They may be from different walks of life but Rebekah Lisciandro and Deb Edwards are both heading towards a career in nursing thanks to their successful completion of the Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program through CQUniversity...  

LINK also to STEPS cohort celebrate completion in Mackay

Rebekah said STEPS was a chance for her to start over, after spending her adolescent years struggling with illness and not being able to complete her final two years at high school.

"I never thought I'd get into uni - I never thought I was smart enough or didn't think I could handle the work," she said.

Deb Edwards and Rebekah Lisciandro.But Rebekah's determination enabled her to successfully complete the first step towards a career in nursing. She hopes to specialise in emergency or sexual health.

"I'm so glad I experienced the STEPS program as I've met some really great friends who are now going on to do nursing as well, and this will allow us to lean on each other for support."

For single mother-of-two Deb Edwards, university was the change she had been looking for after spending most of her working life in the banking industry.

"I was a bit apprehensive about going back to university as I had been out of school for twenty-something years," she says.

"But I've absolutely loved STEPS and it has prepared me immensely for the start of my nursing degree."

Rebekah and Deb were part of a group of 23 students who celebrated their completion ceremony this week.