Sally, 67, is Mater’s oldest ever nursing graduate
A 67-year-old Townsville grandmother who had not opened a textbook in 50 years has become Mater Education’s oldest nursing graduate.
Sullian (Sally) Burnham graduated at a ceremony held on Thursday at the Mater Private Hospital Townsville Conference Centre and said it was “never too late to study”.
Ms Burnham graduated from the Diploma of Nursing program and has now secured a position in the highly-competitive Mater Enrolled Nurse Graduate Program at Mater Private Hospital Townsville.
In January last year, the Railway Estate local decided to study again after 50 years, with her sights set on making a difference in the lives of her patients.
“I was looking for something physically and mentally active, and I wanted shift work,” Ms Burnham said.
“I wanted something where age wasn’t a judgement of capability.”
It took just 18 months for Ms Burnham, who never gave up hope on achieving her dream, to graduate from the program.
“I was surprised and excited when I found out I received an offer,” Ms Burnham said.
“I thought they’d want people who had 30 or 40 years of nursing ahead of them.
“Never think you can’t do it – you’re never too old!
"My family were very proud that I was willing to take on something new and challenging and have been very supportive.”
Ms Burnham, who previously worked as a first-aid responder on Townsville’s nightclub strip, said she was “ready for a career change”.
“I am looking forward to being an enrolled nurse and using the experience I have to help our local community,” Ms Burnham said.
“My previous experience has given me the ability to work with diverse groups of people and handle challenging situations quite well.
“I’m able to look at the whole picture and find a reason ‘why’.”
Ms Burnham, who has five grandchildren, encouraged others contemplating a career change to consider nursing – with enrolments in Mater’s next Diploma of Nursing completely free thanks to the State Government’s Fee-Free TAFE initiative.
“The course was manageable, very manageable. I hadn’t studied in 50 years,” she said.
“My educators and fellow students contributed to a really fabulous journey.”
According to Ms Burnham, studying alongside teenagers and other mature aged students made the experience “brilliant”.
“There was a vast difference in ages, and we all worked together really well,” Ms Burnham said.
Whilst she initially planned on working in regional or remote Aboriginal communities, Ms Burnham said she was eager to experience the different specialties and pathways available to her as nurse.
“My original plan was to work in remote communities, but I might need to be a registered nurse for that,” she said.
“I haven’t quite decided if I want to go on and do further studies.”
Applicants for the Fee-Free TAFE initiative must live in Queensland and be Australian citizens or permanent residents to be eligible for a fee-free Diploma of Nursing.
