Leaving Brisbane to move back to her home town of Gympie was the key to allowing University of the Sunshine Coast student Emma Kendall to chase her dream of becoming a midwife.

The mother of five young children is now more than half-way through a combined Nursing Science and Midwifery degree at USC.

“I had always wanted to study midwifery but with young children and the high of cost of living in Brisbane, this dream never felt possible,” Emma, 34, said.

“After discovering there was a USC campus in Gympie where I could do nursing subjects and a shuttle bus service that would take me to Sippy Downs for midwifery classes, it was suddenly achievable.

“Being close to family, the affordable cost of living in Gympie, and its wonderful community were also deciding factors for us as a family to make this major life change.”

Emma said the hands-on focus of her study program, which involved attending births and supporting expectant mothers on their pregnancy journey, had strengthened her desire to become a midwife.

“When you see a birth played out in real life it cements the theory you learn, fills you with confidence in the skills you are gaining, and reinforces your belief that this is definitely what you want to be doing.”

Emma credits her passion for midwifery for her recent selection as one of five USC students to receive a $1,500 Undergraduate Bursary from the Sunshine Coast branch of Graduate Women Queensland.

The other recipients were Emma Williams (Paramedic Science), Lauren Kaloczy (Business Management), Allison Camille (Primary Education) and Jessica Bettega (Animal Ecology).

Emma said the supportive environment of the Gympie campus had played a major role in assisting her pursue her goal of becoming a midwife – especially when she became pregnant with her fifth child soon after beginning her degree.

“USC Gympie has been brilliant and I love the small campus environment,” she said. “I took my second semester off to have my baby and was given support and encouragement to continue.”

For more information about Nursing Science and other study programs offered at USC Gympie go to www.usc.edu.au/learn or attend its Open Day on Sunday 25 September.

— Clare McKay