Being able to study online has helped local resident Cheryl Lewington to change direction in her career and follow a path into nursing.
Cheryl has worked in an Administration role for most of her career including the past 12 years at the CSA Mine.
She is now studying to be an enrolled nurse via correspondence through Queensland TAFE.
“I was always interested in nursing but never thought I would be able to study, living in Cobar,” Cheryl told The Cobar Weekly.
“Studying with TAFE NSW meant that I would have to travel to Dubbo but I found out that you could study through Queensland TAFE by correspondence, so that made it much easier.”
Cheryl has just six months left to complete of her two year course and is currently on a four week placement at the Cobar Health Service (where she ultimately hopes to work).
She is well known to the staff, as her mum, the late ‘Skeet’ Lewington, was an endorsed enrolled nurse who worked for the majority of her 42 year career at Cobar Hospital.
When Cheryl was asked if she was following in her mum’s footsteps, she replied, “Why not, she’s a good role model to have.”
“I actually have read some of her text books.”
Cheryl is also a trained gym instructor and said she’s acquired a number of transferable skills she can take into her new role in nursing.
“Working with the gym, that’s been good with anatomy, and you also need computer skills and time management skills.”
Cheryl said she’s very much enjoying her training placement at the Cobar Health Service.
“There is always something different, there’s always something to learn and I enjoy helping people.”
