My name is Jayde Couzens, I am a proud Noongar and Gunditjmara woman. I live with my 6-year-old son, Allakai and my partner who is a stay-at-home father, who is now trying to seek employment. I am living on Yorta-Yorta country in Katunga, while working at Goulburn Valley Health and studying at Latrobe Shepparton.

I am already actively contributing into the healthcare community from being a Health Assistant in Nursing, to an Enrolled Nurse. I want to grow my knowledge and skills so I can further my education so I can be a Nurse Practitioner. Currently studying my Bachelor of Nursing as this is the pathway into this role, I will continue to a master’s degree in emergency and Critical care. Once I have enough experience to become eligible, a master’s of advance nursing practice is next.

Growing up through generational trauma has taught me tuff lessons…

Doing what I thought was best for my unborn child I chose to move out of home and live with my partner’s parents. I want to work towards breaking generational trauma, and not want to fall victim to it. I am proud that I can educate and pave the way for younger mob into healthcare. Both working in healthcare and being Aboriginal, the westernised system comes with many challenges, I want to contribute to closing the gap in the healthcare system, one of the ways is getting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People into healthcare.

The scope of practice a Nurse Practitioner holds, I would be able to complete my vision. It is to build an indigenous women’s health centre, which would include immunizations, health check-up, cervix screening, scripts, and other links to services within community. This would also bring more career opportunities for other upcoming Indigenous healthcare workers to take part.

My name is Jayde Couzens, I am studying at La-Trobe University remotely in Shepparton.  I attend both online and face-to-face classes. I am studying my Bachelor of Nursing.

Over the past six months, my journey as a student nurse has been full of challenges, growth, and many points of appreciation. Now, I have been on three placements thus far and two more to go. It has been both exciting and at times overwhelming. Placement is applying theory into practice by working through meeting real people, real families, and real outcomes. It’s an everlasting reminder of why I chose nursing in the first place, even on the days that leave me exhausted.

The subjects I have studied have focused on acute care and leadership in health. These subjects have stretched me academically, especially when I balanced assignments with long shifts and my family responsibilities.

There were moments where I doubted myself, particularly in essay writing and before exams but I was surprised and very grateful for how things turned out.

I have been prioritising study time as I have previously struggled with, and I was relieved when my results reflected that extra effort. I felt not just relief, but also pride that the work I put in was recognised by lecturers and my grades.

The highs have been the both big and small wins on placement. Building connections with patients, feeling part of a team, and continuing to gain confidence in my clinical skills.

The lows have been the moments of self-doubt and fatigue, when I questioned whether I was “good enough” or whether I would ever be able to juggle everything without feeling burnt out. But reflecting on it now, I realise those hard times have also shaped me—they have made me more resilient and more aware of the importance of self-care

Outside of study, I apply family time with my partner and son, going on country and staying present. I enjoy spending time with friends whether its coffee or dinner.

Looking ahead, I am aware that I am edging closer to the end of my degree, and that feels both daunting and exciting. I have applied for a graduate year, undergone interview processes and now awaiting the acceptance period in September. I hope to be placed in acute/surgical and a specialty area somewhere like oncology or paediatrics.

Reflecting on this journey makes me realise how far I’ve come, and how much further I still have to go. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it.