Meet Sarah Stone: CLAN Community Development Intern and NCP Scholar
2025
Sarah Stone is a second-year health science student at the University of South Australia, with a passion for women and children’s health. Sarah has had the opportunity to travel to Malaysia and Fiji as part of her New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship, where she has undergone a semester of study, language training, and an internship placement. With CLAN’s focus on equitable healthcare for all children across the world, Sarah knew the internship opportunity at Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) would be perfect for her.
During Sarah’s 3-month internship from April to July 2025 was based in Suva, Fiji where she had the opportunity to work on tasks aimed at increasing the access to healthcare for all children in Fiji. Sarah developed two papers on the importance of Newborn Screening programs in Fiji, and the need for government funded programs to be rolled across the country. This proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Medicine for their review. Additionally, Sarah has focused on raising awareness around newborn screening, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). With a main focus of her placement being health promotion, Sarah was also tasked with creating a website for the paediatrics department of Colonial War Memorial Hospital, to come under the Ministry of Health’s website. Alongside this, she has lead the translation of important documents including CLAN Child Rights Flyer on CAH into Fijian and Hindi to increase the availability and accessibility of healthcare. Sarah had the opportunity to collaborate with different NGOs within Fiji, including Selfless Fiji, an organisation that provides support and expertise for other NGOs. With the help of Selfless Fiji, Sarah is facilitated the painting of a storybook mural in children’s ward to brighten up the space and make the children feel more comfortable. Additionally, Sarah assisted bringing together the CAH community in Fiji for a Club Meeting, to create a shared space of belonging and acceptance, and increase understandings of health care to these families.
2025
Sarah Stone is a second-year health science student at the University of South Australia, with a passion for women and children’s health. Sarah has had the opportunity to travel to Malaysia and Fiji as part of her New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship, where she has undergone a semester of study, language training, and an internship placement. With CLAN’s focus on equitable healthcare for all children across the world, Sarah knew the internship opportunity at Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) would be perfect for her.
During Sarah’s 3-month internship from April to July 2025 was based in Suva, Fiji where she had the opportunity to work on tasks aimed at increasing the access to healthcare for all children in Fiji. Sarah developed two papers on the importance of Newborn Screening programs in Fiji, and the need for government funded programs to be rolled across the country. This proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Health and Medicine for their review. Additionally, Sarah has focused on raising awareness around newborn screening, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). With a main focus of her placement being health promotion, Sarah was also tasked with creating a website for the paediatrics department of Colonial War Memorial Hospital, to come under the Ministry of Health’s website. Alongside this, she has lead the translation of important documents including CLAN Child Rights Flyer on CAH into Fijian and Hindi to increase the availability and accessibility of healthcare. Sarah had the opportunity to collaborate with different NGOs within Fiji, including Selfless Fiji, an organisation that provides support and expertise for other NGOs. With the help of Selfless Fiji, Sarah is facilitated the painting of a storybook mural in children’s ward to brighten up the space and make the children feel more comfortable. Additionally, Sarah assisted bringing together the CAH community in Fiji for a Club Meeting, to create a shared space of belonging and acceptance, and increase understandings of health care to these families.
