Growing up in Broken Hill, Jasmin’s passion for healthcare was formed from her own experience as a child in and out of hospital with chronic illnesses, which ultimately forced her to leave school early.
In 2019, Jasmin moved to Mildura for the Bachelor of Nursing at La Trobe before returning to the University campus four years after graduation to study a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery.
“I chose La Trobe because it offers a fantastic postgraduate midwifery program here in Mildura,” Jasmin said.
“The program uses a paid model of work, which meant I was able to work on the maternity ward while developing my skills as a student midwife alongside supervised shifts in the birthing suite.”
It was in this suite that Jasmin helped deliver her sister’s and best friend’s babies.
The babies, Evie and Maya, and her uncle – a strong father figure in her life and a successful nurse in Mildura – were among Jasmin’s supporters at La Trobe Mildura’s graduation ceremony on 27 March.
The graduation saw 73 students cross the stage and 29 in absentia.
A special feature of this year’s ceremony was Mildura’s own Head of Campus, Dr Sandy Connor, who was awarded a PhD more than nine years after commencing her doctoral journey.
“Completing my PhD has brought me a deep sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and pride,” Dr Connor said.
“After years of dedication and hard work, it is immensely rewarding to see my efforts come to fruition.”
Dr Connor’s PhD was inspired by her own experience as a registered nurse and as a mother to three sons and an aunt to four nephews. Her professional exposure to gaps in the health system for young males, coupled with her personal experience, inspired her to research rural young men’s health in the context of masculinities.
Dr Connor was one of three PhD recipients at Friday’s ceremony, alongside long‑standing nursing staff member Dr Tara Williams.
La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said it was uplifting to see Mildura graduates contributing to their community and making a real difference.
"These stories are a powerful reminder that education doesn’t follow a single path,” Professor Farrell said.
“Whether returning to study, advancing their careers or completing a PhD, our Mildura graduates are using their La Trobe education to give back to their communities and create meaningful change.”
Like fellow graduate Jasmin, Master of Nursing’s Seini Paongo has progressed through further study to advance her nursing career.
Seini upskilled from enrolled nurse to registered nurse in 2023 at La Trobe Mildura and now has completed a Master’s qualification. Her journey reflects a shared commitment among students to building skills, leadership and impact within the regional healthcare workforce.
“Upskilling has always been driven by my desire to grow professionally, remain current with best practice and contribute at a higher level within healthcare teams,” Seini said.
“I believe that lifelong learning is a core responsibility of the nursing profession and advancing my education allows me to support innovation, mentor colleagues and provide safer, more effective patient care.”
A proud Tongan woman in a region with a large Pasifika population, Seini recognised the importance of representation in building confidence and aspiration within her community.
“I feel proud to be part of a profession where young people from my community can see someone who shares their cultural background succeeding in healthcare,” Seini said.
“If my journey encourages even one Pacific student to believe that higher education and a nursing career are possible for them, then I would consider that a privilege.”
Returning to her own journey, Mildura Base Public Hospital graduate midwife Jasmin reflected on the demanding year of her Graduate Diploma and the personal journey that brought her to graduation.
“In a full-circle moment, I’m now working alongside a midwife who actually cared for me in hospital when I was a child in Broken Hill,” Jasmin said.
“Sometimes I stop and think about the younger version of myself, who had to leave school because of illness, and I just know she would be so proud of where I am today.”
PHOTO: Graduate Jasmin Fargher with her grandma Marg Millard, partner Drew Byrnes and mum Michelle Bornholm.
Media Contact
Jess Whitty - j.whitty@latrobe.edu.au, 0481 383 817
