Media releases

The hard work of Federation University Australian Diploma of Nursing student Tegan Burns has been acknowledged with a Horsham City Council achievement award.

The Wimmera Campus student won the annual award for her application to her studies and performance.

Tegan entered her Nursing studies while working in aged care, deciding that she wanted to build on her knowledge and insight into the health and care of residents and patients.

While she enjoyed working in aged care, she saw her future career as a nurse, as helping and caring for patients recovering from illness.

Tegan combined her studies with the home schooling of her two children due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included adjustments to online studies and interruptions to her placements. However, she now believes the new challenges were a time of personal growth as she adapted to the juggle.

The Diploma followed Tegan’s achievement of the Certificate III in Individual Support in 2016.

She attributes her success to the support of her educators and mentors, and to an intuitive desire to help others, and Tegan is looking forward to the life-long learning involved with nursing.

Quote attributable to Federation University Senior Nursing Teacher Gabrielle McCulloch

“Tegan works very hard to juggle her private life, work commitments and university. This year she has shown great growth in both her academic achievements as well as her achievements in the simulation lab.”

Quotes attributable to Federation University Diploma of Nursing Graduate Tegan Burns

“I’ve had the privilege of caring for people towards the end of their lives, but now I would like to help people get better and send them home with a smile on their faces.”

“This award is a real surprise, and it’s given me a lot of confidence. I’m really keen to apply my skills and knowledge and building on those skills – you never stop learning in nursing, and that’s something I love about it.”   

Quotes attributable to Federation University Head of Wimmera Campus Geoffrey Lord

“Tegan is one more example of the way students have shown their resilience during a particularly difficult year. She has taken the challenges of home schooling and pursuing further education in her stride, and has achieved impressive results.”