Graduates greet a life after class

Nurses of the future (l-r): Jodie Turvey, Tessa Law and Jessica Doellinger at their graduation ceremony.

Rob Williams

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University of Queensland Ipswich graduation

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WHILE it may have seemed like bad luck, a car crash during her final year of high school has proved fortuitous for Rebecca Cunningham.

The 20-year-old Bachelor of Nursing student was among more than 130 graduating University of Queensland Ipswich students celebrating the end of tertiary studies on Monday at the Ipswich Civic Hall.

Ms Cunningham said watching medical staff care for patients in the busy ER had inspired her choice of career.

The Brisbane resident has been accepted into a graduate program at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Western Australia to do pediatrics.

“I've always loved children,” Ms Cunningham said.

“I'm the eldest - I have a brother and a sister - so I have always been around kids, looking after them.”

The graduates also included the first Bachelor of Midwifery students.

UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Rix said graduation ceremonies provided an important opportunity for students to be acknowledged for their academic achievements.

“The university has provided valuable resources for students to expand their knowledge and experience and now it is time for them to move forward,” Prof Rix said.

“I congratulate each of the graduates on their achievements while at UQ Ipswich and wish them every success in their future plans.

“We look forward to introducing these graduates to Ipswich city, business and industry.”

The graduation ceremony saw students graduate from every faculty at the Ipswich campus, including Arts, Business, Economics and Law, Health Sciences and Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Given the ceremony celebrated the first graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery, Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen, an Associate Professor of Midwifery/Child and Family Health at the University of Western Sydney, was guest speaker for the event.