Louise Connelly (2019), after graduating from Nazareth, went to complete a Bachelor of Paramedic Science at Flinders University. After completing her degree, Louise moved to London at the start of this year to work as a newly qualified paramedic for the London Ambulance Service. She works in the Southwest region, particularly out of Wimbledon.

“Since finishing my degree my life has changed a lot in such a short period of time. It has been an amazing opportunity to work and live in such a vibrant city within Europe. I have been able to already start travelling on my time off and I aim to travel across Europe whilst living in London.”

Louise shares that her career journey has only just begun, but since she finished high school, she had valuable opportunities to complete placements with the SA Ambulance Service whilst she completed her degree.

“I was able to learn from amazing paramedics and be able to consolidate my practical skills and knowledge in a working environment. Since completing my degree, I have had the amazing opportunity to meet other Australian paramedics who have followed the same journey to London.”

“I’m really looking forward to this new adventure, working in a busier city and gaining plenty of professional and life experiences,” she shares.

Louise says she had a passion for paramedicine throughout high school. “My interest sparked in year 10 and continued throughout my schooling. I remember being overwhelmed with stress throughout year 12 as I knew that my only course preference was Paramedic Science.”

She reveals “since I was 16 years old, I had always talked about becoming a paramedic and working in London. To be doing it now, it’s a dream come true. I would say that Nazareth played a role in achieving this.”

“The college provided me endless support throughout times when my health challenged me and my ability to attend school. A special shoutout to Mrs Grantham, Mrs Virgo, and the staff at Nazareth who provided me with constant support throughout the toughest times and encouraged me to keep on going.”

Louise shares that transitioning from high school to university was a smooth process and that Nazareth contributed to the smooth academic transition by providing all the tools needed to complete self-directed learning at university.

“My first year out of high school was quite isolating as my university transitioned to an online learning approach due to COVID-19. However, from the end of my first year of university, I was able to meet and work with many amazing people whom I am lucky enough to call friends.”

Louise says “Completing placements with paramedics throughout my degree gave me insight into the real world outside of school and made me appreciate life and how challenging it can be. I really enjoyed my degree and would recommend it to anyone who has a passion to help others and provide emergency medical care.”

The advice Louise would give the current and future Year 12 students, is to “work hard and achieve your goals but to also remember that it is only one year, and your final year, so enjoy it. If you don’t accomplish your goal at the end of it that doesn’t make you a failure. There are so many pathways and avenues you can take to achieve your goals.”

Louise hopes to continue to see where the adventure in London takes her. While working as a paramedic in London she plans to travel around Europe on her days off.

“I plan to just see where life takes me, which may lead me back home to Adelaide one day.”