A calling to help others inspired former carpenter Thomas Neller to trade in his tools for scrubs and pursue a meaningful career in nursing. Once building door frames, Tom is now opening doors to global experiences, diverse healthcare systems, and a future filled with purpose.
"I liked the idea of helping people, especially in some cases in their worst moments. I recognised a part of that in myself and thought, why not give it a go?" said Tom.
Returning to study after two decades away from school, Tom enrolled in the Preparing for Success Program at SCU College. The program helped him build the academic foundation needed to begin a Bachelor of Nursing at Southern Cross University.
"It had been 20 years since I left school and I wasn't the strongest academic student. The Preparing for Success Program gave me an understanding of essay writing, referencing and the skills necessary for my studies," he said.
Now in the second year of his degree, Tom is thriving in his studies and has received two scholarships to travel both domestically and abroad to broaden his nursing experiences.
In June, Tom was awarded an Australian College of Nursing scholarship to attend the National Nursing Forum in Canberra where he explored the future of nursing, legislation and growth opportunities.
More recently, he received a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant to travel to India for five weeks where he will gain hands-on learning in community health.
"We will be going to schools, orphanages and aged care homes to see different ways of health promotion and how to build healthy communities," he said.
"These opportunities have reinforced for me that I am entering a field where I will have a pretty big purpose."
Tom's studies have been reinforced by practical placements across various healthcare settings. After completing a placement in aged care, he was offered a role as an Assistant in Nursing. He later completed a hospital placement in a cardiothoracic ward, caring for patients recovering from open-heart and lung surgeries.
"It was quite an intense ward and really gave me a taste of what my career could look like in the future," said Tom.
"Before commencing my studies, I didn't realise the depth that there is in healthcare and all of the different areas that you can work in. There's so many different levels of nursing."
Tom's work as an Assistant in Nursing reflects the strong employment prospects for Southern Cross nursing students. In the 2025 Good Universities Guide, Southern Cross was rated 5 stars for full-time employment in the nursing category.
Having previously started an education degree at another university, Tom said the Southern Cross Model has made a significant difference in his learning experience. The model features six-week terms with a maximum of two units at a time.
"My first university experience involved studying four units across 12-week semesters and I'd lose motivation and track of where I was," Tom said.
"So, I enjoy the six-week terms. You can put your mind to those two subjects and it leaves a lot more time to work and have a bit more of a lifestyle around uni."
Looking ahead, Tom is excited about the impact he can make through nursing.
"What I've found is that nursing is about being there for people when they might not have someone else to turn to or advocating for someone who isn't getting the quality of care they need. You have a chance to step in and help that person," he said.
"I knew I would enjoy nursing but I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I have so far."
