Bindi Horvath wins USC academic excellence gong, nursing job

A Gympie mother-of-three’s long journey from high school dropout to acute surgical award RN is paved with career experimentation and a lack of confidence in her own abilities.

Bindi Horvath has landed a graduate nursing position in Gympie Hospital’s acute surgical ward after graduating from the University of Sunshine Coast with a medal for academic excellence.

A mother of three has landed a graduate nursing position in Gympie Hospital’s acute surgical ward after graduating from the University of Sunshine Coast with a medal for academic excellence.

Bindi Horvath has not had an easy journey to success; a self proclaimed “army brat”, she moved around a lot as a child.

“My father’s work had us move to a different state every two years,” Mrs Horvath said.

Dropping out of high school and moving out of home at 15, the idea of becoming a nurse was far from her mind.

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Instead, she completed a certificate 3 in business administration and worked full-time as a legal receptionist, then a secretary, and then a conveyancer.

Meeting her partner of 22 years when she was 18, Mrs Horvath fell in love and had three children soon after: Deklan, Rogue and Imoen.

After the legal firm, she tried other career paths, working as a resort cleaner at a holiday letting agency, and then as the establishment’s supervisor, as well as an aftermarket consultant with a car company, and “a brief stint” as a telemarketer for the rural fire brigade.

Deciding to move on to hairdressing, Mrs Horvath stayed in that profession for almost 10 years, until changing her career path once again and completing a certificate 3 in fitness, working as a virtual assistant, and copywriter.

She then enrolled at the USC Gympie campus in 2019 and started a Bachelor of Nursing Science mid-year.

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“I’d always loved writing and had nursing in the back of my mind but didn’t think I was smart enough,” she said.

“I was a high achiever through school but expected a university degree – particularly one requiring knowledge that can literally, and sometimes immediately, change a person’s life – to be beyond my capabilities.”

While studying, Mrs Horvath did an internship with the Critical Care Unit at Buderim Private Hospital and “loved it”.

In 2022, she secured a job at Gympie Hospital as an Undergraduate Student In Nursing, and now works as a graduate nurse in the Acute Services Unit.

“I love the vocation of nursing. I have the opportunity every shift to make someone happier, more comfortable, healthier. And I get to go to work in scrubs, which are basically pyjamas.”

Bindi Horvath graduated her Bachelor’s degree of Nursing from the University of Sunshine Coast with a GPA of 6.63.

Graduating from her nursing degree in April 2023, Mrs Horvath received an high distinction and was awarded a medal of academic excellence.

“It meant a lot to have family in the crowd at graduation,” she said.

“I would often feel ‘mum guilt’ for spending more time in front of my laptop than with my kids, but I love their pride in me.”