Sunshine Coast studies into the psychology of cancer survival, mental health and a devastating fish disease will be boosted by 2018 Rotary Postgraduate Scholarships.

Each year, the Rotary and USC Community Fund awards three $4,000 scholarships to outstanding postgraduate students who also completed undergraduate degrees at USC.

A presentation to this year’s trio will be held on Wednesday 23 May at 6pm at the USC Innovation Centre at Sippy Downs.

The 2018 recipients are:

• Andrew Allen, from Little Mountain, who is completing a PhD on the psychology of cancer survivors, specifically the psychological factors related to fear of cancer recurrence. He currently helps patients adjust to cancer diagnoses and counsels the terminally ill.
• Joanne Boon, from Mapleton, who is completing a Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) and is looking into stigmatising behaviours and attitudes that could compromise mental health treatment.
• Makeely Blandford, from Peregian Beach, who is completing a PhD on epitheliocystis disease in wild and cultured fish in South-East Queensland. The disease, which can kill up to 100 percent of stock in affected fish farms, has been reported in at least 90 species globally.

Since 2001, the 17 combined Rotary clubs of the Sunshine Coast have raised more than $168,000 to support the fund. The Rotary and USC Community Fund committee includes representatives from most of the 17 Rotary clubs on the Sunshine Coast.