Overcoming adversity to nurse the community to health
In 2021, against all odds, Bachelor of Nursing student Georgia celebrated with her peers聽as they finished the final class of their degree. Only months earlier, Georgia was experiencing extreme financial hardship, questioning how she could keep her finances afloat while studying.聽Having relocated from Port Victoria to attend University, Georgia鈥檚 support network in Adelaide was limited. The combined toll of the pandemic, poor health and a demanding聽work schedule was overwhelming for Georgia, who is a type 1 diabetic.
鈥淏efore I could finish my聽degree, I needed to complete聽a six-week clinical placement.聽Because of the pandemic, the聽placement was delayed, and聽I was faced with a situation聽where I needed to take time聽off work to undertake it.聽Without regular income from聽my part-time job as a nursing聽assistant, I couldn鈥檛 meet my聽basic needs such as food,聽rent and medicine. At $200 a month for insulin and medical聽supplies, normally I would聽work as much as possible to聽pay for these necessities,鈥澛燝eorgia said.
When Georgia received a Student Emergency Fund grant in March 2021, it was a lifeline during an extremely challenging time.
鈥淏efore the emergency grant, there were times where I had to ration insulin doses just to聽be able to afford transport. Because of the grant, I could pay for life-sustaining medicine聽and undertake a placement where I learnt clinical skills, which are essential to be an聽effective Registered Nurse. These skills have been instrumental as I navigate working in聽a hospital during a global pandemic. Stress, overcrowding and understaffing within our聽healthcare system is at an all-time high, but the hands-on experience I鈥檝e gained through聽clinical placements and my job has prepared me for challenging times to come,鈥 she said.
鈥淭he Student Emergency Fund helps students who are trying to better themselves through聽education, despite financial challenges. We find ourselves torn, knowing that education is聽our best chance to improve our financial circumstance, but needing to prioritise paid work聽to meet our immediate needs. I am so thankful to everyone who contributed to the Student聽Emergency Fund, empowering me to prioritise my education.
鈥淚f you can contribute to the Student Emergency Fund, please do. Every donation makes聽a difference to students in crisis,鈥 Georgia said.
Student Emergency Fund donor, Elaine, with Georgia.
You never know what life will bring, including unexpected challenges that can weigh heavily on young people as they start out at university. Donations, big and small, help somebody when they need it most.Elaine, Student Emergency Fund donor
Support students in crisis
With so many students experiencing financial stress each year, we need the help of our community today.