Helping future nurses find their place

For student nurses and midwives, placements translate learnings into practical skills and experience. They’re invaluable – but come at a financial cost. 

Bank First’s La Trobe Nursing and Midwifery Bursary was created to ensure that students like Yasmine Denholm can gain hands-on experience without the financial pressure that comes with unpaid placements. 

Yasmine has completed over 1,600 hours of placement across her studies, spanning birthing units, the ICU and community mental health clinics. As Yasmine finishes her studies, it’s this experience that has given her the confidence to step into her first full-time nursing role. 

'In lab classes, a lot of practical things like putting catheters in or taking bloods are done once or twice. When you get into a hospital setting, it just sticks with you. The more you do it, the better you get,' said Yasmine. 

For Yasmine and many of her classmates, entering a placement means sacrificing work hours from part-time jobs. 

'I have to pay rent, electricity and bills – same as everybody else. When I'm on placement, a lot of my bills get paid out of my savings. That’s why receiving the Bank First Bursary provided so much support.'

Yasmine’s path to nursing and midwifery has been shaped by seeing the impact of excellent patient care firsthand.