Post by University of Wollongong

After being diagnosed with leukaemia just weeks after her wedding, Natasha Bwembya turned one of the hardest periods of her life into a journey of purpose, graduating with distinction and a renewed mission to improve healthcare for others. Working as a registered nurse, her life shifted almost overnight from caring for patients to becoming one. “I actually started my degree while I was in hospital,” she says. “I started seeing the differences in how care is given,” she says. “Cultural differences, access to services, whether someone has Medicare or not. Those things really affect how people experience healthcare.” Born in Zambia, Natasha moved to Australia at 18 to pursue nursing, driven by a long-standing desire to care for others. With most of her family still overseas, she built a life in a new country, grounded in resilience and independence. This week she graduated with a Master of Public Health, with distinction. 👏 “To be able to say I did this while fighting for my life, that means everything,” she says. Read her full story. 👉 uow.info/vvhr28 #UOWGrad