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.

Before beginning my degree, I spent seven years working in the disability sector, supporting people with complex disabilities and mental health conditions. These experiences revealed how structural inequities, stigma, and service gaps shape a person’s health journey – especially in regional areas like the Eurobodalla. I have seen individuals travel long distances for basic care, wait months for specialist appointments, or fall through systemic cracks because communication
or behavioural differences made services inaccessible. Witnessing these injustices ignited my determination to become a nurse who not only delivers quality care but also challenges inequity from within the health system.

I aspire to be a rural nurse because rural practice allows nurses to create meaningful, visible change. In smaller communities, nurses are not just clinicians – they are advocates, educators, and connectors who build relationships that extend beyond the bedside. This resonates with me, as my career in the disability sector and lived experience with mental health have shaped my passion for human rights, empowerment, and inclusive, person-centred care. I have witnessed the impact of stigma and isolation and understand how easily people can be silenced when their communication, culture, or experiences fall outside the norm. Rural nursing reflects the kind of care I believe in: adaptable, culturally safe, collaborative, and grounded in dignity and respect. Through this profession, I hope to restore voices that have been overlooked, ensuring everyone – regardless of circumstance – can access compassionate, equitable care close to home.
Driven by my passion for equitable healthcare, I plan to undertake a Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) in 2026, exploring nurses’ perceptions of human rights and advocacy at the bedside.

By integrating my lived experience, professional background, and academic research, I aim to develop tools that strengthen inclusive, person-centred nursing across rural services. My goal is to work as a Registered Nurse in the Eurobodalla while contributing to initiatives that promote health equity, accessibility, and workforce sustainability.

To me, being a rural nurse means standing in the gap between what is and what should be – delivering compassionate care to every individual, regardless of postcode, ability, or background. It is where lived experience and professional skill unite to create lasting change.  Rural nursing is not simply a career – it is a calling to serve with integrity, challenge inequity, and ensure that every person in our region feels seen, safe, and valued within their local healthcare system.