Inspired by care, powered by community: Scholarship propels nursing student toward a future in rural healthcare

From rural Queensland to the lecture theatres and simulated wards of the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), first-year nursing student Sarah Downes is already forging a path shaped by compassion, community, and purpose.

After growing up across several regional towns, Sarah arrived at UniSQ with a clear goal: to become a nurse who makes a tangible difference in people’s lives, particularly those living in rural and remote communities.

Receiving the Felicity Purcell Nursing Bursary eased the transition from home to university life, giving her the freedom to focus on her studies and embrace the full UniSQ experience.

Inspired by the nurses who once cared for her own family, Sarah is now channelling that same dedication into her learning.

Sarah recently spoke to us about her aspirations that stretch from rural Queensland to global volunteer work, and why she’s enthusiastic about a future filled with possibility.

Why did you decide you wanted to become a nurse?

Throughout my childhood, my family moved around, mostly living in rural Queensland towns. For the last six years, we have been based in the South Burnett, specifically in Murgon. During this time, I graduated from high school, completing my final three years of education via distance learning with Riverside Christian College. It was halfway through my final year of school that I decided on nursing. I had always been unsure of my future career, but I knew I wanted it to be meaningful.

When my Mum first suggested nursing, I was hesitant. However, as I explored it more and spent time completing informal work experience, I became aware of the many wonderful benefits of the profession. It was also really encouraging at the time to see the positive impact nurses had while my grandma was being treated for breast cancer.

Ultimately, I decided on nursing as it allows me to help improve the lives of others while offering opportunities for learning, advancement, and variety. By going into nursing, I know I am opening so many doors for my future and creating a better future for others.

Congratulations on receiving the Felicity Purcell Nursing Bursary! What does this mean to you, and how has it impacted your studies?

It was an absolute honour to receive the Felicity Purcell Nursing Bursary, and it has made such a difference to my studies and the process of moving away from home. The bursary has given me the freedom to ensure that studying can be a priority and significantly reduced stress by facilitating a healthy work-life and study balance. As a result of the bursary, I have proactively set myself up for the future – I can study hard while also complementing my studies with the variety of opportunities on offer at this stage in my life.

Do you hope to practice in a rural or remote community? Why is championing high-quality regional healthcare important to you?

After graduating, it is my hope to return to rural areas to live and work. My studies this year have reinforced the health inequity these areas face, and I aspire to be part of improving that. The burden of disease is much higher in rural than urban areas, in large part due to less access to healthcare, as I have seen in my own personal experiences. By nursing in these areas, I endeavour to be part of improving the quality of life for the communities that have so positively shaped my life. This was reinforced after my sister had a medical emergency earlier in the year in our rural community. The quality of the nursing care, including their effective triage and treatment, was critical to supporting a good outcome for her.

If you had the chance to thank the donors of the bursary, what would you say to them?

Earlier in the year, I was fortunate enough to meet the lovely donors for the bursary at the scholarship awards evening. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to thank them for their incredible generosity and to let them know what a difference it has made. Moreover, it was incredibly special that they were able to share the story of Felicity, a capable and caring nurse whose young death inspired the scholarship. Her life is a continual source of inspiration to me in my studies.

What are your hopes for the future?

As a future nurse, I hope to make a positive impact on people's lives and communities. I am eager to undertake further development to possibly become a midwife or nurse practitioner. Women's and children's health in rural areas is a particular area of interest to me, where I would love to make a difference. There are many spaces with a great need for nurses, and for a season, I would like to volunteer overseas where nursing care is limited, such as through an organisation like Mercy Ships. Overall, though, I remain open to change as I am excited to explore all that nursing and the future have to offer.

What’s been the best thing about studying nursing at UniSQ?

Across the year, I've grown more confident in my choice to study nursing, as there are many things to love about it. I greatly enjoyed the skills labs in the simulated nursing wards, where we got to be hands-on, with our great instructors facilitating an engaging and supportive environment. Gaining a deeper understanding of the human body and how that dictates our care has also been incredibly fascinating, and I am enthusiastically looking forward to the next two years.

Learn more about Nursing at UniSQ.