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An Albury Wodonga Health nurse has been recognised on a national stage for her dedication to caring for regional patients with blood cancers, receiving a prestigious postgraduate scholarship to further her expertise in haematology nursing.

Samantha Mee, a Registered Nurse in the Day Oncology and Inpatient Unit at Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre, has been named a recipient of the 2026 MooGoo Postgraduate Cancer Nursing Scholarship, awarded through the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA). The scholarship will support her studies toward a Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing through the Australian College of Nursing, with a focus on haematology.

The award came as a surprise. Samantha found out she'd been shortlisted while fresh off a nightshift and looking after a noisy play centre full of kids. 

"I got a phone call, and it was Melissa from MooGoo saying I had been shortlisted for the next stage," Samantha said. "At that point, I was so confused because I totally forgot that I applied. So I said, 'Melissa, from where? I'm sorry, I will have to call you back!'"

Nearly a decade of care

Samantha has spent close to ten years caring for patients undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and assisting with bone marrow biopsies, at Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre (AWRCC). It was that hands-on work with haematologists during biopsy procedures that first drew her toward blood cancer nursing.

"I was initially interested by blood cancers because I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that you could have cancer without a solid tumour," she said. 

"The science behind these 'liquid' cancers and how they behave so differently really sparked my interest and drew me into haematology. What keeps me passionate is seeing how rapidly the field is advancing. New targeted therapies, immunotherapies and supportive care options are transforming outcomes."

Bringing specialist care closer to home

At the heart of Samantha's work is a commitment to regional equity. She wants to see specialist blood cancer care available to patients in the Albury Wodonga region without them having to travel away from family, jobs and support networks to get it.

"Regional patients deserve the same specialist blood cancer care as those in major cities without having to leave their families, jobs, or support networks," she said.

Specialist nursing, she says, can make all the difference through expert symptom management, patient education, better-coordinated local care and strong advocacy that keeps patients out of hospital and on track with treatment.

What the scholarship means

For Samantha, the recognition is both a personal milestone and professional validation.

"Honestly, I am really proud of myself; it feels like a big milestone in my career, something I did not think would happen to me," she said. "Professionally, it validates the importance of specialist nursing in regional cancer care and gives me the resources to grow into a more effective leader and clinician. I'm deeply grateful and motivated to pay this opportunity forward through better care for our Albury Wodonga community."

Through her studies, she's most looking forward to deepening her knowledge of evidence-based practice in immunotherapy and supportive care. These are skills she plans to bring directly back to her patients at AWH.

A vision for the future

Samantha's ambitions extend well beyond her own qualification. She hopes her scholarship is a step toward a broader transformation of blood cancer care in the region, including expanded haematology nursing roles, advanced therapies delivered locally, stronger education and support programs, and more seamless care pathways for patients.

"Ultimately, I want every person diagnosed with a blood cancer in our region to feel they have world-class care right here at home," she said.

Congratulations to Samantha on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for the care and compassion you bring to our community every day!

Samantha was one of eight cancer nurses from across Australia awarded a combined $34,000 in scholarship funding through the CNSA/MooGoo Postgraduate Scholarship Program, which supports nurses undertaking postgraduate study and professional development in cancer care.