Everything You Need To Know | The Experience Of Studying Nursing In Australia.

This blog contains excerpts from an interview with Joshua Kang, A Nursing student at the University Of Swinburne

Covid-19 exposed the unfortunate inadequacy of healthcare systems all over the world. In Australia, it was no different.

Although a highly developed country with one of the best healthcare systems in the world, during the initial stages of Covid-19, the Australian healthcare system like many others took a beating. So much so, that 20,000 international nursing students were given special permission to work up to 40 hours a week.

With the demand for well-trained nursing students being at an all-time high in the country, the Australian Department Of Health projected that 85,000 new nurses would be needed by 2023. And that number is only expected to increase to more than 1,23,000 by 2030.

Yes, Australia has a huge demand for nurses, and the job prospects are indeed bright.Thus, if you are interested in studying nursing in Australia, there is no time better than now.

But what about the other aspects of studying in Australia? After all, studying and attending university is a once in a lifetime experience for many of us, and such decisions cannot be purely made based on future job prospects alone. So, we sat down with Joshua Kang (Jun Han) from Malaysia, who is currently studying for a Bachelor in Nursing student at the University Of Swinburne, to hear all about his experience.

Read on to know more about his experience.

Interviewer - Hi Jun, could you introduce yourself to our audience? 

Joshua Kang - Hello, I am Jun from Malaysia, currently doing my first year of Bachelors of Nursing at Swinburne University, Melbourne.

Interviewer - Tell us why you choose to study abroad! What was your idea of it?

Joshua Kang - The idea of studying abroad popped up in my head as I wanted to explore new opportunities, experience different cultures and lifestyle, while learning to become self dependent. 

Interviewer - Why Swinburne University in particular?

Joshua Kang - I had chosen Swinburne as it is a technology-based university and it is excellent in terms of using advanced technologies, and has some of the best lecturers in Australia. Our lecturers are highly dedicated and motivated to teach and make us better nursing students from day one

Interviewer - What about Nursing is so special to you? And who would you recommend it for?

Joshua Kang - Nursing is all about helping people, I would suggest nursing for anyone who finds it truly rewarding to know that they are making a difference in the lives of people.

Interviewer - So, what's the life in Swinburne like?

Joshua Kang - I have been here for one whole semester so far. Swinburne has a good campus and is pretty centrally located amidst cafes, restaurants and grocery stores, etc. It is only a 10 minute train ride from the city. And as a place to hang out with friends after attending a full day of classes and to socialize, Swinburne is great!

Interviewer - So, you've been living in Melbourne. How has that experience been?

 Joshua Kang - I love Melbourne because it is a safe and friendly environment to live in. People here are always cheerful and happy. It has a lot of interesting cafes, parks, museums, etc. to visit. It is the perfect place to take a walk with your dog and forget about everything else for a while.

Interviewer - What is different about life here in Australia compared to the one back home in Malaysia? 

Joshua Kang - One thing that sets apart the two is that people here in Melbourne are genuine and friendly. People love their sports here. Going to the Footy (Australian Rules Football) games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the weekends, with 20,000 other fans cheering for their favourite team is an experience in itself.

Interviewer - What do you do when you have some free time?

Joshua Kang - During my free time, I do a lot of stuff like traveling and exploring the countryside and playing basketball, which is my favorite sport. Also, I am a foodie, so I always try out new cafes and restaurants. Melbourne has a lot to offer to those who want to have a good work-life balance. 

Interviewer - Have you travelled to other places within Australia yet?

Joshua Kang - I did get a chance to visit Sydney last year. I visited parks, beaches, and museums. It's a friendly place filled with lots of cafes and shopping centers. In short, it was a great experience.

Interviewer - Being an international student in Australia, have you faced any difficulties so far?

 Joshua Kang - In the first year, it was quite difficult to find like-minded people or to bond with people because of the cultural barriers. It takes some time to understand the local culture and assimilate yourself.

Interviewer - So, what is your idea of fun in Melbourne?

Joshua Kang - The most fun experience I've had so far was hunting for new friends in Melbourne. I have been attending the Footy Games, and every weekend night, I go to the MCG where nearly 20,000 people gather to watch Australian Rules Football(Footy).

Interviewer - Are you working part-time while pursuing your studies?

Joshua Kang - The Swinburne University provides lots of opportunities to avail a part-time job from the first year as there are training sessions and internships. Currently, I am working as a medical receptionist in a medical center. My key role is to ensure the smooth workflow of the center and liaise between colleagues, doctors, and nurses. It's a great experience as I get to improve my skills in teamwork and building strong collaborative partnerships, while allowing me to gain practical knowledge.

Interviewer - Could you mention a few positive aspects of studying abroad?

Joshua Kang - You will become a lot more self dependent. You become quite good at managing your finances and taking care of your responsibilities while balancing your studies.

Interviewer - How has AECC Global traveled with you in this journey?

Joshua Kang - Without AECC Global, I wouldn't be here. I would like to thank the counsellors for really helping me throughout the process even though I have changed a couple of degrees now and they have never refused to help. Be it a text or call, they were always available. I would recommend AECC Global as they have supported me throughout my journey from Malaysia to Australia.

So, there you have it!

We hope our little chat with Joshua Kang helped you in your study abroad decision making process. If you think you need more help, you can always reach out to us at AECC Global, and we would be more than happy to help.

On the other hand, if you want to hear the entire Joshua Kang Kang interview, do check out the Pathfinder by AECC Global podcast on Spotify.