As a child I always wanted to help. I enjoyed helping people in and around my community and have continued volunteering throughout my adult life. I have been a volunteer firefighter with the CFA since 1993. An encouraging comment during an event where I was providing first aid led me to a career change into Nursing. I first attended TAFE and completed an Advanced Diploma and now after 10 years as an Enrolled Nurse have undertaken a Bachelor of Nursing. My higher education path has been dotted with challenges, but with the support of my partner and the University I have been able to continue with study and I intend to graduate at the end of 2024.

Through gaining the higher qualification of a Bachelor of Nursing, I plan to undertake postgraduate studies in First Nation’s Health. I plan to utilise this post graduate study to gain a position within an Aboriginal Health Community Controlled Organisations.

Currently my nursing career has seen me work in clinical areas within hospitals, where the patients I cared for were acutely unwell. Moving on I wish to support and educate First Nations people in preventing illness development whilst also working to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of my Peoples.

Worldwide there is a nursing shortage and my People historically, have had limited opportunity to complete tertiary health education. It has been confirmed that the education and employment of First Nations health professionals in both Community Controlled and mainstream health facilities has significant positive health outcomes for First Nations patients and families, utilising these services (The Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, 2018).

I, myself have had health challenges that have interrupted my life and my studies. I understand that I am a small cog in a very large machine, but if I can work to educate in an environment where my story of perseverance and determination through my own health battles can inspire others to undertake the commitment to higher education then I can be a part of the solution instead of a bystander wondering what should be done.