Carole gains national recognition as nursing career reborn
Published on 16 May, 2013
CQUniversity Nursing student Carole Ballard has been showing so much promise that she was nominated for an International Scholar Laureate Program delegation to China...
While study commitments got in the way of the overseas trip, she has been able to convert the offer into a similar program based at the University of Sydney (May 26 to June 2) where she will still get a chance to mingle with students from around the world.
It's no surprise that Carole is getting this opportunity as her academic achievement and leadership potential has also been recognised through membership of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
The keen student's nursing journey actually started three decades ago when she completed her Enrolled Nurse qualification at Longreach Base Hospital.
Carole worked as a nurse in Longreach for 10 years and later moved to Boulia where she served as an ambulance officer for the local health clinic on days when the Flying Doctor service visited. She also worked as Director of Community Development and Environment for Boulia Shire Council.
These days, Carole resides much closer to the coast at Bungundarra near Yeppoon but she still likes wide open spaces enough to live on a property rather than a standard block.
She juggles Nursing study on Rockhampton Campus with a clinical placement at Rockhampton Base Hospital's Intensive Care Unit and is keen to gain employment in critical care after graduation.
"My transition back into academic study was really smooth thanks to the fantastic STEPS preparatory program at CQUniversity. I helped out as a STEPS mentor after completing the program," Carole says.
Carole will pack in plenty of opportunities during her visit to Sydney. She'll meet lecturers specialising in critical care and will get the chance to visit the burns, emergency and intensive care sections of Concord Hospital. She will also volunteer to help at an Aboriginal Health service in inner Sydney.