2021 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence: Congratulations to Corrine Butler, Catherine Doidge and Lori Roberts who have each been awarded the 2021 Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence.
The Val Asche Memorial Prize for Academic Excellence is awarded annually to recognise outstanding achievement by students undertaking public health courses. All three students consistently achieved very high grades and are highly regarded by their lecturers.
Corrine Butler - Graduate Diploma of Health Research
Corrine is a proud Aboriginal woman with strong family connections to Yarrabah, Far North Queensland. She has over 12 years experience delivering occupational therapy services in a wide range of areas, including mental health, community and population health. Corrine was awarded the 2018 Indigenous Allied Health Professional of the Year Award for her commitment, dedication, and contribution to promoting the importance of health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, and communities.
In 2020, Corrine was awarded the Menzies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship to complete the Graduate Diploma of Health Research part-time. Corrine completed the Graduate Diploma of Health Research in December 2021. During her studies Corrine demonstrated academic excellence and was awarded the Indigenous Commonwealth Reward Scholarship 2020 and the 2021 Val Asche Memorial Price for Academic Excellence.
Corrine was recently awarded the Menzies 2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Scholarship to support her to complete the Master of Health Research. Completion of the Master of Health Research will equip her with the skills necessary to achieve her career goal of completing a PhD. She looks forward to continuing her journey with Menzies.
Lori Roberts - Graduate Diploma of Public Health
With over seven years experience working in the Northern Territory, Lori currently works in the allied health disability sector.
"Studying public health broadened my understanding of population issues, both on a local and international scale. The subject units in the Graduate Diploma at Menzies have equipt me to analyse and problem solve multifaceted issues. I am now looking forward to a future in research and joining the world of academia."
Catherine Doidge - Master of Public Health
Catherine is a nurse who has spent the last four years working at the NT Centre of Disease Control (CDC), Public Health Unit as a Public Health Nurse. Prior to this, her passion for preventative health, health promotion and education led to a career in primary health care, both urban and remote.
Catherine directly applies the skills and knowledge from the Master of Public Health in her current role, particularly in relation to public health policy, research, epidemiology, and the social determinants of health.
“My goal is to continue working in public health to contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Catherine thanks the lecturers at Menzies and CDU and CDC who were supportive of her studies.