'You're never too old to change course'

Gevelind Condino re-qualified as a Registered Nurse in her forties after her training from the Philippines wasn’t recognised in NZ.

Gevelind Condino is currently a mental health nurse in Wakari, after graduating from Otago Polytechnic’s Nursing programme in 2023. Her journey began in the Philippines, where Gevelind and her husband both qualified as nurses.

But when the Condino family moved to New Zealand to raise their family, Gevelind didn’t have the work experience that she needed for her qualification to be transferred.

Although she was successfully working as a caretaker, Gevelind strongly felt she could do more as a Registered Nurse. So when her youngest was three, the time was right to start a nursing degree.

“Scheduling was a big challenge. My older children, two boys, were grown up. They would take turns taking care of my daughter so that I could go to classes or to placements. I did it with the support of my family.”

There are also challenges returning to school after a long time away.

“I told my sons that last time I wrote a report it was by hand. We had projectors instead of PowerPoint. And back home we didn’t write as many essays, usually we took tests instead.”

Gevelind took advantage of Otago Polytechnic’s extensive support system for students. The Student Success team were a big help along the way.

“They are very supportive, especially with essay writing. I finished all my essays with good results.”

Her lecturers were also great resources, providing the tools needed to navigate the cultural and language differences. Plus, Gevelind found community amongst fellow students.

“At Polytech I’ve met real good friends that I feel will be my lifelong friends. We've got pretty much the same journey—we're migrants, we’re parents, so we bond.”

Placements are an important part of the Nursing programme, and it was on a placement that Gevelind was inspired to get into mental health. Working directly with patients is Gevelind’s favourite part of the job.

“You hear about the patient’s stories, why they’re there. It's sometimes heartbreaking. I help in little ways. Sometimes it’s just listening to their stories and validating what they're saying, telling them that it's not their fault.”

Gevelind’s advice for future students is to take action.

“When I entered, I was in my late 40s. Some friends of mine said: ‘Do you still want to study? You're quite old!’

“But I felt there was more I could give. When you find something you are passionate about, you don’t wait for things to happen. You make things happen.

“So with my family support, I started my nursing journey, which I'm very grateful for. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve.”