Alumni Stories
GRADS 2025: LEE KARSSEN
“It takes a good village to make a good nurse.”
For Lee Karssen, who graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the 91Ö±²¥ in March, the journey from enrolled nurse to registered nurse was built on hands-on experience, determination, and a passion for learning. His story is one of resilience, backed by the unwavering support of his family, friends, and nursing colleagues.
Growing up in South Australia, Lee considered his pathway into nursing carefully. He opted to start his career as an enrolled nurse by studying with TAFE SA, so that he could enter the industry sooner and gain practical experience – with the view to later apply for a Bachelor of Nursing course at UC, with his experience and prior learning recognised for credit.
“I wanted to start at that level first and then become a registered nurse. And I’m really, really glad I did because I got to experience enrolled nursing and have practical experience delivering care to real people,” Lee says.
“I was then able to bring that experience with me and apply it to my learning here at UC.”
After years in the industry and a move to the 91Ö±²¥ region, Lee found himself wanting to learn more, as his curiosity around the profession grew with each rostered shift. Choosing where to continue his studies was an important decision, but UC’s Bachelor of Nursing’s reputation for high-quality nursing graduates made an impression.
“The standards were quite high. It was not always easy. And I think it’s intentionally like that because they want you to be good – from what I’ve seen, UC produces quality grads,” he says.
Lee feels the pressure was justified – after all, nursing is a career that requires critical decision-making and dedicated care.
“I’ve got people’s lives in my hands – you want to be prepared for that,” he says.
Balancing full-time study, part-time work, and family life wasn’t easy. As a parent of two, Lee needed a dedicated space to focus on his studies, something he found at the Country Universities Centre (CUC) in Goulburn during his final year.
The is a place-based initiative changing the way higher education and vocational opportunities are accessed by regional Australians. Owned and operated by the communities they operate in, CUCs can be found in 35 regional communities across regional New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
“I wish I had found out about the CUC a lot earlier. In my last semester, I did four subjects while working part-time and raising two kids. I needed that space to just study, and that helped get me through,” he says.
The CUC was a pocket of support, and he hopes that all regional students are aware of the resource. For Lee, the chance to connect and collaborate with other students, many in health-related fields, all studying at different universities, created a unique interprofessional learning experience like no other.
“As a nurse, you deal with almost all health professionals. You’re essentially the nexus of someone’s healthcare, consulting with medical professionals to advocate for their needs,” Lee says.
During his final year, Lee undertook a gerontological placement at Warrigal Care in Goulburn through UC’s Clinical Placements with Older People (CPOP) program. The initiative – led by UC and run in partnership with seven Australian universities and the Federal Government – connects nursing students with specialised aged care placements, supported by experienced clinical facilitators.
“I was a little bit nervous about doing aged care as my final nursing placement … but I was ultimately really glad that I did. I would encourage most students to do it as their fifth or sixth Integrated Nursing Concepts unit,” he says.
“We’re all going to age, it’s a natural thing.”
The experience gave Lee an even deeper appreciation for his profession, sparking a passion for delivering personalised, compassionate care.
“The aged care residents have had whole lives full of rich experiences that they just want to share with someone, but quite often they are so lonely, particularly the men. That really stood out to me during my placement,” he says.
After forming strong connections with residents during his placement, Lee decided to stay on as a regular volunteer.
Now several months into program, Lee is working as a Community Health Nurse in Goulburn, bringing quality care directly to those who need it most.
“In community nursing, you get a unique perspective of the whole medical picture. When you visit a person’s home, you see their environment and the additional factors affecting their health,” he says.
For Lee, the holistic approach is key to delivering patient-centred care. Understanding all the factors that contribute to a patient’s health – from living situation to environmental factors and lifestyle choices – unlocks significant insight that can alter the care approach.
“It’s not the ‘hole’ in the person that matters, it’s the whole person. That’s the important bit.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue working in community health, delivering one-on-one care that makes a lasting impact. While the demands of study are behind him for now, postgraduate study isn’t off the table.
With men making up just 12 per cent of the nursing and midwifery workforce, according to the , Lee’s journey is one of perseverance in a field where representation is still growing. He hopes his story encourages others to pursue a career in nursing, proving that compassion and care know no gender.
“Nursing is more than just clinical skills, it’s about compassion, staying calm under pressure, and always striving to improve. The best nurses are those who continually learn and genuinely care for their patients,” Lee says.
Words by Annie Noonan, photos by Liam Budge.
This March, we celebrate the graduating class of 2025.Many have overcome challenges with grace and resilience, and all have grown in remarkable ways. We congratulate them on achieving this milestone.
We celebrate those who are already making an impact in their chosen fields, those who have changed careers, and others who have embarked on their postgraduate study paths – we look forward to seeing what you achieve as alumni of the 91Ö±²¥.