Lucindah heals to help others

Before enrolling to study for the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), she began working with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) in Brisbane, first as a Family Support Practitioner and later as a Project Officer.

As a proud Aboriginal woman, Lucindah has always been passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

"I'm a Koori girl from Gundungurra Country, which spans the Southern Highlands, Mittagong, Goulburn, and the Blue Mountains,” she explained.

“I was born in Goulburn, at the southernmost part of the region, and growing up on country, I gradually made my way up to the top of the Blue Mountains."

 Lucindah’s connection to IUIH is deeply personal, having accessed their birthing program when she was pregnant, an experience that shaped her future aspirations.

“I had a traumatic pregnancy and birth, but my midwife was just so wonderful. The support I received made me realise that I want to help other women through their journeys,” she said.

“I suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe pregnancy condition which causes constant vomiting, and I lost 24 kilos during my pregnancy and spent so much time in hospital,” explained Lucindah.

Inspired by the midwives and nurses around her, Lucindah decided to take the next step towards becoming a midwife.

When a nurse practitioner at work mentioned studying with TAFE Queensland, she saw the perfect opportunity.

“All the midwives at work told me to go for it - they wished they had taken this pathway because you can work while you study,” she said.

Balancing work, study, and motherhood hasn’t been easy, but Lucindah has found unwavering support through TAFE Queensland.

“The way the course is delivered is perfect for me. I struggled with online study in the past, but face-to-face learning at the South Bank campus with supportive teachers has made all the difference.”

She also appreciates that many of her teachers still work in the industry, keeping their lessons relevant.

“Most of our teachers still work in the industry, so they bring up-to-date knowledge and real-life examples into the classroom. It’s exciting to hear what we’ll do in our future careers.”

The state-of-the-art facilities at TAFE Queensland have exceeded her expectations with the hands-on learning environment replicating real-world healthcare settings, giving her class a practical edge.

“I thought the labs would be great after hearing about them in orientation, but when I walked in, it was next level. It feels like a real hospital - except for the dummies in the beds.”

“The learning is so hands-on, resources are abundant, and it feels like I’m getting the best training possible.”

Lucindah is also grateful for TAFE Queensland’s Indigenous Student Support Services, citing Indigenous Outcomes Officer Morgan Cotter for her excellent guidance.

“The Indigenous Learning Centre has been a quiet space where I can focus, and Morgan has been amazing. She checks in on me, helps with study questions, and reassures me when things feel overwhelming,” explained Lucindah.

Her ultimate goal is to become a midwife and focus on providing Indigenous maternity care for expecting mums in remote parts of Australia.

“I’m passionate about raising awareness and providing support for women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe pregnancy condition that I suffered, which causes constant vomiting and weight loss,” explained Lucindah.

“Fortunately, I was in an urban area, so I had access to a hospital, but women in remote parts of the country don’t always get the required level of care.”

Through her TAFE Queensland studies, her work experience with Urban Indigenous Health and her personal experience, Lucindah is building the skills and knowledge she needs to make an impact.

“My dream is to one day create an organisation that specialises in supporting women with HG, particularly in Aboriginal communities.”

“HG affects 1% of pregnant women, and then 20% of them will have it for their entire pregnancy - which is what I had.”

“It is a rare condition, but it still affects hundreds of thousands of pregnancies every year, and there’s a high suicide rate associated with it.”

With a passion for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, Lucindah is learning the skills she needs to become a midwife to help expecting Indigenous mothers.

"Because of HG, my baby stopped growing at 27 weeks, so I was induced early and had an emergency C-section under general anaesthetic. Waking up and having to wait an hour to see her was extremely traumatic,” she continued.

“The whole journey - from conception to birth and beyond - was an ordeal. Having been through it myself, I want to support pregnant women in Indigenous communities to have healthy pregnancies while raising awareness about the physical and mental health risks of HG."

"Thanks to my training and support, I'm getting closer to my dream every day, and I'm excited for what’s ahead," concluded Lucindah.