Mikayla Matthews has made the transition from flight attendant to nurse after choosing to stay grounded in a regional town. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Serving as a flight attendant for QANTAS, Mikayla Matthews saw people and places that would make many envious.
However, while seeing the tallest skyscrapers of the world’s biggest cities and the beauty of nature in the hidden parts of Asia was a fantasy come to life, there was something about regional Australia that attracted her more than any other corner of the planet.
After moving to Junee recently, Mikayla saw the opportunity to make a career change and focus on something she’d always held dear, becoming a nurse.
“I’ve always wanted to follow in my mum’s footsteps,” she said.
“She’s been a nurse for as long as I can remember and I’ve always wanted to pursue that, but after finishing high school, I was a bit young and a bit immature, so I decided to become an international flight attendant and see the world.
“Travelling the world was eye-opening and I loved every minute of it, but I grew up in Port Macquarie and that small country town lifestyle was always more comfortable.
“The city wasn’t for me. Once I met my partner, who grew up here, it was always on the cards to come back to a country town.
“During COVID, it taught me that nothing is safe. We definitely needed more nurses than we had. So that made me look, take a step back and go, OK, I need a backup plan. I can’t fly forever, and nursing was something that we’re in demand for, so it was a given.”
Upon arriving in Junee, Mikayla took the opportunity to take on a TAFE course and pursue a dream she had put on hold for a number of years, while also still working with QANTAS on a part-time basis.
Mikayla is one of many students who have decided on a nursing course at TAFE NSW after working in a different field. She is learning skills under the guidance of TAFE NSW educator and registered nurse Chrissy Hadral. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
“It’s been incredible,” she said.
“TAFE have been so supportive. I’ve actually been lucky enough to get a sponsorship with Wagga Base Hospital, so all of my work placements will be done there.
“It’s been perfect for me and for my learning style. TAFE have done everything to make it suit my style.
“We’ve got real-life simulations. It’s like being in an actual hospital. We get to use all the proper machines and equipment. So it has really set us up for practical placements.”
Mikayla said she had even been able to bring some of her skills over from her time as a flight attendant.
“Just the other day, we were doing our first aid, and normally you just use a standard first aid course, but being a flight attendant, we have to be fully trained on the defibrillators and CPR. So I found that was very similar for me. Even then, just the customer service side of it, being able to talk to people is very, very similar.”
TAFE NSW educator and registered nurse Chrissy Hadral said the institution had worked hard to deliver quality programs like the local nursing course, allowing people like Mikayla to pick up new skills and trades.
“The exciting thing with TAFE NSW is our students are from a variety of backgrounds, also a variety of ages,” she said.
“So we have students straight from school that have transitioned into a career path that they’ve chosen from school. And then we have people who have come from places such as Mikayla from the coast, and have a complete career change into something different.
“We also have students that are older, so they may be, you know, in their 40s and 50s, and they’ve decided that nursing is something they’ve always wanted to do. They’re going to do it now.”
Once Mikayla completes her 18-month course and 400 hours of practical placement, she would love to combine her two careers.
“My goal is to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” she said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to get the sponsorship through Wagga Base Hospital, so I hope to get a job out of there and hopefully become a registered nurse.”
To learn more about the different courses TAFE NSW is offering, be sure to visit its course guide on its website.
