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Ram had always wanted a career focused on helping others. At ACU Canberra, he took his first steps towards achieving his dream.
You're studying the Bachelor of Nursing at ACU Canberra. Tell us about yourself and why you chose a nursing degree.
Since I was a teenager, I always knew I wanted to work in the medical profession. Nursing is about the way we can help other people and provide support to people in need. I became passionate about nursing after a family member got sick. We went to the hospital and the dedication and compassion of the nurses who were looking after my family member was so impressive. That's one of the reasons I chose nursing for my career.
You can study nursing in many places in the world. Why Australia, and why ACU?
Before I came here, I did some research about which country I should study in, or whether I should do my degree in Nepal itself. But in Nepal, no men are doing nursing, so I started looking abroad. I looked at the US and Canada but decided that Australia is a better option. It has excellent medical education and an excellent healthcare system, and it provides more practical experiences for students. At ACU, nursing students do approximately 800 hours of clinical placement, which is beneficial for international students like me to gain those practical skills and start my career as a nurse.
You've also found a part-time job, which means you're juggling work and study. What are you doing, and how does it relate to your nursing studies?
I'm a part-time carer in an aged care facility. This job is a career pathway because in my work I get to see a lot of nursing approaches. This practical experience really helps me because I can relate those theoretical parts that I learned at university and apply them in my workplace.
The Bachelor of Nursing is offered at many of ACU's seven Australian campuses. What made you choose Canberra, and what do you like about living there?
In Nepal, I was living in the countryside, not in a city. Canberra is a small city and quite quiet - I find it very peaceful. Also, some of my relatives are here so I don't get homesick. But it's a friendly place - on the weekends, normally, in the evening I go for dinner with friends or family. There are very beautiful restaurants in Canberra, so we go there and enjoy a good meal. There are also lots of places to hang out and fun things to do like going bowling. I hang out a lot with friends.
One of the great things about living in a small city is that everyone knows one another and it can be a very supportive environment. Have you found that to be true at ACU?
Yes, ACU has provided a lot of support. The teachers are very friendly, and they don't hesitate to answer questions when students reach out. They explain as many times as we need them to. Before I started at ACU, I studied at a vocational education provider, and I didn't learn much about things like how to write an essay or reflect on my practice. ACU provided lots of support services to help me build those skills. That helped me a lot with my studies.
ACU Canberra is in Australia's capital city, just a few hours from the coast, the snowfields and Sydney. Canberra is a safe and friendly city with beautiful natural landscapes and lots of opportunities to get out and about in the great outdoors.
Talk to our international student support team to find out more about the courses on offer at ACU Canberra or to learn which of our campuses is right for you.
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