Wednesday 16 October 2025
For Sheryl Canales Fitzmaurice, a remote nursing placement supported by APNA’s National Nursing Clinical Placement Program became more than just a clinical requirement. It became a journey of cultural connection, clinical growth, and renewed professional purpose.
|
|
Sheryl’s nursing story began in the Philippines, where she was deeply influenced by her family. As a child, she watched her aunt, a midwife and primary care nurse, work in local communities.
“I wanted to be like her,” she recalls, remembering how she tagged along on vaccination rounds and health promotion visits. That early exposure to community health stayed with her.
After moving to Australia, Sheryl built a diverse nursing background, including work in hospitals, community settings, aged care, schools, and health education. Despite this breadth of experience, there was one realm she had not yet truly explored: remote and rural health.
This is where a placement at Pintupi Homelands Health Service in the Northern Territory came into the picture.
Sheryl was one of two nurses selected for the placement in Pintupi, making it a shared journey that included travel, accommodation, and a strong sense of mutual support. The experience of living and working alongside another nurse in such a remote setting helped foster connection, reflection, and professional bonding- strengthening the personal and clinical impact of the placement.
|
Kerry, the other placement nurse (left) and Sheryl (right) driving to the clinic |
Sheryl, a final-year Bachelor of Nursing student at Torrens University, was preparing for her last placement before becoming a Registered Nurse. When she received an email callout inviting student nurses to gain clinical experience in remote communities, she applied straight away, driven by curiosity and a desire to learn.
However, she was also aware that her understanding of remote and First Nations health was shaped largely by textbooks and second-hand stories.
Before the placement, Sheryl held common assumptions shaped by limited exposure and outdated stereotypes. She anticipated challenging living conditions, a lack of connection, and an unfamiliar environment.
But what she found was far more nuanced and welcoming than expected. The accommodation was clean and safe, basic services were available, and she quickly settled into a rhythm of daily life. More importantly, the community members she met challenged many of the assumptions she had unknowingly held.
What began as a step into the unknown became an opportunity to listen, observe and unlearn- replacing assumptions with understanding.
“They are just like us,” she reflected. “They are not what they mentioned in the books. They just have different beliefs that we need to consider.”
As the days passed, Sheryl found herself building genuine connections, learning to communicate with sensitivity and confidence, and gaining a deeper appreciation for cultural strength and community resilience.
“It was a life changing. Personally, it gave me more understanding and compassion about [First Nations people].” Sheryl shared.
|
Kerry (left) and Sheryl on Country (right). |
Pintupi Homelands Health Service is a clinic that works with a range of organisations and its community to deliver care and promote health to those living within Kintore Community borders and beyond.
Sheryl’s day began early, leaving secure shared accommodation for a short drive to the clinic with the team, following safety protocols unique to the remote setting.
Once on site, the day followed a purposeful rhythm: equipment checks, detailed handover, and a full schedule of assessments, treatments, and health education. Sheryl was challenged to apply a wide range of clinical skills, from wound care and respiratory assessments to managing chronic conditions like diabetes, skin infections, and ear problems. Dedicated study time was built into the day, which helped her keep learning and stay engaged, even on quieter days.
One of her key takeaways was the expanded scope of practice for nurses in remote settings.
“They have more autonomy,” Sheryl observed nurses initiating medications and leading patient care without a doctor on site- acting as clinicians, educators, triage officers and community connectors. It was an eye-opening look into the adaptability required to deliver care in these environments.
The placement offered a unique glimpse into community life and cultural heritage.
During a 40-year celebration, Sheryl was honoured to participate in traditional dancing, storytelling, body painting, performances, and late-night music—an immersive experience that showcased the culture on a larger scale.
She gained insight into cultural practices such as dance restrictions, symbolic dress, and deep intergenerational bonds. She admired how ceremony was woven into everyday life and was inspired by young people’s energetic, creative dances blending tradition with current trends, even in this remote setting. Sampling kangaroo tail and observing these traditions up close, Sheryl’s experience transformed her sense of belonging.
Though not raised in Australia, she felt deeply connected to the land and its people, saying, “In a month, it gave me more confidence. I became adaptable and I feel connected to the people and the culture.”
The placement also included visits to culturally significant sites, deepening Sheryl’s understanding of the land and its history. These experiences offered valuable insights into how cultural knowledge, respect, and connection shape remote health care delivery and community engagement.
By the end of the four‑week placement, Sheryl felt changed. She spoke of increased confidence, adaptability, and a resolve to practise in rural and remote areas. She no longer felt intimidated by non‑metropolitan settings. She found a professional identity rooted in relationships, cultural respect, and community impact.
She also acknowledges that her perceptions of First Nations health shifted. She describes becoming more compassionate, humble and committed to practising in ways that are informed by, not imposed upon, local culture.
Now that she has returned to her life after placement, she still carries the lessons of remote nursing forward. She is exploring further education aligned with remote practice and hopes to remain involved in APNA’s placement and development programs.
She offers a simple message to other nursing students: “Go for it and you will experience a different world, and it's magical.”
Sheryl’s story illustrates how immersive, supported rural placements can do more than teach clinical skills. They foster empathy, expand horizons, and inspire nurses to pursue rural and remote careers.
APNA is committed to supporting these transformational experiences through the National Nursing Clinical Placement Program, bridging students to regional and remote communities and nurturing a workforce ready for rural challenges.
Learn more about the program, and apply now via: https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/career-pathways
|
Sheryl (left), Matt Doyle (middle) of Pintupi Health Services, and Kerry, our other placement nurse (right). |
The National Nursing Clinical Placement Program is supported with funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
We acknowledge the Pintupi, Luritja and Warlpiri people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands featured in this story. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and recognise their deep connection to land, culture and community.
You can add APNA-Member Professional Indemnity Insurance to your membership, when you join APNA.
Sheryl with the APNA clinical placement signage 
