues to support opportunities that deliver the greatest benefit for rural nurses, health services and the communities they serve.
"Importantly, this research will contribute to a growing evidence base for rural nursing workforce development, helping identify strategies that strengthen recruitment, retention, leadership pathways and professional development opportunities. In doing so, the Fund is supporting not only today's rural nurses but also the knowledge and innovation needed to strengthen rural healthcare into the future."
– Professor Daniel Terry, Deputy Head of School (Nursing), UniSQ
Prefer to donate by bank deposit?
Donating by direct bank deposit avoids processing fees, so more of your gift goes directly to the Fund. For our bank account details, contact our Fundraising Team or call 1300 736 428.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my donation tax deductible?
Donations of $2 or more made in Australia are tax deductible. Donations made from outside of Australia are subject to the taxation rules of that country and may not be tax deductible.
How do I deposit a donation to the bank account?
To maximise the impact of your gift, you can donate directly to our bank account to avoid processing fees. Australian and foreign residents can donate direct to the Robert Soltys Rural Nurses Fund by contacting our Fundraising Team or calling 1300 736 428.
Is there a processing fee when making a donation?
Processing fees can ocur when making a donation. Donations are made securely to this website using the Funraisin donation platform and processed securely through the Stripe payment gateway.
A processing fee is charged to enable this secure process. This fee may vary depending on the country or location in which the donation is made.
When making a donation, supporters have the option of accepting the processing fee on behalf of WMHF which helps us to maximise the benefit of the gift being received. If this is not paid by the supporter, the processing fee is passed onto WMHF.
Are there fees involved when depositing funds directly to the dedicated WMHF bank account?
There are likely transaction or wiring fees payable when depositing funds directly into the bank account.
These fees will likely vary depending on the country or location in which the donation is made and may vary depending on which financial institution is being used to deposit or transfer funds.
WMHF has no ability to negotiate with any financial institution regarding transaction or processing fees incurred.
