Dedicated nursing student sets sights on US study trip
University was almost out of reach for Deborah Sandow when a shock subject miscalculation was revealed in her senior year of high school, but now with almost three qualifications under her belt and an overseas study trip on the horizon, there’s no barrier to her dreams of revolutionising healthcare for First Nations people.
In the second year of her Bachelor of Nursing with CQUniversity in Rockhampton, Ms Sandow has grappled with the challenges of stop-start study through the COVID-19 pandemic and is balancing the juggling act between assessment and placements, describing her university journey as nothing short of a “rollercoaster”.
Yet, embracing the challenges through support of lecturers and Indigenous Student Engagement staff, Ms Sandow is now looking ahead to her first overseas study trip to the United States, taking part in an Indigenous International Study Tour coordinated by Aurora Education Foundation, an Indigenous organisation that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential.
With requirements for successful applicants stipulating a study record of a Distinction average, minimum GPA of 6, or heading for First or upper Second Class Honours, Ms Sandow’s achievements saw her competitively selected as one of only 10, chosen from First Nations applicants Australia wide.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and to the Aurora Education Foundation for making this study tour possible as I have never considered studying overseas before, because I didn’t think it was possible, nor did I think I had the ability to do so,” Ms Sandow said.
“It almost seemed like university was out of reach for me when I found out in Year 12 that I didn’t have the correct number of subjects to qualify to apply for university studies.
“I was never told about this or asked if I wanted to attend university, receiving no support from teachers to investigate applying for alternative entry, but thankfully my Indigenous Community Education Counsellor Terry Willmot made enquiries on my behalf. The Indigenous Support unit at the time helped me to apply to uni and I was finally accepted to study.”
Having dabbled with a Bachelor of Arts and eventually finding her footing with a Bachelor of Education in her mid-20s, Ms Sandow worked for several years as a primary school teacher, but didn’t quite feel that her journey with education was complete, leading to her decision to enrol in a Bachelor of Nursing in 2019.
During the ‘rollercoaster’ that was the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Sandow changed over to the Diploma of Nursing, completing the qualification in 2022, enabling her to feel ready to return to the degree.
“I have a strong interest in chronic disease, for example conditions like Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, in First Nations people,” Ms Sandow said.
“I want to be able to provide nursing care that is culturally safe and appropriate and in a way that First Nations people can understand.
“I have seen the lack of First Nations nurses, both male and female, in the regional town that I live in, and my personal experiences as a patient in my local hospital have been very daunting and distressing at times as there are usually only non-Indigenous staff involved in my care.
“I know that I am not the only First Nations person that struggles with this.”
As Ms Sandow prepares for her upcoming three-week trip to the US between February and March in 2025, she said she is looking forward to exploring potential postgraduate study options and being able to tour some of the world’s most renowned universities.
“I’m really looking forward to visiting the universities on the study tour; we’ll be heading to the University of Arizona in Tucson, New York University and Columbia in New York City, and MIT and Harvard in Boston.
“I’m just excited to be able to say that I’ve been to Harvard!
“But if it wasn’t for the support throughout the year from the Rockhampton Indigenous Student Engagement team, and especially Senior Coordinator Leonie Taylor, I wouldn’t be enrolled or participating in this amazing opportunity.
“I would also like to thank Aunty Patricia Leisha (Ghungalu Elder), Leonie, Jessica Birt (Associate Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences) and Laurie Armstrong (Associate Lecturer, School of Access Education) for providing me with references to apply to go on the study tour. I really appreciate it.
“All of this support greatly assisted me with preparations for the trip, such as being able to also participate in workshops at a symposium in Sydney to prepare me to “pitch” myself to university Heads of Course, in order to secure meetings face to face with them when I am in the US.
“This will enable me to find out more information about the courses I have selected to potentially pursue as outlined in the study plan I devised for the application process,” Ms Sandow explained.
With the knowledge that Ms Sandow is looking forward to receiving on her trip, in addition to her current studies, the passionate student is looking to the future and the positive impacts she is committed to making and contributing for her people and community.
“First Nations people mistrust the health system which stems from colonisation and government policies at the time, so seeing and being cared for by a First Nations nurse will hopefully ease the stress they may be feeling and improve health outcomes.
“I want to be the Indigenous face for the patients in my care and to be able to develop a rapport with them so that they can get the maximum benefit and understanding of the treatment they are receiving.”
