There's more than one pathway to achieving your dreams, as Charles Sturt University (CSU) Bachelor of Nursing graduand Ms Nomagugu Nonsikelelo Ndlovu knows well.

 

After finishing high school in 2009 Ms Ndlovu, from Finley in southern NSW, was disappointed to find she had missed out on a place in her preferred course of study.

 

But a CSU pathway program, the University Certificate in General Studies, provided another option. 

 

"The program gave me more confidence, important skills, and allowed me to gain entry to my preferred course," said Ms Ndlovu. "It taught me how to write an essay, and how to reference properly, and I was better prepared for the challenges of university."

 

The University Certificate in General Studies, now called Diploma of General Studies, was conceived in 2009 in partnership with Wodonga Institute of TAFE.

 

Ms Ms Ndlovu was one of the first group of students to complete the program in 2010 and then went on to full-time study through theSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

 

"My mum has been a nurse for more than 20 years and I'm excited to be following her lead," she said. "I hope to specialise in oncology or paediatrics and would like to work in a rural city."

 

Ms Ndlovu will be awarded a Bachelor of Nursing in a formal ceremony at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Monday 16 December and is the first CSU student to follow this pathway to a Bachelor degree.

 

Coordinator of the Diploma of General Studies Pathway Program, Ms Sandra Fisher said students don't receive offers to study at university for all sorts of reasons that rarely reflect whether or not they have the capacity to study successfully.

 

"We know that ATAR scores are much more a sign of preparation than ability so for students coming from Year 12 without the required ATAR for university entrance, it's important that alternative pathways exist to support their transition to university.

 

"Seeing the first cohort graduate from their degrees is the realisation of a long term goal to widen student participation, particularly from diverse students cohorts who may not otherwise had the opportunity to study at university," said Ms Fisher.

 

Ms Ndlovu has been accepted into a nursing graduate program at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and she has a clear message for those who miss out on a university offer.

 

"Don't give up. There are many options for people who are prepared to work hard to achieve their dreams," she said. "The journey has made this graduation celebration even sweeter."