School Based Trainee Isabelle Knightly at work in the Emergency Department
Isabelle Knightley’s determination to help Close the Gap in healthcare sees her rising at 4.20am every morning.
The dedicated Year 12 student then catches two trains and three buses to attend school—except on the day she swaps the classroom for Logan Hospital, where she’s gaining hands-on nursing experience as a Deadly Start School Based Trainee.
This extraordinary commitment to learning, and her drive to create better outcomes for her community, has earned her a nomination for the Queensland Training Awards’ School-based Trainee of the Year.
Isabelle credited the traineeship with helping her find a sense of calm and peace, as she’s learned to balance Year 12, placement, her long commute, and schoolwork.
With grit and resilience, Isabelle has drawn strength from a challenging home life to shape a future in healthcare, with her impact already being felt across the health service.
"I chose to study a Certificate III in Health Service Assistance because I want to become a qualified nurse one day," Isabelle said.
"I’ve faced some tough times growing up, including unhealed trauma at home, and it’s made me want to be the kind of person who can help others, no matter what their story is. That’s why a career in health feels right to me."
Isabelle said the traineeship had been life-changing, helping her grow stronger mentally and physically, while also building her confidence.
MSH Traineeship Program Coordinator Courtney Helmold said Isabelle was thriving in the program and stood out as a natural leader with a promising future in healthcare.
"Alongside Isabelle’s supervisors in the Emergency Department, we’ve witnessed her perseverance and dedication to the traineeship," Courtney said.
"We’ve watched her mature and develop vital life skills such as time management, problem solving, and people skills. Isabelle has an exceptional and kind manner with patients and easily builds rapport, putting them at ease in what can be a very stressful environment."
Isabelle’s passion for learning, combined with her compassion for others, makes her a role model among her peers and a future asset to the health industry.
*Since writing this story, we have now found out that Izzy made it to the first found of shortlists. While she her nomination didn't go any further, she is still a deserving winner in our eyes.