Established in 2006 by Matthew Scriver’s parents in memory of their beloved son, the Matthew Scriver Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurses Scholarship has become a beacon of hope and support within the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) and the broader Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN). Built on compassion and a sense of community, this scholarship empowers nurses to develop and deliver projects that place holistic and psychosocial care at the heart of the PICU experience, especially for long-stay patients and their families.
This year, we are proud to announce that the scholarship has been awarded to Alyssia Baker, a committed nurse whose family shares a legacy of giving, with her grandparents being proud supporters of the WCH Foundation. Alyssia’s project, titled “Retrospective Review of Neuroprotective Management in Paediatric Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Admitted to PICU,” aims to improve the care and outcomes for children facing severe brain injury.
“I am very passionate about this topic, particularly as our bedside management is absolutely critical to preventing further brain injury from the inflammation and damage that occurs in the days following the accident,” shares Alyssia.
Her project aligns closely with new guidelines being introduced by WCH consultants and neurosurgery teams, and will provide valuable insights into current practices, gaps, and areas for improvement in neuroprotective care. “Protecting the brain is an extremely complex balancing act and it is so important we get it right,” she says. “Ultimately this project will help support our goal of helping these children achieve their best possible neurological outcome.”
Through ongoing investment in nurses’ professional development and innovative care, Matthew’s legacy continues helping drive better futures for children and families in PICU and beyond.
