Every bit of help is welcomed by Cairns-based Nursing student Deborah Reynolds, as she juggles work, study, health issues and caring for her elderly mother.

That's why she was happy to accept $500 from the CQUni Cares scholarship program to help cover the costs of attending a Noosa Campus residential school for the subject ' Psychiatric Consumer'.

LINK HERE for more details about CQUni Cares

Deborah (left) is fitting study around her family responsibilities, with help from a CQUni Cares scholarship

Deborah was pleased for extra help so she could fly to Noosa and spend as little time as possible away from home and her role as a primary carer.

"I have always wanted to become a nurse ever since grade 3 after a friend of mine became ill with leukaemia," Deborah says.

"I was very passionate about being with her and trying to make her laugh. We became great friends and at the age of 17 years I was diagnosed with a rare endocrine disorder (MEN Type 1).

"I was unable to go to nursing training which was provided in the hospitals back then, as I was coping with the loss of my pancreas and resultant diabetes and it took me a long time to recover before then having to have my parathyroid glands removed due to further tumour development.

"Now I am looking after my mother who is 83 years old and suffering from non-hodgkin lymphatic cancer.

"My father was against my proposed nursing career, but he passed away five years ago and my children have all grown up, so I now have the chance to fulfil my dream."

Deborah says she chose CQUniversity due to its reputation for distance education and excellent support, enabling her to study from home.

"Hardships I've experienced have been through the temporary loss of eyesight in the right eye due to diabetic retinopathy, and further removal of my remaining parathyroid glands, leaving me calcium deficient, tired and lethargic.

"I have now developed a cataract in my right eye and macular degeneration in my left eye and can't wait for an operation to remove the cataract so that I can see again!"

Deborah works five shifts a week in a nursing home to bolster the family income.

"Since mum has been diagnosed with cancer she is unable to get around much anymore and needs daily help, while also suffering from dementia and depression.

"This can be very trying and hurtful at times but I promised I wouldn't put her in a nursing home. My daughter's marriage broke up and she has moved in with mum and I to help out, so there is always someone here for mum. She was cared for by my two eldest daughers while I was at the residential school."

Deborah says she has had great support from CQUniversity in relation to coping with examinations and pacing her study load.

"My preceptor Susan Palmer has been a fantastic mentor and friend and her praises for my attitude and work produced through nursing pracs has spurred me on through the difficult times.

"Thank you to all those involved in setting up this CQUni Cares scheme because without it I would probably would not have been able to attend residential school this December, therefore I would not have been able to pass the subject Psychiatric Consumer, as it is a compulsory requirement."