Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship

My name is Jaffly Chen. I’m a medical doctor and a 2019 Westpac Future Leaders Scholar, and I’m passionate about rural and indigenous medicine. I want to help close the gap and transform our rural healthcare system - a bold ambition but one I am deeply committed to achieving. A year ago, when I came across the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship, I really struggled with whether or not I should put myself forward for this. But I am so glad I did. Here is a letter I have written to the person I was a year ago, perhaps where you find yourself right now, to share the impact that the scholarship has had on me over the last 12 months and how it has helped equip me with the tools I’m going to need to achieve my goals and make a real difference. If you’re grappling with some career decisions, I hope this letter will help you to take the leap of faith, as I did, and apply for a scholarship that could change your life. Dear (past) Jaffly, Congratulations, you’ve almost finished your first degree! Yes, I know it’s a very busy time right now - you’re applying for jobs next year, thinking about what Masters might be a good fit, and you’ve got that conference coming up next week! But just take a seat and hear me out okay buddy? What if I told the Westpac Future Leaders scholarship could support you fully throughout your post-graduate studies, covering your tuition, living expenses, conferences, and international experiences – including going to MIT and Harvard to study Healthcare Innovation!? How incredible would it be to attend a bespoke leadership program as part of the scholarship - taught by some of the world’s best leadership experts? You’ll be challenged, much more than you thought possible, but don’t panic. You’ll grow, reflect, become empowered, and develop into a much better leader for it. Never before have you come across a group of people so varied and interesting, and so unconditionally supportive of your dreams, ambitions, and passions. You’ll come to realise this scholarship is about so much more than just the Future Leader Scholars who are on this learning journey with you. The Asian Exchange scholars, Young Technologists, Social Change Fellows and Research Fellows are all inspirational and supportive and you’ll join the W100 Network who are every bit as invested in helping you to succeed. You’ll also realise that it’s not about whether you match up, but how you can utilise your unique talents and strengths to help others succeed too. Trust me. I promise you that joining the Westpac family will be one of the best opportunities imaginable. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So take that shot because it’s the first step to investing in yourself and creating a better tomorrow. It will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Go rock some socks off! (Present) Jaffly PS – I’ll be really mad if you don’t apply.

To be announced as one of the 2021 Westpac Future Leaders Scholars still catches me in disbelief and getting the call to let me know I was successful following of the panel interviews at the National Assessment Centre tops life’s ‘pinch me’ moments. I initially heard about the scholarship through word of mouth and having my lab as a support system pushed and inspired me to apply. Countless questions and subsequent hesitations were insurmountable but having had team members apply in previous years made it less intimidating. The thing that catalysed me into action and struck me most about the scholarship was the opportunity to become a part of an established and wonderful network of individuals known as the W100. To be able to expand my own individual network by gaining knowledge and insight from people of all different backgrounds was something that I wanted to tap into and if given the opportunity, to make the most out of. Fast forward to stressful weeks of preparation, working on my application, video pitches and participating in a number of Zoom interviews was a difficult process. Despite this, the thing I found most challenging about the rounds was the inability to attend the final assessment centre in person, to meet and build rapport with other students and scholars in my cohort. To know that we will see each other this year during our residential leadership programs and the Westpac Scholars Summit is reassuring. My advice to future applicants applying for this scholarship is to enjoy the ride. It is a rollercoaster full of highs and lows, but we must treat each trough and peak all the same. Even though it was difficult, the application process taught me so much about myself. What I appreciated most was the fact Westpac was not looking for the most exceptional student, freshly graduated with high distinctions and the highest of honours. They were interested in learning about me, and I had the opportunity to showcase myself. So, when the spotlight appears, have your moment, and enjoy it. Even though everything is still new and fresh, it has been wonderful experience so far, connecting with the W100 network and being a part of this community.

There are a number of important questions to ask when deciding to undertake postgraduate studies. First, there’s the big one – what do I want to study and why? More than anything this decision must be driven by passion. What makes you tick, what are you curious about, how do you want to make the world a better place? After working for a few years on policy problems, my answer to this emerged. I found a deep passion of cities and wanted to understand how they could be built, revitalised and managed to create more inclusive and sustainable places to live. The second big question is of course where should I study? Answering this was pretty easy for me. I was drawn to UNSW for its world renowned Built Environment Faculty, strong industry links, and the opportunity to explore the ever-dynamic Sydney as a live-in laboratory urban planning. And then there are a myriad of questions relating to how. How will this fit in with my life and career? How will I support myself throughout the process? And how can I get the most out of my postgraduate experience? My answers to these questions came in the form of a once in a life time scholarship – the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship. The Westpac Future Leader Scholarship is a comprehensive scholarship that supports you in studies and personal development. On top of financial support covering fees, living costs, equipment, conferences, and adding an overseas component to your studies, Future Leaders Scholars also participate in a bespoke Leadership Development Program, and join a community of other talented and driven Westpac Scholars as part of the Westpac 100 Scholars Network. Each year 17 scholarships valuing up to $120,000 each are awarded across Australia. Recipients are chosen based on their past experiences and vision to shape Australia. Receiving this scholarship has completely transformed my postgraduate experience. In a field as broad as urban planning, the Westpac Scholarship has afforded me the flexibility to explore different parts of the planning profession. This has included attending conferences in Australia and overseas, where I have learnt from leading voices in my field and been exposed to new ideas. I’ve also been able to initiate projects with peers, and change jobs to find work that aligned with my interests. My fellow Westpac Scholars have been an important part of my studies. While we come from a variety of disciplines – neuroscience, law, agriculture, medicine, and engineering to name a few – we’re united in our desire to excel in our fields and make an impact in the world around us. Our catch-up coffees and interstate reunions have been a source of support and motivation, and a key point of reflection – to zoom out from our particular area of study and to see a bigger picture. Choosing to apply for this scholarship two years ago is one of the best decisions I made. If you're planning to undertake postgraduate study, have a passion for your field and a vision to contribute to a better Australia, you should apply today.