Kicking Off in HLT 101

Dr Ros Prichard

Alright, welcome everyone to Weekly Happenings! I’m Ros, and I’m here with Neha and Ethan. We’re kicking off our first episode with a look back at Week 1 of HLT 101. And what a great start it was—those tutorials were buzzing! I don’t know about you two, but I was genuinely surprised by the sheer range of experience in the room. We had IT professionals—shout out to the student who saved us all when the sound wouldn’t work at Sippy Downs, thank you Ross!—plus epidemiologists, MBAs, accountants, you name it. All making the leap into nursing.

Neha Kapoor

I was so moved by the stories people shared about why they’re here. Some are coming from tech, some from finance, and some have already worked in health in other countries, or are already working here in Aged care or as Assistants in Nursing. It’s a great mix. When you have someone who’s managed a business or worked in data, they bring a whole new perspective to patient care and teamwork. And, you know, it’s not just about clinical skills—it’s about understanding systems, people, and sometimes, how to fix the projector!

Ethan Clarke

Yeah, I reckon it’s brilliant. But it makes sense, right? Nursing’s not just about bandages and blood pressure. It’s about problem-solving, adapting, and, honestly, a lot of creative thinking. Those career-changers, they bring skills we sometimes don’t even realise we need—like, who else is gonna troubleshoot the tech when it all goes sideways?

Dr Ros Prichard

Too true, Ethan. And I’ll admit, my own path into cardiac intensive care and research was a bit of a zigzag.

Dr Ros Prichard

To be frank my motives for getting into nursing were not so pure

Dr Ros Prichard

I went travelling in the 90s and badly mismanaged my brand new Credit Card.

Dr Ros Prichard

When I got back, frequent letters from my bank convinced me to take on the last opportunity to be paid to study nursing, at the Royal Melbourne.

Dr Ros Prichard

So not a great start— but I found my tribe, and nursing took me back travelling —and eventually into transplant medicine , research, and my job here at UniSC, — researching community care and getting to meet and help the next generation of nurses and midwives. I think some of those, those unexpected turns are what make nursing so rich — being willing to go through the doors— and maybe knock on a few!

Dr Ros Prichard

The more diverse our backgrounds, the more we can learn from each other.

Neha Kapoor

It's true—those varied life paths, they really do make the profession stronger. I always say, the best nurses are the ones who bring their whole selves to the job, not just their textbooks. Whether you’ve worked in IT, managed a family, or travelled the world, it all counts. It all shapes how you care.

Ethan Clarke

So, speaking of care, let’s talk about the different nursing roles we covered this week. I think a lot of students came in thinking nursing was just hospitals and wards, but there’s so much more out there. You’ve got clinical roles, sure, but also community health, policy, even tech and research. It’s a big landscape.

Neha Kapoor

Absolutely, Ethan. My own journey took me from family health in India to working with people experiencing homelessness here in Australia. There are so many pathways—school nursing, maternal and child health, outreach in remote communities. Some of the students were really surprised to learn you can specialise in things like infection control, or even work in tech companies designing health apps. It’s not just bedside care anymore.

Dr Ros Prichard

And that’s such an important point, Neha. I think sometimes we get stuck in this idea that nursing is one thing, but it’s really a whole ecosystem. I’ve worked in cardiac critical care, but I’ve also done project work, education, even a bit of policy. The sector needs all sorts—people who can lead, people who can innovate, and people who can connect with communities. It’s not a straight line, and that’s a good thing. Keeps it interesting, you know?

Neha Kapoor

And it means you can find your own fit. If you’re passionate about families, or policy, or even data, there’s a place for you. I always tell students, don’t box yourself in. Nursing is as broad as you want it to be.

Dr Ros Prichard

Alright, let’s get practical for a minute. One of the highlights for me this week was seeing students jump onto Seek and actually look at current nursing jobs and salaries. There was a real buzz—some surprise at the range of roles, and a few raised eyebrows at the pay scales.

Ethan Clarke

Yeah, and I think it’s important to be real about it. Out in the bush, you see just how versatile nursing can be. You might be running a clinic one day, doing telehealth the next, and then helping with community health projects in a local school. And, look, nursing’s one of those careers that’s pretty resistant to AI. You can’t automate empathy, or the way you read a room, or the hands-on stuff.

Neha Kapoor

And I think a lot of students valued that sense of security—knowing they’re entering a people-focused profession that’s not going away anytime soon. But it can be lot starting out, and feeling overwhelmed by new systems, and maybe a few students not feeling too confident about their academic writing and referencing skills

Dr Ros Prichard

Yep Neha , very true, a few in my class had a little bit of the "Rabbit in the headlights" going on.

Dr Ros Prichard

But guys, you’re not alone in this. We’ve got weekly drop-ins on Thursdays at 10am and 6pm, and the discussion board’s always open. If you’ve got questions, or you’re just feeling a bit lost, reach out. We’re here to help you find your way—wherever that path leads.

Ethan Clarke

Yeah, and honestly, it’s a great time to be starting out. The sector’s changing, but the need for good nurses isn’t going anywhere. So, keep your eyes open, ask questions, and back yourself. You’ve got this.

Dr Ros Prichard

Alright, that’s a wrap for our first episode. Thanks for tuning in, everyone. Neha, Ethan, always a pleasure. I know you guys have done a deeper dive into the week's materials that students can listen too as well - That links just below- and you could even subscribe to the weekly wrap - or Weekly Happenings on your own podcast app.

Dr Ros Prichard

We’ll be back next week with more stories and, hopefully, fewer tech hiccups. Take care, and see you in class—or online!

Dr Ros Prichard

Have a wonderful week, and don’t forget to breathe.

Ethan Clarke

Cheers, everyone. Catch you next time.