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This week marks 20 years of graduates from Charles Sturt University’s Bachelor of Nursing program at the Albury-Wodonga campus – two decades of shaping future nurses and strengthening healthcare in our region.

To celebrate the milestone, Albury Wodonga Health’s Executive Director of Quality, Governance and Patient Experience and Chief of Nursing and Midwifery, Kim White, joined a panel to reflect on her career and share her vision for the future of nursing.

What was your experience as a student nurse?

“I studied at the Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Nursing (later Deakin University) as part of their fourth intake of undergraduate nurses. At the time, nursing had only recently moved into the university setting, with hospital trained nurses also working in hospitals, and there was a divide between those who were ‘trained’ in hospitals and those ‘educated’ at university. It was very much an ‘us and them’ environment – which, thankfully, is no longer the case.

“Being an undergraduate nurse in regional Victoria meant I undertook student placements across rural and regional health services. Those experiences shaped my nursing knowledge, skills and, ultimately, my passion for the profession.” 

What inspired your career path?

“A secondary school work experience placement first inspired me to become a Registered Nurse. I started my studies in my first year after finishing school, loved it immediately, and knew early on that this was the career for me.

“If you’d told me back then that one day I’d be Chief Nurse and an executive leader, I wouldn’t have believed you. The inspiration came from the leaders and mentors I met along the way – people who saw something in me and helped bring it out. That’s the kind of leader I want to be for the next generation.”

What has been a highlight of your career?

“Training in regional health services was a highlight for me. I gained experience across tiny, rural, and regional communities, and that broader exposure shaped both my career and who I am as a nurse and leader.

“Nursing allows you to be with patients and their loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable. They trust you with information they may not share with anyone else – it’s a privilege to be in that position.

“I remind graduate nurses starting at Albury Wodonga Health that patients will remember your empathy, your engagement, your listening, and how you included them in their care.” 

What excites you about nursing and your vision for the future?

“For me, it’s the opportunities available for nurses and midwives. My vision for the future of nursing is about ensuring every nurse works at the top of their scope; that is, have the models of care in situ to ensure every nurse is performing their full range of skills and responsibility as defined by their education and professional standards. That also means fostering an environment that supports lifelong learning, through pathways such as Nurse Practitioner roles, endorsed midwives, and postgraduate qualifications.

“At Albury Wodonga Health we are fully embracing new models of care, including the introduction of Registered Nurse prescribing from September 2026.

“When I was a student, I worked at Kmart on the checkouts to make ends meet. Today, we have undergraduate student employment opportunities across AWH, such as RUSON, RUSOM and Assistant in Nursing roles. These ensure our future nursing workforce is job-ready by the time they graduate.”

As Charles Sturt University marks this milestone, voices like Kim’s remind us how far nursing has come and the opportunities ahead for the next generation.

Looking for your next career move? Explore our Graduate Nurse Programs.