UOW's mid-year nursing cohort a success as students benefit from flexible entry and sense of community
For many nursing students, pulling on their scrubs for the first time is years in the making. Taking the plunge and applying to university can be daunting, especially for those seeking a career change later in life.
In July 2024, the University of Wollongong (UOW) School of Nursing launched its first-ever mid-year intake for the Bachelor of Nursing, uncovering a group of passionate future nurses in the process. The success of this pilot has now led to an expanded intake in 2025 at both the Wollongong and Liverpool campuses.
When the School of Nursing decided to trial the mid-year intake, Brandon Smith – Registered Nurse and Associate Lecturer – admits the team was stepping into unknown territory.
"Previously, anyone that wanted to become a registered nurse would have difficulty coming in. They'd have to wait until the following year," Brandon said.
"With a cohort age range between 17 to 53, nursing students come from all walks of life. For the mid-year cohort, some hadn't been in school for 20 years. They've had multiple jobs across diverse industries, transitioned from other degrees, and came through the Certificate IV Aging and Support pathway."
"For a lot of the mature-age students, it's their own life experiences that inspires them to make a difference through nursing. I don't think anyone had anticipated the depths of their personal experiences."
Among the 25 students in the inaugural intake was Ryan Green, a mature-aged student whose journey into nursing was shaped by his time in a psychiatric hospital. Medically discharged from the Royal Australian Navy after six years of service, Ryan had been struggling with his mental health.
"Most of the beds in my ward were reserved for Department of Veterans' Affairs patients," Ryan said. "Going in as a hypochondriac, the types of nurses I met helped shape my recovery. They were supportive, comforting and reassuring, but also firm when they needed to be. The different approaches were very beneficial."
After 18 months in and out of hospital, Ryan emerged with a new outlook and sense of purpose.
"At my lowest point, it wasn't words that helped me, it was someone sitting beside me putting their hand on my knee. I realised I wanted to become a nurse.
"I spent my life serving my country and wasn't sure what was next. I realised that I needed stimulation, needed distraction. I wanted to help people."
For fellow student Margaret Aumua, the timing of the mid-year intake was serendipitous. The idea of pursuing nursing hadn't crossed her mind until she became the key carer for her terminally ill mother.
"I stayed with mum for her last two months in palliative care, and watching all the nurses around me, and how they took such good care of her until her final days, was heartwarming," Margaret said.
When her mother passed away, it became the impetus for change. "My mum's wish was for me to follow my dream. To just go for it. She said she believed in me. I hope I can make her proud," she said.
A mother of five, Margaret said the flexibility and sense of community offered through the mid-year start made all the difference.
"The experience was great – it wasn't overwhelming. It was good having people my age doing it as well. I was so worried I was going to be the oldest there. It really helped having that small group starting in the middle of the year," Margaret said.
Both Ryan and Margaret credit the tight-knit cohort, flexible entry point, and support from teaching staff as central to their success.
"At UOW, learning from academics who also work in the clinical setting—working in hospitals when they are not teaching—is encouraging. They have been so supportive."
Brandon, who taught and coordinated two of their three subjects, said the students quickly found their footing and went from strength to strength.
"The results have been impressive. By the end of the first semester, 70 per cent were sitting on a Distinction average or more," Brandon said.
"Demystifying nursing is the goal. To anyone that thought higher education and nursing wasn't for them, entry is not a barrier anymore."
