Elliot Downes was studying history until the pandemic changed the course of their history. Photo: University of Canberra.
A mature-age University of Canberra student who switched from studying history to nursing has been recognised for going above the call of duty when looking after elderly people.
Elliot Downes, 28, has won the annual COPE (Caring for Older People Excellence) Award for their dedication to learning in an aged care setting and interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in the field of ageing research.
Elliot hadn’t considered a career in nursing until the pandemic.
“While I was studying a degree in history, I found myself working in reception at a GP clinic and decided I wanted to do healthcare instead,” they said.
“I could see the impact these fabulous clinicians were having on people’s lives. That’s what drew me to nursing; I realised I didn’t want to sit behind a desk all day; I wanted to work with people. I had no idea I would enjoy nursing when I started, but the moment you’re on placement is a turning point on whether you’ll enjoy it as a career or not.”
While in their second year of nursing, Elliot did a clinical placement working with older patients at Cooma Hospital.
It was there that they recognised the need to advocate for older people in healthcare settings and society more broadly.
“I think there’s a lot of ageism that prevents people from treating older people like people,” Elliot said.
“We need to think, ‘How would I like my grandma or my mother to be treated in this situation?’ and I think it’s really important to address the needs of older people that are often written off as being a part of ‘just being old’.
“I find working with older people incredibly rewarding for two reasons – I love how the clinical aspect is really challenging and really complex, as the people you’re caring for often have multiple chronic health conditions. I also think this area of nursing is fun, as you get to know people who have lived incredible lives and you can learn so much from their wisdom and life experience.”
Elliot is glad to have made the switch from studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree but doesn’t regret what they learned while studying history.
“An arts degree gives you critical thinking skills and experience navigating academic expectations,” they said.
Elliot encourages students finishing Year 12 to consider a career in nursing.
“It’s never boring. No two days are the same. You’re caring for people who have multiple health problems. It’s also incredibly rewarding. I’ve had experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. There’s a lot we can learn about ourselves from older people.”
Elliot’s award was named after Dr Sarah Cope, an Assistant Professor of Nursing who dedicated herself to improving the lives of people with dementia before her own life was tragically cut short by cancer.
The award was presented during the combined 2024 Cope Memorial Lecture and Older Person Nursing Roundtable networking event earlier this week.
Loading ...
