From SFX graduate to the front line of emergency care

For Grace, a 2019 graduate of St Francis Xavier College, the path since leaving school has been defined by compassion, courage and a willingness to step into the unknown.

What began as a desire to help others has evolved into a career in healthcare that has already taken her from Canberra hospital wards to remote clinics overseas — and now to the Northern Territory, where she is beginning an exciting new chapter as a Graduate Paramedic.

Grace says her journey into healthcare was shaped by a growing passion to support people during some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives.

One of the most transformative experiences came when she travelled to Timor-Leste for a healthcare placement.

Working in a small rural clinic where resources were limited, Grace found herself immersed in a very different medical environment.

“Healthcare could often feel messy and unpredictable,” she recalls. “It was challenging at times, but also incredibly eye-opening.”

During the placement, Grace assisted with providing both basic and surgical healthcare while also helping deliver first aid education within the local community. The experience broadened her understanding of global health and left her with a deep appreciation for the healthcare system Australians often take for granted.

Over the past year, Grace has been working in the Emergency Department at The Canberra Hospital — an experience she describes as both demanding and deeply rewarding.

“Working in emergency has taught me that healthcare is about so much more than medications or treatments,” she says. “Often it’s about sitting beside someone, listening, and simply being present during some of the hardest moments people will face.”

These experiences have strengthened Grace’s passion for emergency medicine and prepared her for her next adventure.

Writing from a plane as she prepares to relocate north, Grace is about to begin her Graduate Paramedic Program with St John Ambulance Northern Territory in Darwin.

“It feels like the beginning of a new adventure,” she says. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have led me here.”

Looking back, Grace reflects on the role St Francis Xavier College played in shaping her outlook and confidence.

“The values of compassion, curiosity and stepping outside your comfort zone that I learned at SFX have stayed with me,” she says. “They continue to guide me as I move forward in my career.”

Equally important to Grace are the friendships she formed during her time at the College.

“My best friends to this day are people I met at St Francis,” she says. “Even though we are all doing different things, the friendships we built at school are still as strong as ever.”

As she prepares to leave Canberra for Darwin, Grace says it will be those friendships she will miss most.

Grace hopes that by sharing her story, current SFX students might feel encouraged to pursue their own ambitions.

“I hope my journey shows students that if you stay open to new opportunities and embrace experiences that challenge you, your path can unfold in ways you might never expect.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that the foundations built at St Francis Xavier College can lead students anywhere — even to the front line of emergency care, helping people when they need it most.