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Free TAFE made Jo’s dream of becoming a nurse real

When Jo lost both her dad and her best friend to cancer, she saw firsthand just how valuable a nurse’s work is.

A person in a blue hospital uniform using a stethoscope on a medical mannequin in a hospital setting.

There are beautiful, delicate tattoos on Jo’s arms, one of which says ‘Papa’. It’s a dedication to her dad, who recently died from cancer. He is one of the reasons she is now a nurse.

‘My dad was in his final stages of battling cancer, alongside my best friend, who was also in the late stages of cancer. And seeing those nurses during the most pivotal time in our lives, I felt called to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse,’ she said.

When she discovered she could study nursing through Free TAFE, it felt like a door was finally opening to her.

She trained for her Diploma of Nursing at Kangan Institute, where she was awarded Student of the Year in 2024. And she’s not stopping there – she’s now studying a Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin University.

‘Free TAFE has made the dream of becoming a nurse real for me,’ she said.

The move was a big career change for Jo, who had spent 20 years working in the hotel industry. She found TAFE to be a safe space for her to learn as a mature student. It was also a pathway to university, which was something she’d never thought she would be able to do.

‘The teachers and the mix of online and in-person training gave me the building blocks for my study journey, which I’m now continuing to follow.’

‘The TAFE pathway led me into studying my Bachelor of Nursing and allowing me to follow my dreams of becoming a cardiothoracic nurse.’

Jo hopes she is inspirational to other people who are considering further study or a career change, but who doubt their own abilities.

‘I would encourage them to believe in themselves and make that change. To follow something that they really want to do, and that they’re passionate about.’

It took going through some tough times for Jo to find her calling in life and realise her dreams. But now she couldn’t be happier with her chosen career.

‘Being able to provide comfort to people at a most critical time in their lives is more rewarding than anything else in the world,’ she said.

A person in hi-vis, headphones and safety glasses uses a nail gun on a wooden frame.

Free TAFE makes it real

Find out how Free TAFE can make your career goals a reality.

Education & training

Updated 30 March 2026

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