Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
9 hours ago
Years spent working alongside nurses through her family’s security company prompted Kali Wyllie (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tūhoe) to study a Bachelor of Nursing at EIT.
The 29-year-old mother of three finished her degree in June and has recently begun her career in the emergency department at Wairoa Hospital as part of the New Entry to Practice programme.
Kali Wyllie (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tūhoe) graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing at EIT.
Prior to studying at EIT, Kali had last been in the classroom at Wairoa College, where she completed NCEA Level 1 before leaving at 16 to work.
Despite the long break from study, she says encouragement from others, combined with her determination to stay close to her whānau, made nursing the natural choice.
“I’d always been around hospitals,” Kali said. “Through my parents’ security work, I got to know the environment, and the nurses would often encourage me, saying I’d make a great nurse. That really pushed me to give it a go.”
Her early experiences also planted the seed for a healthcare career.
“My aunty worked at Napier Medical Centre when I was younger and I’d spend time there after school, and later at college I did a STAR course at the hospital. So, it was always around me,” she said.
Kali first completed the NZ Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) at EIT in 2022 before beginning the three-year Bachelor of Nursing the following year.
“It was daunting at first, because I’d never studied before,” she said. “EIT was very welcoming, felt warm and homely, had lovely people and all around felt very positive.”
She credits the certificate with giving her a strong foundation. “It prepared me to go into degree study, and it taught me all the basics of the 12 systems of the human body. So going into the degree, I was able to understand when they went into more depth each semester.”
Kali says support from EIT’s Wairoa Learning Centre also helped her stay on track, with staff arranging for exams to be supervised locally rather than her needing to travel to the Taradale campus.
“That made a huge difference,” she said.
Looking ahead, Kali is excited to begin her role at Wairoa Hospital, where placements confirmed her passion for acute and emergency care.
“ED really stood out to me during placements. That’s where I feel I can make the most difference.”
EIT Head of School of Nursing Katherine Williams says Kali has demonstrated determination, resilience, and motivation to achieve her goal in becoming a registered nurse.
“A true role model for other students in highlighting how important whānau, community, and personal determination is to support an undergraduate journey of a student nurse. We are proud of Kali’s achievement and wish her the very best for her career.”
