By JONATHON HOWARD
PEREGIAN Springs resident Paul Kaczykowski, 31, has been named one of only five students to be awarded the Emerging Nurse Leadership Award in 2015. The prestigious award was presented by the Australian College of Nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The Emerging Nurse Leaders program provides three years of professional and personal development and is designed to support leadership skills in early-career nurses.
Mr Kaczykowski said he was honoured to be included in the program and keen to encourage more men to enter the nursing profession.
“I am proud to be studying nursing and to be making a name for myself in a profession which has largely been overlooked by many men,” he said.
“There is a growing demand by patients to receive care from both male and female nurses and there are increasing leadership opportunities for those who want to play a role in breaking down any gender gaps in the profession.
“USC has given me an excellent start for my nursing career and I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
USC Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery Associate Professor Margaret Barnes said Paul’s inclusion in the program highlighted the exceptional standard of students studying Nursing Science at USC.
“We would like to congratulate Paul on this achievement,” Dr Barnes said.
“His success and the success of previous USC participants in this program are a reflection of USC’s commitment to instilling leadership skills in all our nursing students.
“Our strategic focus on the development of nursing leaders has culminated in the launch of new programs such as the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) and the Bachelor of Health and Community Care.”
Mr Kaczykowski was the second male to be offered entry into the Emerging Nurse Leaders program in its history.
USC students Paula Lambert and Sonya Wallace were offered places in 2013 and 2014.
Paul is the current president of the USC Nursing and Midwifery Student Group, a student mentor and member the Vice Chancellor’s Student Liaison Committee.
