Scholarships
Dr Nicholas (Nick) Collins was a distinguished educator, general practitioner, innovator and passionate advocate for Hospital in the Home (HITH). He was deeply committed to advancing equitable access to high-quality education and training, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Nick held several esteemed positions, including President of the HITH Society Australasia and lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, and was an integral contributor to both the Australian general practice and HITH communities. He passed away in August 2014.
In honour of his outstanding contribution and enduring commitment to HITH, medical education and general practice training, the HITH Society Australasia, with the support of Baxter Healthcare, originally established the Dr Nicholas Collins Fellowship to assist recipients undertaking research, policy development or significant projects benefiting the HITH community. In 2024, this recognition was redesigned as the Dr Nicholas Collins Life Membership Award, the Society’s highest honour, celebrating exceptional and sustained service to Hospital in the Home.
Life Membership recipients
2024 – Dr Michael Montalto
Scholarship recipients
2021 - Dr Joanna Lawrence, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
2019 - Dr Penelope Bryant, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
2018 - Dr Duncan Syme, Monash Health, Victoria
2017 - Angela Burge, The Alfred Hospital and LaTrobe University, Melbourne
2016 - Dr Laila Ibrahim, Paediatric Fellow, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne2015 - Angela Ellis, Wide Bay health Service, Bundaberg
Jan Coconis was one of the first nurses to join the Hospital in the Home (HITH) service at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. Over her career she co-authored several seminal papers in HITH and was a founding Executive member of the HITH Society. Jan made a significant and lasting contribution to the development of HITH nursing practice in Australia. She passed away in 2012.
In recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to HITH, the HITH Society Australasia established the Jan Coconis Scholarship. This scholarship supports a registered nurse working in a HITH setting in Australia or New Zealand to further their professional development by attending the Australasian HITH Society Conference. It is a merit-based award that provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 to enable the recipient to enhance their knowledge and contribute to the ongoing advancement of HITH care.
Recipients
2025 – Poonam Kumari (NZ), Perri Ayton (Vic), Jack Behene (Vic), and Linda Guimelli (Tas)
2019 – Lee Ellen Murray (Qld) and Jill Gardner
2018 - Bev Hopper, Waitemata DHB (Auckland, NZ), and Joanne Baker, Cairns HITH (Qld)
2017 - Susan Samuels, Nepean/Blue Mountains Local Health District (NSW)
2016 - Rachael Haldane, Nurse Maude Infusion Service (Christchurch, NZ)
Regal Home Health, established in 1966, is dedicated to promoting independence and quality of life at home through the provision of experienced community nursing, allied health and case management services across the greater Sydney metropolitan area. The organisation has a long history of supporting excellence in community-based healthcare and innovative models of care delivered in the home.
In recognition of the important contribution made by Hospital in the Home (HITH) professionals, Regal Home Health has established the Regal Home Health Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $2,000 (or two scholarships of $1,000 each) to support recipients working in HITH services to pursue education and/or research activities in this field. The award aims to foster professional development and further strengthen the quality of HITH care.
Recipients
2018 - Rachael Sloane, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick
2017 - Vanessa West, Bluecare Hospital in the Home, Townsville
2016 - Pauline Dobson, Immunology & Infectious Diseases Unit, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle
2016 - Jennifer Byrne, Mater at Home, Mater Health Services, Brisbane
The HITH Society has developed the Janis Coconis Scholarship to honour the outstanding contribution of Jan Coconis, one of the earliest nurses in the HITH service and a founding executive member of the Society. This annual scholarship supports up to two Registered Nurses and two Allied Health Professionals working within HITH services across Australia and New Zealand, providing up to $1,000 each to assist with attendance at the 2026 Australasian HITH Society Conference.
The scholarship recognises leadership, commitment to research and active participation within the HITH community. Applicants must be current financial members of the HITH Society and provide two referees in support of their submission.
Please click here to download an application form. Applications close 4 November 2026 with successful applicants notified by 10 November 2026.
Adjacent is list of past awards and scholarships and their recipients, recognising those who have made valuable contributions to advancing the HITH model of care.
