Melanie makes teenage dream of becoming a nurse into reality
By Greg Chapman
When Melanie Pope crossed the graduation stage in Bundaberg this month, she fulfilled a dream that was decades in the making.
The 56-year-old received a Bachelor of Nursing at the 2025 CQUniversity Bundaberg Graduation on 9 December, beginning a new exciting chapter in her life.
A proud Wulli Wulli and Wakka Wakka woman, Melanie recounted how she’d always wanted to be a nurse since she was a teenager, and although life initially took a slightly different path, there were several key moments that kept the nursing dream alive.
“Nursing is something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. From the age of 15, I was motivated by a strong desire to care for others and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” she said.
“That same year, my mother suffered a stroke, and I left school after Year 10 to enter the workforce and help support my family. I was closely involved in assisting with my mother’s rehabilitation, an experience that had a lasting impact on me and strengthened my passion for healthcare.”
Melanie said graduating with a nursing degree was “incredibly rewarding and emotional”.
“It represents years of hard work, persistence and sacrifice, not only academically but personally. There is a deep sense of pride in knowing I’ve achieved something I’ve worked towards for so long, and in showing my children and grandchildren that it’s never too late to pursue your goals,” she said.
“The nursing training was challenging, but incredibly valuable. It was demanding both academically and emotionally, but it prepared me well for the realities of clinical practice. The combination of theory, simulation and clinical placements helped build my confidence, clinical skills and professional identity as a nurse.
“My life experiences have given me a strong foundation in empathy, adaptability and patient-centred care, which complemented the formal training.”
She said she has since secured a post-graduate registered nursing position at Gold Coast University Hospital, which she will start on 18 January 2026.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to begin my career in a large tertiary hospital where I can continue learning, growing and developing my skills within a supportive and diverse healthcare environment,” she said.
“I am deeply grateful for the support I received throughout my studies from lecturers, peers, family and friends.
“Studying through CQUniversity has been a significant part of my journey, and I am proud to be graduating as a registered nurse.
“As a 56-year-old First Nations woman, mother and grandmother, I bring lived experience, resilience and compassion into my nursing practice, and I am committed to contributing positively to the healthcare system and my community.”
She encouraged anyone considering studying nursing to follow their own dreams.
“I would tell them that nursing is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose. It is challenging, but it allows you to make a real difference in people’s lives every single day. Nursing offers many pathways and specialties, and it combines compassion, critical thinking and lifelong learning in a way that is both meaningful and impactful,” she said.
