Rural Nursing Scholarship Program

I have called the Eurobodalla region home for twenty-three years. It is where I grew up, built my sense of purpose, and discovered my calling to care for others. Nursing has become more than a career goal – it is how I have transformed personal hardship into hope. Studying through the University of Wollongong’s Eurobodalla campus represents both a continuation of my story and a promise to give back to the community that shaped me. My deep connection to this region, combined with my commitment to improving health outcomes for rural and marginalised populations, drives my aspiration to become a rural nurse.

From an early age, growing up on a property, I have always been drawn to helping others and finding ways to make a difference in people’s lives. Since finishing my studies, I have been drawn more towards a future in rural and remote nursing. To me, nursing is more than a career; it is a calling rooted in compassion, service, and community. Among the many paths within my nursing so far, I have found I am especially passionate about becoming a rural nurse. This stems from my understanding of the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities and my belief that every person, regardless of where they live, deserves access to quality care.

I want to be a rural nurse because I want my work to matter most to the people and place I call home – Sale and wider Gippsland community.  Sale has been my home for the past seven years.   It is where I completed all of my major clinical placements at Central Gippsland Health and it is where I want to build my nursing career.

Through my student placements, fellowship, and now moving into my graduate year with CGH, I have been able to care for local families, work alongside the teams here and understand the realities of delivering healthcare in a regional setting.