August 23, 2021
Cassandra Mulcahy was delighted to receive a Mineworkers Trust scholarship in 2011 when she was studying for a degree in Medical Radiation Science at Newcastle Uni. Ten years later, she is leading a team as a Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Royal Perth Hospital.
Cassandra said that receiving the scholarship made a big difference to supporting her studies, especially as it involved undertaking internships in different locations including Brisbane and even London so she could access the technology she needed to learn.
Cassandra was born and bred in Maitland in the NSW Lower Hunter and her father Patrick Mulcahy is a life member of the Northern Mining and NSW Energy District after working in the coal industry from 1971 until retiring in 2012.
Patrick started his working life on the railways, working on Australia’s last steam train line hauling coal from the coalfields to Newcastle. He then worked in a number of underground and open cut coal mines in the region including Aberdare, Wallarah, Mount Thorley and Bulga.
Cassandra lived at home in Maitland while studying her degree before getting her first job at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth then moving to the United Kingdom in 2017 and working at Royal London Hospital. She was there during the height of the pandemic, having to embrace extensive PPE and undertake lung scans of COVID patients, before moving back to Perth and her new role at the end of 2020.
Her job involves using radioactive pharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging like x-rays and CT scans, putting her in contact with a wide range of patients including people with cancer and heart problems.
Her favourite part of the job is working with patients to make sure they understand exactly what is happening with their tests and treatment – as well as keeping up with the technology which is always developing.
As her career moves ahead in leaps and bounds, Cassandra is still grateful for the support she got from her Mineworkers Trust scholarship all those years ago.
“It really helped me, especially with my placements where there were costs for interstate and international travel. I absolutely encourage everyone who is eligible to apply.”
The Mineworkers Trust offers 20 scholarships of $6250 annually to Mining and Energy Union Members and their families and dependents who are undertaking a course at Diploma level or higher. Scholarship applications for 2022 will be open in December this year and members will be kept informed about timing.