A dream realised

Otago Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Nursing is key to Clare Robertson’s dream of studying, working and ultimately living in New Zealand.

Having first come here on a family holiday at just 10-years-of-age Clare promised herself that one day she would return.

“New Zealand has always had that magical quality of a far off place.  But at the same time it’s not that different from home.” She laughs, “And people still speak English!”

In considering her overseas study options, Clare from St. Andrews in Scotland, placed as much importance on the place of study as she did on the educational programmes on offer.

“I really liked the sound of Dunedin, especially the Scottish heritage! I’ve really settled in and in all honesty I don’t want to leave. I consider Dunedin to be my home.”

Clare got in touch with Otago Polytechnic’s International Centre and the rest is history. “That was it really. They were really supportive and took it from there.

“Since I’m an International student they did an orientation at the beginning of the year.  There was a group of us nursing students and we all got on really well, hung out and did things together. It was really nice easing into it."

The Bachelor of Nursing degree offered at Otago Polytechnic appealed to Clare just as much as living in Dunedin did. “I saw the programmes and thought that it looked interesting and what I wanted to do.

“In New Zealand you’re trained as a Comprehensive Nurse, which means you can work in whatever nursing discipline interests you – in anything from mental health to working with children or in the intensive care unit.

“If I’d finished my qualification in the UK and then came here, I could only ever work in one discipline and that would have been too limiting for me. Here, at Otago Polytechnic I feel like I’m receiving a more well-rounded nursing education.”

Clare believes New Zealand’s lifestyle and slower pace of life will always attract people from the UK.

“New Zealand offers a real ‘outdoorsy’ lifestyle that appeals to a lot of people that have lived in cities in the UK and don’t get to go outdoors much.  Here you can go to the beach, skiing, tramping and it’s all just a few hours away.”

Nearing the end of her Nursing degree, Clare’s future seems limitless.“In Nursing you can do so many different things and I like so many of the areas; I just can’t decide what to do!”

Clare is hoping to get a place in Dunedin hospital’s ‘Nursing Entry to Practice’ programme.  “It’s a year where you’re working, but you get extra support because you’re a new graduate. It eases you into the Nursing profession.”

And Clare’s recently gained permanent residency, which means she can finally call Dunedin home.