Meet Zoe Wildman, a dedicated and passionate 18-year-old nursing student and Koa, Kuku Yalanji (Wakka Wakka) woman, who is undergoing a CareerTrackers internship at the Wesley Hospital.

Zoe, currently in her second year at the University of Queensland is pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing and has always been deeply passionate about healthcare.

Despite initially considering dentistry, Zoe's career trajectory shifted after she was given the opportunity to shadow a nurse at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service in Woolloongabba during high school placement.

Zoe explains this placement ignited a passion for nursing which led her to undertake the Bachelor of Nursing and ultimately complete an internship with the hospital.

While at the Wesley Hospital, Zoe has been able to shadow and learn from staff in the maternity, paediatrics, orderly services and ward reception departments, enriching her understanding of nursing and overall healthcare delivery.

Zoe stated this internship was different to normal student placement she had done through her university.

“Here at the hospital I am able to observe, learn and grow at my own pace and not worry about being assessed at the same time, I feel like a sponge absorbing all the knowledge,” Zoe said.

“The staff who have been teaching me have been so supportive, I have absolutely loved every minute of this so far.

“The highlight for me was being able to witness a caesarean birth, making me interested in paediatric nursing however I am also interested in cardiology or theatre nursing but I ultimately want to keep studying to be a Nurse Practitioner.”

As a First Nations woman, Zoe advocates for greater Indigenous representation in the nursing profession, emphasising the importance of culturally sensitive care and advocating for equitable healthcare access for all.

“Research has demonstrated Indigenous patients prefer Indigenous nurses so I think it’s very important to have greater representation in our healthcare system,” she said.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunities afforded by the Career Trackers program, Zoe envisions a future where she can leverage her nursing career to support Indigenous communities in achieving optimal health outcomes.

“I would love the opportunity to give back to community and give back to mob, that’s very important to me to show how much I appreciate my community and their value,” she said.

As Career Trackers continues to empower Indigenous students like Zoe, UnitingCare Queensland looks forward to welcoming future interns and expanding internship opportunities to drive positive change within the healthcare sector and beyond.

CareerTrackers empowers Indigenous university students to participate in paid internships and support them to transition to full-time work upon the completion of their university degrees.

UnitingCare’s RAP Team collaborates closely with CareerTrackers, offering internship opportunities across various UnitingCare services including Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Bachelor of Justice (Criminology and Policing, Health Psychology), fostering professional growth and development among Indigenous students.

To find out more about CareerTrackers with UnitingCare you can contact reconciliation@ucareqld.com.au to register your interest.