I have been working as a Registered Nurse for a number of years, with my passion developing from the goal of supporting and improving First Nations people’s health.   As a nurse, I have been able to complete work in a number of areas with a passion for supporting and carrying First Nations peoples.   I have particular interest in children, adolescent and family health and have the opportunity to complete my studies to become a child and family health nurse.   I am currently working back on Country and working at an ACCHS, as well as the hospital.

There is currently a gap in not only  child, youth and family health nurses, but also in First Nation practitioners within this speciality.   The postgraduate course will allow me to deepen my current clinical and theoretical knowledge in child an family health with a focus on leadership and advanced communications.   I would like to use the leaderships skills to support and mentor other First Nations people within my community with the aim to increase the Aboriginal workforce not only within this speciality but within the health workforce overall.

I am hoping that with completion of these studies I will be in the position to provide this imperative service to my community and work towards improving outcomes for children and adolescents, including them families.  I see Child and Family health at the forefront of preventive measurers to lower the incidence of the health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

I have been fortunate to have received the Rotary Indigenous Health Scholarship during my undergraduate studies and found it to be a positive experience and became a large contributor to the successful completion of my studies.

I have just completed my first semester for a Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health Nursing. I was originally enrolled in 4 subjects with one being practical placement, but after considering the workload of semester one, I made the decision to move my placement topic to semester two.

I found semester one to be an enjoyable experience. I have previously studied postgraduate courses in the past but studying and working full time was challenging at times, especially when assignments were due around the same time. I am fortunate that my workplace is supportive in my studies and they have allowed flexibility to complete my course.  My course is fully online, with the ability to organise my placement to be completed where I live.  The online aspect of the university has been easy to navigate and the content engaging, and the course coordinators and tutors are easy to contact and supportive.

I have successfully completed my three subjects, with some individual assignments receiving high marks. I am happy with my performance, especially considering that I work full-time and have maintained my involvement in my community activities. I hope that semester two is also an enjoyable experience and that I maintain the ability in time managing and prioritising course work.