On Tasmania’s North West Coast, healthcare is deeply personal. Nurses don’t just care for patients, they care for neighbours, friends, and families they know by name. Connection matters in communities like these, and so does the ability to train and grow a skilled nursing workforce close to home.
For paediatric nurses Stacey Carpenter, Jacqueline Taylor, and Kirby Ray, studying nursing at the University of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast campus made their meaningful careers possible.
From one day to right now
Growing up in Burnie, nursing was always part of the plan for Stacey. Life just took a few detours.
“I had my children young and focused on working hard and raising three daughters,” she said. After years working in finance, she found the call to nursing had not faded. “Think Georgie Parker in A Country Practice!”
Community was the catalyst for Kirby. With a background in Surf Life Saving and emergency response in her home town of Penguin, nursing felt like a natural next step that offered both purpose and balance.
“It was a more appropriate choice for me with a young family,” she said.
Jackie’s path started with change. After working as a travel agent and navigating the challenges of the pandemic, she found herself ready for something different.
“Nursing had always appealed to me,” she said. “But studying felt out of reach because of campus location.”
When the Bachelor of Nursing became available at the Cradle Coast campus, everything shifted for all three women.
“When UTAS began offering the Bachelor of Nursing here, I thought it was meant to be,” Jackie said.
Real support, real relationships
Nursing study is demanding, but flexibility and support make all the difference.
Stacey initially enrolled in the fast‑track program before realising a slower pace would help her thrive.
“Completing the degree over three years allowed me to gain real‑world healthcare experience without burning out,” she said.
Balancing study with family life needs that understanding and support.
“Us nurses are like ducks on water,” Kirby said. “We look cool and calm on the surface, but our little legs are working double time underneath!” Like Stacey, she appreciated being able to study at her own pace, doing some of her five years’ study part time so she could have children.
But support wasn’t just about timetables. It was also about people.
“The bonds you form with amazing students…the girls in this group are like my soul sisters,” Stacey said, and stressed that those relationships are essential to sustain a career in nursing. “Support is key. Build a team around you from family, friends, co-workers and your Nurse Unit Manager and mentors.”
Nursing where community comes first
Working on the paediatric ward at North West Regional Hospital is busy, hands‑on, and deeply connected to place.
“Being a rural hospital that covers such a large area means we’re very involved in complex presentations,” Stacey said. It also means supporting families through difficult moments, including transfers away from home to larger hospitals in Hobart. “Keeping families closer to home would make a huge difference.”
Despite the challenges, the lifestyle and connection are powerful motivators to stay in Burnie.
“I live two minutes from my workplace,” Stacey said.
For Kirby, the reward is simple. “The main benefit is knowing I’m giving back to my community.”
Learning doesn’t stop at graduation
Even after graduating and embarking on their careers, these nurses are still hungry to learn.
“I want to continue growing my paediatric knowledge,” Jackie said of her decision to pursue postgraduate study.
Kirby sees it as a “great refresher”, with further education building confidence, opening doors, and strengthening her nursing practice.
“I wanted to cement what I’d learned during my first two years on the job and feel confident educating future registered nurses,” Stacey said. “Studying is challenging, but when you master a concept the high is amazing.”
Kirby encourages anyone considering nursing to take the leap. “Do it. It’s the most fulfilling career.”
Your nursing story starts here
Studying nursing at the Cradle Coast means learning close to home, feeling supported at every stage, and building a career that makes a real difference, right where you live.
Find out more about our nursing courses