I first came to Australia in January 2011 on a student visa that was only valid for six months. I never thought that after taking that fateful flight from the Philippines, Australia would become my second home. Through study I was able to gain my Australian registration to practise as a nurse and soon received my permanent residency under the sponsorship of Wollongong Hospital. I worked in various areas, such as nursing homes and medical wards, but the area I worked the longest was in the emergency department of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
In 2016, I gave birth to a beautiful boy and also got married. However, the realities of paying for our house and supporting our family loomed, and I soon worked out that if I kept working as a nurse it would be very challenging for us to sustain our lifestyle.
Hungry for a career change, I took a risk
