I am passionate about nursing and giving back to my community. I have lived in the area for most of my life excluding 2 years in Western Australia. It was here I began to appreciate the disparity of remove locations. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to study directly across the road from where I attended High School. I never imagined I would go on to gain a tertiary education and am the first in my family to do so.
I had originally summited an EOI for my final placement at Broken Hill Hospital.
Read more >Nursing is a profession often associated with compassion, dedication and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. For me, this calling to become a Registered Nurse goes beyond mere profession; it is deeply rooted in my personal history, my love for my community, and my aspiration to inspire my two young children. Born and raised in the Bega Valley of NSW, I have spent my entire life in this beautiful, close-knit community. It is here that I have found my purpose as I embark on my journey to become a Registered Nurse.
Read more >Growing up in Eden, a small town within the Bega Valley Shire, rural nursing has always been my passion. Living in a small community with limited health services, my vision is to positively impact the health service industry in rural and regional areas. Experiencing the lack of resources within a rural area, my peers and family have to travel long distances for basic health care needs and staff shortages, I view these challenges as an opportunity for personal and professional growth and it would be an accomplishment to overcome these. I wish to become a rural nurse for the deep level of person-centred care developed within these unique settings. Fostering a sense of belonging and connection with patients creates a sense of belonging in a close-knit community which I believe would be highly fulfilling.
Read more >When I completed high school in a rural town on the far south coast of NSW, University of Wollongong Bega Campus gave me the opportunity to study my top preference of Nursing with passion while still being at home. This was important for me as I had grown up rurally and wanted to pursue my career without having to move my whole life to the big city.
Six weeks into my Bachelor of Nursing, CVOID-19 stopped everything worldwide, including university. Everything shifted from classroom involvement to online, self-paced and zoom learning.
Read more >I grew up on a farm in a small regional town called Gundagai and moved to the Snowy Mountains when I was 10. From there, I completed my secondary education at Monaro High School and received my higher school certificate. I have just completed the final year of my degree of Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Wollongong Bega campus.
Nursing to me, is the start of a chapter of many more to come. I see nursing as a challenging but rewarding career that is forever changing and adapting.
Read more >My name is Jessica Richards, and I am a mum of two children and a wife to a supportive husband. I am proud to say that two weeks ago I finally completed my Bachelor of Nursing at Wollongong University, Bega Campus. My dream to become a nurse began at 18 years old, when I initially applied for a nursing degree and was accepted. I was so excited when starting my course, however in the first few weeks of the course I began to doubt my abilities. I then transferred to teaching. Over the following years I had a successful teaching career as well as gaining Masters in Special Education and Teacher Librarianship. Despite thoroughly enjoying teaching, I never stopped wondering what it would be like to be a nurse. However, starting over in a new career seemed terrifying. With the support of my husband, I decided to take the leap and chase my dream of becoming a nurse, beginning my degree in 2020.
Read more >In rural New South Wales [NSW], people face more barriers accessing healthcare than those who reside in metropolitan areas. Oftentimes, there are larger geographical distances that people must travel for specialised healthcare, and there are fewer allied health professionals and doctors. Adding to the complexity, people who live in rural areas also experience higher rates of chronic disease, co-morbidities, and premature death that is largely preventable.
Furthermore, specific to my hometown in the Bega Valley, and other nearby rural towns, communities have been impacted by cumulative natural disasters including floods, devastating bushfires, drought, the Covid19 pandemic and even mice plagues.
Read more >There are many reasons why I wish to be a rural nurse, the real question is why would I not want to be a rural nurse? I currently reside in Maffra, after spending my childhood years in Sale. I am currently employed with a local disability service where I provide support and access to the local facilities. As part of the organisation, we run a not for profit café where clients can develop their skills and strengthen their employment opportunities. I am a netball coach with the Sale Net ball association were I donate my time to coach young netballers, fundraise and volunteer with in the club
Read more >Growing up in a regional community I have seen first-hand the importance and impact that rural hospitals have on communities. They have demonstrated that there is more to healthcare then just providing medical services; that it provides community support. The sense of community is an important factor for me as I have grown up assisting the community through many services projects, such as Lions Australia and the Australian Mentoring Experience (EIME).
It was through these programs that I demonstrated my passion for serving others and was inspired to become a health professional. the community has attracted me into rural nursing as it demonstrated a holistic approach to health and the benefits a community can have on an individual’s health and well being.
Read more >I have grown up in a rural community and I always wanted to give back to this community. I am married to a dairy farmer, and we have 2 children and live on the family farm. I have always lived in the Gippsland region near Maffra and experienced a wonderful rural upbringing and I want the same for my children. I am currently working within my local rural community in an aged care facility as an enrolled nurse. While in this role I care for the elderly, building a rapport with them and their families, communicating effectively, and I have the confidence to speak up and advocate for them if something was not right.
From my experience as an enrolled nurse, I decided I wanted to give more back to my community holistically and clinically so I decided to complete my Bachelor of Nursing degree.
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