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In 2014, Stephanie moved from Bundaberg to Brisbane after accepting her offer to study a Bachelor of Nursing at QUT. She expressed how excited she was to move out of home, and described the transition as receiving her “first taste of true independence”.

At the Tim Fairfax AC Learning Potential Fund 2020 Scholarship Recognition Ceremony last week, Stephanie shared that with her newfound independence came financial challenges, so she worked part-time to help cover her living expenses while juggling study commitments.

“With three younger brothers left at home, my parents had their hands full and their pockets were thin – you can only imagine three sport-loving teenage boys going through two or three boxes of Weet-Bix a week for breakfast alone,” Stephanie said.

“So as much as my parents tried to help, I lived pretty frugally for my first few months at university.”

Stephanie explained her high school’s career adviser suggested she apply for as many scholarships as possible. 

“I will forever be grateful for her advice – it led me to receive a Learning Potential Fund scholarship.”

This new stability in Stephanie’s first year of study afforded her a greater work-study balance, and her grades reflected this.

“My entire perspective changed and my focus shifted from trying to get as many shifts at work as possible, and fitting study in around that, to creating a set schedule of what days I would work and what days I would focus on study.”

She decided to add a Bachelor of Paramedic Science to her studies, and in her fifth year she applied for a second Learning Potential Fund scholarship to help see her through her final year –the most critical part of any student’s tertiary education.

Stephanie said she was fortunate to be selected for the scholarship again, and shared how it helped her complete her final paramedic placement in New Zealand where she worked in the injury clinics of ski fields, describing it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel overseas for study”.

Fast-forward to 2020, and Stephanie works as a registered nurse in the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Part of this role also sees her working in Fever Clinics throughout South Brisbane, and filling shifts in Metro South Hospitals during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“I truly love what I do, and although I am not quite where I want to be, my end goal is to be employed full-time within an emergency department, I am well onto my way of reaching that goal.

“The Learning Potential Fund afforded me opportunities I would never have been able to take on my own.

“If you are considering donating to a fund, please consider donating to the Learning Potential Fund – I cannot recommend it enough.

“You will change a student’s life.”