Eleven proud students of TAFE NSW’s Diploma of Nursing program officially graduated at our Learning, Development and Research Centre at the Tweed Valley Hospital campus in September.
Each student completed at least 400 hours of clinical placement at various sites including our Tweed Valley and Byron Central hospitals, gaining real-world experience and building skills they’ll carry into their nursing careers.
For many, the transition into the workforce has already begun.
Hannah Dudgeon has landed an enrolled nurse (EN) position with Tweed Valley Hospital while her fellow student Bridgette Mariconte has accepted a job as an EN with a home-care provider.
“It was an easy transition to a stable job,” Bridgette said.
“I started working with them a year ago and then I had a meeting leading up to graduating. They took me on.”
Others, like Carter Smith will spend time travelling for a while first.
“When I get back, I'll hopefully start in a post grad role at Tweed Valley Hospital,” Carter said.
The student placements with our hospitals are a direct outcome of the Northern NSW Academic Health Alliance – a partnership between our LHD, Bond University, Griffith University, Southern Cross University and TAFE NSW.
Through the Alliance, students in medicine, nursing, dentistry and oral health, and allied health gain clinical experience across our Tweed Valley, Byron and Murwillumbah hospitals.
NNSWLHD Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said the District is proud to host students and support their journeys into healthcare careers.
“Their success reflects the strength of our partnerships and the value of real-world clinical experience,” Tracey said.
“Through the Alliance, we’re helping build a sustainable pipeline of skilled health professionals for the region.
“We’re also driving research that’s advancing healthcare knowledge and addressing our regional health challenges.”
“There’s little wonder the Alliance earned a place in the finals of the 2025 NSW Premier’s Awards, for delivering world-class education and training,” Tracey added.
While the journey to graduating wasn’t without its challenges for the graduates, they found their studies and placements rewarding and fun.
“Some of the bigger assessments were challenging, but we did have a lot of support,” Carter said.
“Also, the class support was great – we could always bounce off each other.”
For Bridgette, the one skill she’s most proud to have mastered while on placement is communication.
“Being able to meet strangers and know how to communicate to them, looking out for non-verbal cues and understanding them, is important,” she said.
Looking ahead, both Bridgette and Carter plan to study more.
“I'm going to continue my studies on to do my RNs next year,” Bridgette said. “I might just continue into a Master’s degree.
“I feel like nursing is one of those professions where you can continually grow. There’s no stopping point.”
18-month Alliance achievements (to 30 June):
- 590,911 student placement hours
- 68 research projects sparked
- 20+ higher degree research students supported who are researching delirium prevention, dementia care, ED protocols, rural paediatrics and maternal health.
Pictured
Top: The future is bright for new Enrolled Nurses Carter Smith and Bridgette Mariconte.
Below: EN graduates celebrated completing their studies at Tweed Valley Hospital.