Top vocational student heads to uni

Multi award-winning vocational student Bernard Pope has decided to take the next step in his nursing career by enrolling at university.

The 2008 winner of the North Queensland Training Award Vocational Student of the Year and Indigenous Student of the Year will begin a Bachelor of Nursing (registered nurse) degree at the University of Southern Queensland Fraser Coast later this month.

He will join other first year university students at the campus in Hervey Bay for orientation week from February 23.

The 43-year-old Wakka Wakka man is renowned for going from fruit picker to award-winning TAFE student in just four years.

'I finished year 10 at Mundubbera State High and went off fruit picking,' Mr Pope said.
'And that's what I did until 2004 when I left Mundubbera and moved to Maryborough to look for other work.

'There was not much work there like fruit picking but I came across a notice about an aged care course and thought I'd try it.'

He was offered a job at the Chelsea Retirement Village in Maryborough during his first practical placement and went on to gain a Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled).

At the time it had been 20-odd years since he'd done any study. He said it was mentally-challenging, but easier than picking fruit.
He found he excelled at studying and went on to win numerous Queensland Training Awards and ended up as a finalist at the National Training Awards last year, where he received special commendation.

Mr Pope said he wanted to show children that they should take all opportunities and grab them. 'Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes," he said. 'You think you know everything when you leave school but it took moving from my hometown and out of my comfort zone to realise my true potential.

'I'm not ashamed to say that I've made some poor choices in the past, but now I'm a bit of a celebrity in my home town and it's something I'm very proud of.'

He would like to be seen as a role model for younger generations of Indigenous people. 'I hope it will help our young ones to see what you can do with your life if you give it a go.'

Media Contact:  Katrina Corcoran, USQ Media, +61 7 4194 3167