University of the Sunshine Coast graduate Tahni Roberts is working to improve the health of Indigenous women after landing a professional role in Brisbane, supporting a nursing program.

Tahni, who completed a Bachelor of Health Promotion, has started work as a Health Data Administrator with Abt JTA on the Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program, a program that works with women who are pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby.

The former Gympie resident, who was offered the job before she graduated, said she had long aspired to work in Indigenous health and was delighted to be starting her career in an area she was passionate about.

“The program is doing great work in positively changing the lives of first time mothers, their babies and their families,” she said.

“The values and missions that are held here are amazing. I work with my team members to ensure that the program is running effectively, it remains to be of best practice, and evaluate data and trends.

“It was a little bit unbelievable that I would be starting full time work before I had sat my last exam but I was ready for the challenge and felt confident in my abilities.”

Tahni, 22, said her practical work placements completed as part of her USC degree had prepared her well for entering the professional environment.

“The Health Promotion staff at USC do a great job at getting students ready for the real world,” she said.

“They often spoke about the challenges that we would face in the public health area and how to overcome them.”

Applications to study a Bachelor of Health Science at USC in 2016 are now open. For more information, visit usc.edu.au/riseandshine.

— Gen Kennedy