An earlier five-week stint as a volunteer at a babies’ home in Uganda was in the back of Ms Barnaby’s mind when weighing up her career options.

That, combined with her love of children and a compassionate nature, meant a nursing degree was the answer.

The University of Newcastle Open Foundation pathway program was a stepping stone to acceptance into the nursing degree at UON’s Port Macquarie campus.

Ms Barnaby, of Port Macquarie, graduated on February 17 with a Bachelor of Nursing with distinction from the University of Newcastle. She has now landed a graduate position at Kempsey District Hospital.

“I need to feel like I am making a difference, whether it’s to save a life or make someone feel more comfortable in their worst situation or comfort a parent when their child is sick or comfort a sick child,” she said about her chosen career.

Ms Barnaby decided to become a nurse after years in the television industry, mainly as a production manager, which took her to high profile sporting events.

Ms Barnaby, the graduate speaker at Port Macqurie graduation ceremony at the Glasshouse, congratulated graduates on their achievements.

She thanked the students’ family members and friends, lecturers, tutors, facilitators, mentors and placement educators.

The speech looked to the future.

“So go forward with a renewed belief, that you can do anything you put your mind to, believe in yourself, and be that strong, resilient, determined person that you know you can be, because I’m sure there will be times in the next 12 months that you’ll need to draw on that resilience again,” she said.

Ms Barnaby said the graduates were all in a position to make a difference in this world.

The graduation ceremony recognised nine postgraduate students, 62 undergraduate students and four enabling pathway students.