Angela Robinson celebrated a once-in-a-lifetime achievement together with her two daughters, Abigail and Emelia. Collectively, they made a lovely surprise graduation party for my nursing school sister. This special family milestone underscores their personal paths. It illustrates the depth of their connection as they confront the rigors of the collegiate experience side by side.
Angela, 54, passed into this new professional road after working with the New South Wales Police since 1990. Recognizing the need for change, she recalled her choice to switch careers and become a nurse as “intimidating” but “very fulfilling.” Hungry for more meaningful ways to serve and connect with people, she decided to enter the medical field.
Angela’s daughters, Abigail and Emelia, both answered the calling to be caregivers as well. For Abigail, 24, a first-generation university student, this is an incredible accomplishment. After a decades-long fight for justice, this accomplishment is especially meaningful for the Robinson family. 22-year-old Emelia was right on her heels, motivated by her family’s long-standing career in healthcare and her family’s legacy of service.
A Legacy of Care
The Robinson family has long-standing, deeply philanthropic ties to the healthcare sector. It was through this lens that Emelia noticed most of her siblings were nurses. Their love of the profession inspired by their late sister Kim, who unfortunately died at 25 while on duty as a nurse. This generational inheritance has fueled their dreams and dedication to nurturing all those around them.
“I just felt I would have more of a connection with patients through nursing … you’re seeing them at their most vulnerable, it’s nice to be a person that they can rely on,” Emelia shared, emphasizing the emotional connections formed in healthcare.
Angela has always had an interest in mental health nursing. And she thinks the subject could not be timelier. Crisis response Providing the mental health stigma the wake up call it deserves has the power to transform lives.
“Mental health is so prevalent in our society … and I think there’s still such a stigma attached if you have ill mental health,” Angela explained. “I just think it’s a field where I feel like I might be able to help people.”
Supportive Environment
The camaraderie of their study sessions created a healing space for the Robinson sisters. Abigail shared that making this journey alongside her mother and sister was one of the most special parts. “It was really nice to have a safe space where you can discuss things,” she said.
Emelia agreed with this notion, as she noted that having to commute 40 minutes to and from in-person classes turned into a connecting experience. “The funniest part was probably helping mum enrol in subjects and submitting her work because she didn’t know how to do it. She got the hang of it eventually,” Abigail recalled with a smile.
The trio supported and challenged one another throughout their studies, and constantly looked to each other for motivation. Angela thanked her daughters, Aisha and Mya for supporting her through the highly competitive process. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten through it without [Abigail and Emelia]. I really felt supported by them and the rest of the family,” she said.
Future Aspirations
As they begin their careers in nursing, each member of the Robinson family has different professional interests. Abigail has liked every one of her placements, especially the experience she’s had in palliative care, which will likely shape her future direction. “I really miss looking after those patients and creating rapport with the family,” she stated.
Emelia now hopes to work with children after an inspiring placement in the paediatric ward at Bathurst Hospital. The experiences they have while they’re pursuing their degrees are undoubtedly going to shape their careers. They are the most passionate people you will meet about providing a better life for their patients.
