Catherine's path to Pacific nursing practitioner

As a busy, full-time working mum, Catherine was looking for a way to upskill that fitted in with her regular life.

With a young daughter, she had a lot to balance in life. Thankfully, Massey's flexible and distance study options made it possible to do it all.

Massey has been a leader in distance learning for decades, which meant that Catherine could up skill on her terms. “Massey’s flexible nature was attractive… being able to study by distance was a huge motivating factor.”

That flexibility has allowed her to complete a postgraduate Diploma in nursing, and become Wellington’s first Pacific nurse practitioner.

Catherine studied by distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, a difficult time for the health system and the country. The support from staff kept her going. “They’ve always taken the time to check in and encourage me from afar, especially through the lockdown periods. I’ve always felt cared for and nurtured.”

Massey’s nursing qualifications are led by teachers who have been nurses. They understand the rewarding and challenging nature of the work. Like any study at Massey, they want to help all students succeed.

Catherine’s experience with Massey was so good, she decided to pursue a Master of Nursing. “That’s what I love about Massey – it’s like a building block!”

With extra skills under her belt, she’s also got the confidence to bring her skills back to serve her community. Alongside her work to improve the wellbeing of our communities, Catherine has global ambitions.

“My dream is to work at the World Health Organisation (WHO).” To get there, she’s working on a PhD – a qualification that she hopes will get her in the door so she can inform improvements to the world’s health and wellbeing.

Flexible learning was crucial for Catherine and she believes that it is crucial for others. “Studying should be an option, not a barrier. Massey fits into your life,” not the other way around.