Fee-Free TAFE supercharges Cristy’s nursing career

"Event management didn’t work once I had children, but working as an assistant in nursing, I get to help people with empathy and compassion and give them quality of life," Cristy said.

Starting in aged care, she quickly found fulfilment in supporting elderly patients. After moving to the surgical ward at Logan Hospital, she has worked alongside registered nurses for the last five years, which motivated her to take the next step in her career.

"My experience on the surgical ward with those nurses inspired me to become an enrolled nurse myself. I admire how skilled and dedicated the nurses are, and they’ve positively impacted my life,” she explained.

Pursuing a Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) through online studies, she is now balancing her busy work and personal life thanks to TAFE Queensland’s online learning.

“Learning online has been a great way to achieve my career goal. It allows me to balance working full-time and being a mother of two teenagers,” she explains.

Studying online sees Cristy dedicating three afternoons a week to studying after work and keeping up with her coursework from home.

Logging into Connect, TAFE Queensland’s online learning management system, accesses all her course content, assessments, and additional study resources and submits draft assignments for assessment reviews.

"It’s perfect because I’m supported the whole way through. If I have any questions, I can always have a Zoom call with my teachers and get the guidance I need.”

When TAFE Queensland’s flexible online study options were combined with the Fee-Free TAFE funding, her decision to step up was easy.

“It felt like the right time to take the next step in my career, and Fee-Free TAFE is a huge help. The financial support has allowed me to focus on my studies without worrying about tuition costs.

Fee-Free TAFE funding is part of the Queensland Government's Good People. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

It aims to connect, educate, and attract the people needed to meet the state's workforce demand in existing and new industry sectors and support continued economic growth.

With approximately 37,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training places available in 2024, the program will support Queenslanders to skill up to meet the state's current and future workforce needs by enabling them to complete selected qualifications at no or low cost.

“The Fee-Free funding has been amazing, and the money I've saved will go towards paying for my Bachelor of Nursing. Plus, studying for my diploma with TAFE Queensland means I’ll knock a year off my bachelor studies,” she said.

Complimenting her online studies are the practical labs at TAFE Queensland’s Loganlea Campus, where she attends hands-on practical training under the guidance of her teachers, who are qualified nurses.

"When I walked into the campus labs, it felt like I was walking into a hospital ward at work," she says, highlighting how closely the training environment mirrors real-life clinical settings.

Cristy credits her teachers for going above and beyond to help her feel comfortable and support her throughout her studies.

“I have a hearing disability, and my teacher, Mary, went above and beyond by arranging a digital stethoscope for me to complete my lab assessments successfully, and that extra support makes all the difference," she added.

Cristy’s immediate goal is to become an enrolled nurse at Logan Hospital, where she currently works. She’s also excited about the potential opportunities with a new hospital building under construction.

“I'm also looking forward to doing my practical placement and exploring other parts of the hospital and experiencing other areas of health care,” she explained.

Her long-term ambition is to work in Indigenous health and connect her culture with First Nations patients to make a positive impact.

"I am a proud Gallimoroi woman, and I hope to care for Aboriginal and First Nations patients, give them the treatment they need and help close the gap in healthcare outcomes.”

“Currently, too many Indigenous and First Nations patients are leaving the hospital before their care is finished, and I’d like to help them stay until they heal and recover,” she said.

With TAFE Queensland’s training and support, Cristy is on her way to achieving her career goals while improving her life and the lives of her family and patients.

She encourages future students to take advantage of the opportunities at TAFE Queensland, emphasising how simple the enrolment process is, the ease of online learning, the Fee-Free Funding and the support of her teachers throughout her journey.

"Nursing careers will always be in demand, and no artificial intelligence can replace the compassion and empathy nurses provide."

“Being Fee-Free is a massive bonus, and you may lose a bit of free time, but in the end, you leave with a diploma and the chance to better your own life and the lives of others, and that’s what it’s all about,” concluded Cristy.