A New Pathway from Campus to Career

Mannix and VMCH launch flagship Internship & Scholarship Program

Mannix College and VMCH (Villa Maria Catholic Homes) are proud to announce the launch of the VMCH Internship & Scholarship, a flagship leadership and employability initiative designed to prepare students for purposeful careers while strengthening their commitment to community service.

Established through a partnership between the two organisations, the scholarship combines financial support with meaningful professional experience, enabling outstanding Mannix residents to complement their university studies through a paid internship with one of Australia’s leading Catholic health, aged care and community service providers.

The initiative builds on the success of the long-standing partnership between Mannix College and VMCH. Earlier this year, the organisations received an APSAA Award for Excellence in Student Experience for their innovative intergenerational volunteering program, which brings Mannix residents and VMCH residents together through regular visits, shared activities and genuine community connection. The new scholarship extends that partnership by creating a pathway from volunteering to professional practice.

Valued at approximately $15,000, the scholarship includes a $5,000 reduction in Mannix College residency fees together with a paid professional internship at VMCH, valued at approximately $10,000. During Semester 2, recipients will spend approximately two days each week working alongside VMCH professionals while continuing their university studies and active participation in College life.

The inaugural scholarship has been awarded to Henry Buckley following a highly competitive selection process. Henry was selected in recognition of his academic excellence, leadership potential and commitment to making a positive contribution to the community.

Henry, a penultimate Bachelor of Commerce student at Monash University, has achieved a High Distinction average while making a significant contribution to the Mannix community. A former First-Year Representative and now an Academic Mentor, he was recently recognised with a Mannix College Academic Excellence Award. The selection panel was impressed by Henry’s academic excellence, leadership potential and genuine commitment to serving others, making him a worthy inaugural recipient of the scholarship.

Alicia Wright, General Manager Talent, Learning & Culture, VMCH

“As a values-driven organisation, much like Mannix College, we are guided by service, dignity and innovation, while striving to make a positive difference for the communities that we serve. Those shared values are what make our partnership with Mannix College so meaningful. Through initiatives such as the Young Hearts Program, we have seen the power of intergenerational connection in action.

“We’re delighted to take another exciting step in our partnership through the launch of the inaugural VMCH Scholarship and Internship Program. This program was designed to provide one exceptional Mannix student with a meaningful, paid internship at VMCH that would also bring with it exposure to some of our senior leaders and different areas of our organisation.

“The quality of the applications was truly outstanding, and I don’t say that lightly. The selection process was incredibly competitive. I would also like to congratulate our shortlisted finalists. Reaching that stage was a significant achievement in itself, and choosing just one recipient was no easy task.

Andrew Swan, Principal, Mannix College

“At Mannix, we want our residents to graduate as capable, compassionate and purpose-driven leaders. The VMCH Internship & Scholarship is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when two organisations share a commitment to developing young people.

“Henry is an outstanding inaugural recipient who demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential and a genuine commitment to serving others. We are delighted to partner with VMCH in launching this flagship initiative and look forward to seeing it grow for many years to come.

“I also want to congratulate every student who applied for the scholarship, particularly those shortlisted for interview. The calibre of applicants was exceptionally high, and each of you represented yourselves and Mannix with professionalism, enthusiasm and integrity. The experience of preparing an application and participating in a competitive interview process is valuable career preparation in itself, and I hope every applicant takes pride in what they achieved.”

Henry said he was honoured to be named the inaugural recipient of the scholarship and looked forward to joining the VMCH team while continuing his studies at Mannix College.

Henry Buckley

“I’m super grateful to have the opportunity to work in a mission based organisation and learn from leaders in the aged care and disability space. Paired with my strong passion for community engagement, I hope to learn as much as I can from a large successful organisation and develop future career skills. The scholarship will allow me to shift my energy from existing part time work to focus on accelerating career skills.”

About VMCH

VMCH (Villa Maria Catholic Homes) is one of Victoria’s largest Catholic, for-purpose organisations, supporting more than 15,000 people each year through residential aged care, at-home aged care, disability services, specialist education, retirement living and affordable housing. With more than 3,600 staff working across 54 locations throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, VMCH has been serving the community for more than a century, creating genuine places of belonging through compassion, service and care.