Inspired by the care she received during her own pregnancy and birth, Madeleine is building on her emergency nursing career to become a midwife.
She shares how the Affinity Nursing Charles Sturt University (CSU) Scholarship is supporting her passion for culturally safe care and her goal of supporting women and families in rural and regional communities.
Pregnancy can be one of the most significant and vulnerable times in a woman’s life. Having the right midwife can shape whether she feels safe, heard, and supported throughout the experience.
For Madeleine Richey, the care she received during her own pregnancy helped inspire the next step in an already established healthcare career.
“My name is Madeleine Richey. I am a proud Kamilaroi woman and mother from the Northern Rivers in NSW.
“I began my nursing career in 2019 and became immersed in emergency nursing. I have continued my studies since then and obtained my Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing, as well as completing training and education in triage, resuscitation and team leading.”
Midwifery is a deeply personal career choice
With a strong clinical foundation and deep connection to her community, Madeleine began studying midwifery with a clear idea of the care she wanted to provide.
“I too wanted to be the kind of midwife who could walk beside women and families during such a transformational time in their lives and empower them to have the confidence and belief in themselves.”
A commitment to healthcare
Madeleine’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond her own clinical practice. As a proud Kamilaroi woman, she is a strong advocate for culturally safe care and uses her experience and knowledge to help junior doctors better understand the importance of providing care that is respectful, inclusive and responsive to each patient’s cultural needs.
This same commitment shapes the kind of midwife she hopes to become. For Madeleine, supporting women and families means creating an environment where they feel heard, respected and safe to express their needs, preferences and concerns throughout their care.
Reaching that goal requires Madeleine to balance full-time university study, clinical training, work, and raising three young children. Living regionally has also brought additional study costs, including long-distance travel, accommodation and intensive schools.
Easing the financial pressure of studying
Affinity’s scholarship program is designed to help ease these practical pressures and give students greater capacity to continue their studies.
“Having financial support to complete my studies has meant I haven’t had to do extra shifts, overtime or double shifts as I normally would cover cost-of-living expenses. Instead, this time has been focused on my studies and spent with my family, which has been invaluable to getting through one of the hardest twelve months of study.”
An investment in our future nurses & midwives
For Madeleine, the support has also reinforced the importance of continuing to invest in skilled nurses and midwives who understand regional communities.
“I am really appreciative of the value you place on high-quality healthcare, particularly for rural and regional communities. Through supporting us to achieve our goals, it instills the same sense of empowerment and belief in myself, which I aim to pass on to the women and families I work with.
Creating lasting impact
Madeleine’s story reflects exactly what our CSU scholarships is about creating the space for future nurses and midwives to focus on their studies, strengthen their knowledge, so they can become part of the healthcare workforce their communities need.
Ready to learn more about our nursing and midwifery scholarships? Explore our scholarship opportunities and see how Affinity is supporting the next generation of nurses and midwives.
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Frequently asked questions
About the scholarships
The Affinity Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship at Charles Sturt University (CSU) is a scholarship funded by Affinity to support nursing and midwifery students from regional and rural communities, particularly those who may face financial barriers while completing their studies and clinical placements.
For the 2026 round:
- Value: $5,000 per recipient, paid as two $2,500 instalments.
- Courses: Bachelor of Nursing or Graduate Diploma of Midwifery at Charles Sturt.
- Who it supports: Students from regional/rurally isolated areas, with a home address classified RA2–RA5 by CSU.
- First Nations focus: Preference is given to First Nations students, or applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to supporting First Nations communities.
- Study requirement: Recipients need to maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive the second payment.
- Purpose: To help reduce the financial pressure associated with tertiary study and mandatory clinical placements
Nursing and/or Midwifery First Nations students, or show a commitment to support First Nations communities.
- Your home address must have a regional classification of RA2–RA7. You can check your rurality rating here
- You’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Experiencing financial hardship
Our CSU scholarships open in February 2027, but opportunities are available throughout the year through our university partnerships.
We’ve partnered with Charles Darwin University, Charles Sturt University and James Cook University to offer nine Affinity Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships, supporting students at different stages of their nursing and midwifery studies. View our Scholarship’s page here for more information.
Applications for 2026 are currently closed. New applications are submitted via the Charles Sturt University (CSU) website, here.
Affinity Nurses & Midwives
Yes. If you meet the eligibility criteria, we encourage you to apply.
Not sure if it’s the right pathway for you? Our Clinical Education team can help you explore your options and plan your next steps.
Book in a time to chat with the team about your education and career goals.
Affinity Nursing supports nurses and midwives with access to Affinity Clinical Education, including flexible online CPD courses across clinical refreshers, mandatory competencies, maternity topics, primary healthcare, rural and remote practice and other relevant learning areas. Affinity nurses and midwives can also book selected training opportunities through Affinity, including ALS and PALS.
Relevant CPD can help strengthen your profile and show that you are actively maintaining your skills, which may support your suitability for certain nursing or midwifery contracts.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or career advice. Always consult a professional for advice specific to your situation.