Uni celebrates NAIDOC
Theme is ‘because of her, we can’
FOR Toowoomba academic Raelene Ward the journey to NAIDOC 2018 from her hometown of Cunnamulla has been filled with hard work and sisterhood.
As a student Mrs Ward dreamt of becoming a nurse.
“I found healthcare to be a place where I could excel and also give back to the Aboriginal community in some way,” she said.
“That was my passion. “Since then I’ve brought my gained knowledge into university life to pass on to our future generations of nurses.
“Among my greatest achievements is being able to mentor Aboriginal health workers who then became registered nurses themselves, and also helping to embed indigenous perspectives in curriculum as we teach up-and-coming health professionals.”
Mrs Ward has spent her time at USQ imparting expertise honed by her work as a registered nurse and practice manager in Aboriginal Health.
Her contributions to textbook Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Care helped attract accolades from the prestigious educational publishing awards.
“We’ve recently produced a second edition – an extended version – which is used within our current nursing program at USQ as well other nursing programs throughout Australia,” she said.
The USQ nursing lecturer joined a panel of women at USQ this week as part of the university’s celebration of NAIDOC week, which has the theme ‘‘because of her, we can’’.
“There are goose bumps on my arms as I think about the company of women who will feature at these events. I’m honoured to be part of that tradition,” Mrs Ward said.