Student who ‘broke a school record’ for absences on pathway to becoming a nurse
Nellie McMahon’s school attendance plummeted after her stepfather’s death, but the 17-year-old has defied expectations to graduate with perfect attendance.
Nellie McMahon’s reputation as a year 9 student followed her from a high school in Bundaberg all the way to Toowoomba.
After struggling through several challenging years, while her stepfather battled cancer, Nellie’s focus on school took a hit.
After he died, Nellie struggled going back to school and wasn’t getting the support she needed through mainstream schooling.
In November the 17-year-old graduated from the Queensland Pathways State College in Toowoomba, a state high school supporting students who are disengaged from mainstream schooling.
Nellie was one of 27 students from Toowoomba’s second graduating class.
The Pathways College has nine campuses across Queensland including in Bracken Ridge, Coorparoo, Goodna, Moreton Bay, Mount Gravatt, Mount Isa, and Townsville.
Nellie’s stepfather died when she was in year 9 and she said her attendance that year dropped to nine per cent.
“I think I broke a little school record at my school,” she said.
“I tried to go back after he passed away in year 9 but that was just horrible.
“I think I went to a couple of days out of that school year.”
When Nellie moved to Toowoomba in year 10 she said her reputation for skipping school travelled with her, with not much regard for her personal circumstances.
“Yeah I have a past, but I am not that person,” she said.
“It absolutely sucked, because it sort of followed me. It was just sort of like they always had their eye on me.”
But Nellie said she still wasn’t getting the support she needed at mainstream schools, and was later referred to the Pathways College.
“If they didn’t go so much by the textbook and actually had some human compassion,” she said.
“I feel like if they were willing to go out of those lines and actually cater to their students’ needs then it’d be a more supportive learning environment.”
Nellie said moving to Pathways made a huge difference for her.
“When I was at Pathways I had a hundred per cent attendance,” she said.
“I was showing up every day, as well as going to TAFE and it was great.
“It’s a good environment and it made me actually want to learn.”
Toowoomba Pathways head of campus Raymond Donohue said the college provides students with everything they need to learn, including meals and technology.
“We are a no barriers school,” he said.
“If the students can turn up four days a week with a positive mindset and the right attitude to work towards a Queensland Certificate of Education, we provide everything else.
“We want to ensure that when students are here, while they might have some significant challenges and complexities or barriers outside of school, we want them while they’re here just to be focused on school.”
Mr Donohue said the Pathways programs were tailored for each individual students and their future goals, whether that be going to university, doing a trade, or getting straight into full-time work
“We support students with whatever pathway they would like to pursue,” he said.
Nellie said she has always known she wanted to become a nurse, and the Pathways program was helping her get there.
She completed a TAFE Certificate II in Health Services Assistance while she was at Pathways and is planning to apply for a bachelors in nursing next year.
Find the Toowoomba Queensland Pathways State College at 42 Hursley Rd, Newtown.
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