Building care close to home in the Torres Strait

Bianca Rickert, a Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) student with TAFE Queensland, is balancing her studies with hands-on work as a personal carer at the northernmost aged care service in Australia, supporting elders in a remote setting.

A proud Djangadi woman from Kempsey in New South Wales, who grew up on Gimuy (Cairns) country, Bianca has called Thursday Island home for the past five years.

For Bianca, nursing is driven by lived experience.

“That motivation really started with my grandparents,” she said. “Then through my dad’s cancer journey and working in aged care, I saw just how much of a difference good healthcare can make. That’s what pushed me to take this further.”

As she prepares to complete her Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), Bianca reflects on a study journey that has required resilience, planning and time away from home.

When she enrolled, studying from Thursday Island meant completing her qualification online and travelling to Cairns for residential blocks and placement.

“TAFE Queensland teaches you the basics to be safe,” Bianca said. “Placement is where you learn how to use the skills, ask questions and adapt.”

Her placements have taken her across the region, from Thursday Island to Bamaga, Babinda and Cairns Hospital, building her confidence in real clinical environments.

Getting there was not simple.

Travel involved multiple connections by ferry, bus and plane, along with extended time away from work, family and community.

Despite this, Bianca has remained committed – continuing to work, study and support her community while progressing through her qualification.

Her approach to learning has been consistent.

“I’ve never stopped studying since I graduated school,” she said.

Now, her focus is on building a career in healthcare that reflects the needs of her community.

Living and working on Thursday Island has strengthened her understanding of culturally safe care. She has taken the initiative to learn local language and protocols, helping her communicate more effectively with patients and build trust.

“It’s important to have someone who can understand them, speak the language and help break down the medical terminology,” she said.

She has seen how that connection can directly impact care.

“It can mean the difference between someone taking life-saving medication or not,” she said. “If they understand you better, you build trust and get better health outcomes.”

Bianca has also supported her peers throughout the course, creating a student group to help others stay connected, share information and navigate their studies together.

Looking ahead, she plans to continue her studies and become a registered nurse, with a clear focus on improving healthcare outcomes in remote communities.

“Now is not the end,” she said. “There are always learning opportunities to continue to grow.”

Her journey has required travel and sacrifice – but it has also helped pave the way for what comes next.

With the opening of the Thursday Island Health Hub, future students will now have greater access to nursing training closer to home, reducing the need to leave the Torres Strait for extended periods.

For communities across the region, it marks an important step forward – building a local healthcare workforce, shaped by people who understand the needs of the Torres Strait.