Emily loves the opportunity to help people in need
Emily didn’t plan on becoming a nurse – she set out to be a General Service Officer
in the Army. However, halfway through her training, she became sick with meningococcal. A short stay in hospital helped her realise she wanted to give back to others. This set her on the path to becoming a Registered Nurse in the Australian Army.
“I chose to work in Defence as I believed the lifestyle, opportunities, fitness, community engagement and friendships that I would make through the Army would not compare to those I would experience going to a regular university,” she says.
“Being sponsored to complete a degree was also a big motivator.”
After completing the first two years of a Bachelor of Nursing, ADF sponsored the final year of Emily’s degree and two years of training in a civilian hospital.
Combating COVID-19
In emergencies, nursing officers can be deployed to support the community.
“I was given 24 hours’ notice to pack my belongings before I was flown from Brisbane to Melbourne. Upon arrival, I was tasked to support a COVID-19 swabbing site.”
“Nursing opened my eyes to a range of opportunities to help and care for people in my
local community. Joining Defence as a nursing officer allowed me to expand that care to
our nation.” – Kim Thomson
Emily’s pathway
- Bachelor of nursing
- Military recruitment
- Civilian hospital experience
- Lieutenant nursing officer
- Employment training
- Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Nursing (perioperative)
- Captain/nursing officer, Australian Army
This article was originally published in the special edition of Careers with STEM: Defence.
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