Be inspired. Help us remember and honour leadership, courage, bravery and personal sacrifice.
The ACN Foundation continues to raise funds for The Bullwinkel Scholars Program, to provide scholarships in perpetuity for registered nurses to allow future generations of nurses to lead their contemporary journey in providing exceptional skilled health care for all Australians.
The Bullwinkel Scholars program was created to honour the memory of 21 Australian nurses who died at the Bangka Island massacre on the 16th of February 1942 and Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, FRCNA, the sole survivor of this tragic event.
Vivian advocated for better education and conditions for nurses, established and raised funds for the Australian Nurses’ Memorial, and later held the role of President of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia, which is now the Australian College of Nursing. The Australian College of Nursing Foundation wishes to continue Vivian’s legacy by providing Scholarships to inspire the younger generations of nurses in Australia who are as passionate and committed as Vivian and her nursing colleagues who served and died for their country.