A proud Dunghutti mother-of-five is helping other Aboriginal women adjust to motherhood after securing a job in the antenatal and postnatal wards at Nepean Hospital as an assistant nurse.  

Corina Button, 28, is currently completing her Diploma of Nursing at TAFE NSW Kingswood  and is advising local Aboriginal mothers on pre-natal care, breastfeeding and education on diet and nutrition.

Corina (pictured right with her newborn) said the TAFE NSW course has equipped her the practical skills and experience to not only help other mothers with their baby’s health needs but has also allowed her to apply it to her own life when raising her children.  

“My teachers have equipped me with practical, transferable skills that I can also apply to my personal life; I’ve always loved working with babies and remember how nervous I was to become a mother,” Corina said. 

“It’s very rewarding to be able to help my mob in this way and more importantly, provide support for mothers who are going through pregnancy for the first time.” 

Corina gave birth to her fifth child last month and is using the Diploma as a pathway to study a Bachelor of Midwifery . 

With Penrith set to gain an additional 136,000 residents by 2036, jobs like Corina's are important in improving the health of Penrith's growing communities. Nepean Hospital is also undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade to cater for this growth. 

TAFE NSW Head Teacher of Nursing, Jennifer Norton, said Corina was making a big difference as an enrolled nurse, an area which is facing a current skills shortage.  

“The nationally accredited Diploma of Nursing equips students with skills in anatomy and physiology, infection control and medication administration and allows students to work in a range of health care settings including acute, aged care, rehabilitation and mental health,” Ms Norton said. 

“TAFE NSW students, like Corina, are able to combine personal experience, culture, and practical skills to their role which is crucial in an industry that requires these soft skills.” 

Corina received a scholarship to study the TAFE NSW Diploma of Nursing through the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, which is helping build and support education and career pathways for Aboriginal students like Corina. 

The Poche scholarship program has assisted 500 Aboriginal scholars from Skill Set to PhD level since 2014.  Over the past five years 96.1 per cent of participants have completed their studies and more than 80 per cent have gone on to further education or employment. 

TAFE NSW combines on-the-job training with formal study to give students the skills and experience employers are looking for and is encouraging industry to take on TAFE NSW student placements to further hone their skills.

To find out more about studying Nursing at TAFE NSW, visit  www.tafensw.edu.au/courses/nursing, or call 131 601.   

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner, 0456 170 211.