With a passion for helping people, Carina Fernandes in her final year at Western Sydney University received accolades as a nursing student. Now a recent graduate, having completed her Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) degree, and recognised as an Emerging Nurse Leader 2021 by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Carina has her sights set on her new role in healthcare, at the same time keeping sustainability top of mind.
The Emerging Nurse Leader Program gives practicing nurses and students the opportunity to develop leadership skills by participating in a range of mentoring, coaching and professional development activities. Carina earned a place in the prestigious program due to her academic achievements and vast experience in volunteering and community advocacy.
The inspirational mother of three, who lives in Penrith, is actively engaged in the local community. Within the Penrith community, Carina is a member of the Penrith City Council Resilience Committee; Vice President of the P&C at a local School; and volunteers for a number of humanitarian and environmental projects that aim to help local families in need and reduce the impact of extreme heat in the community.
In addition to Carina’s most recent accomplishment, of being named an Emerging Nurse Leader, she was also nominated in the Community category of the Women of the West Awards in 2020 and won a ZEST Unsung Heroes Award in 2019.
Carina now works in a graduate nurse position at Nepean Hospital and reflects on the new phase of her life, “The best thing about nursing is that it is lifelong learning, there are so many opportunities and you get back tenfold of what you put into it.”