Friday, February 16 was a landmark day for Joshua Paulson, a Worimi and Baudjalung man who grew up on Biripi country.
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It was the day he gained his nursing degree from the University of Newcastle (UON) at the Port Macquarie graduation ceremony.
After beginning as an enrolled nurse and going on to work full time with Taree Aged Care and Rehabilitation Services, Joshua enrolled at UON’s Port Macquarie campus in 2014 where he studied nursing full time.
But he’s not stopping there – after becoming a registered nurse, he has now decided he wants to study medicine beginning later this month.
“I did okay in nursing, and I thought, why not give it a go?”, Joshua said.
“I’m so happy and proud to finally be graduating especially with my cohort and friends. I’m ready for a change of pace both in where I live and study so I’m excited to start my second degree in medicine and now have a great safety net in nursing, which I love,” he said.
This time, though, his studies necessitate a move to Newcastle, where he will be living on campus to study full time for five years.
“I am looking forward to studying at UON again. The support and work that the Wollotuka Institute provides for their students is amazing and it is wonderful to know that the university is focused on supporting Indigenous education,” Joshua said.
Joshua’s ultimate goal is to be a doctor, but what he wants to specialise in he doesn’t yet know.
“I just want to get through uni at this stage,” he said.
