Jena Selby always longed to be a Nurse.
The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and a yearning since finishing high school, finally drove the 31 year old from Bass Coast to pursue a new Nursing career.
The lure of a Free TAFE course and TAFE Gippsland’s Nursing course offering in South Gippsland at Leongatha campus has helped Jena transform her career in just a few short years.
An Advance Diploma in Beauty Therapy dominated her early career, but as time went on, a move to Gippsland’s beautiful Bass Coast and the arrival of twins had Jena considering her original passion for a nursing career.
“I decided it was time to focus on myself and my career, and finally take the plunge into what I had always dreamt of doing and this is where my incredible nursing career journey began,” Jena recalled.
In 2019, Jena enrolled in Diploma of Nursing with TAFE Gippsland, taking advantage of the Free TAFE opportunity provided by the Victorian Government’s priority course initiative.
“TAFE Gippsland has assisted me in gaining the basic knowledge of Nursing and shown how much passion and love I really have for the industry,” Jena said.
“It has taught myself how to effectively utilise my time, creating better time management skills, deal and cope with constructive criticism, and, most importantly, that no matter what age you are you never stop learning.”
Jena’s teachers at TAFE Gippsland were always available to lend her full support.
“I cannot thank my teachers enough for the amount of support they provided, the incredible length of knowledge that each individual teacher bought to us,” Jena said.
“And if there was an area I did not quite understand, it was never an inconvenience to any of them to explain in more depth to further my understanding”.
Jena says her career aspirations now go well beyond her current Diploma qualifications.
“I know my learning within the nursing industry is not over, and I am planning on continuing my studies to become an RN (Registered Nurse) and midwife in the coming years,” she said.
Jena’s message to prospective students or school leavers in the South Gippsland community is upbeat and encouraging.
“Grab this incredible and very exciting opportunity with two hands and give it everything you have got,” she said
“Nursing will never be a disappointment. It is an area of expertise where every single day is different, giving you further knowledge, personal; growth and learning opportunities on a daily basis.
“I really love and enjoy how much versatility nursing provides, the different areas it can lead you to and how much it can fit into my family lifestyle here in South Gippsland.”
Jena is currently working at Bass Coast Skin Doctors and at Bass Coast Health (Kirrak House).
If following in the footsteps of Jena Selby into your new Nursing career is attractive, you can attend TAFE Gippsland’s virtual Information Night at 6pm Thursday 2 September. To register and reserve a place for this event please visit tafegippsland.edu.au/nursing
TAFE Gippsland teachers will be on hand to explain your career options and the pathways available to pursue higher nursing education qualifications through Federation University via an initial TAFE pathway.
For more information on a Nursing career, call 1300 133 717 or visit tafegippsland.edu.au Diploma of Nursing
For all media-related enquiries, call;
Neil Lawson - Communications Coordinator, TAFE Gippsland
Phone - 0419 425 804
Email - nlawson@tafegippsland.edu.au or news@tafegippsland.edu.au