Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

INDUSTRY • EDUCATION

SUN path leads to
nursing dream

Cairns school-leaver Abbey Gavin
is realising her childhood dream
to become a nurse - thanks to
CQUniversity’s Start Uni Now
(SUN) program.
The recent Peace Lutheran College
graduate completed two units of
university while still in high school
in a bid to gain entry into her dream
course, a Bachelor of Nursing.
“It was a great pathway for me…I
was non-OP eligible so I just had to
get my QCE and pass the units and
I’d get entry to the degree,” Miss
Gavin explained.
Miss Gavin said that while
completing university-level studies
wasn’t a walk-in-the park, the
opportunity gave her an insight into
what she could expect upon starting
higher education.
“I loved it, it was challenging and
hard to overcome the difference
between uni and school and the
quality of work they expected of you,
but it was also very motivational and
helped me achieve good grades at
school as well,” Miss Gavin said. School-leaver Abbey Gavin and Associate Vice-Chancellor Jodie Duignan-George
“I feel more prepared now than I
would have if I didn’t complete the
SUN program.” adventure and will be great to study in “This alongside fostering a range of
Miss Gavin will begin her university Cairns.” relationships, I feel, is one the most
journey in Term 1, starting in March Miss Gavin, who’s dreamed of being a rewarding gifts that a lifelong career
and said she was very much looking nurse since she was a little girl, said she can provide for anyone.
forward to it. couldn’t wait to get started. “This is my dream occupation and
“I am very excited, especially to start “I am warmed by the thought of SUN has helped me get a head-start on
learning the nursing side of things standing next to a patient with a my career.”
as well as meeting new people and compassionate heart, kind hands and
doing practicals. It will be a new an empathetic ear to listen,” she said. MORE: cqu.edu.au

19 • tropicnow.com.au