Kim Caradus

Juggling isn’t a formal qualification at the University of Waikato, but Kim Caradus is well-practised at it.

A mother of three, Kim is studying for a Master of Clinical Practice in Midwifery, having been a qualified nurse for the past two years.

Kim, who grew up in the Whanganui area, now lives in Nelson. She’s studying at Waikato while living in Nelson, spending blocks of time at the University, doing in class learning and doing her clinical placements closer to home.

“It’s a really great way to learn if you want to have that hands-on, apprenticeship-type feeling. You get to be at the elbow of a professional, learning from them directly and having one-on-one teaching.” Alongside this, she continues to work part-time as a nurse.

“I’m really passionate about extending primary healthcare to rural areas,” Kim says.

 The midwife I’ve been working with travels quite far and works deeply within rural communities. I think it’s really cool to be able to connect those communities with primary healthcare – it helps improve equality and reduces barriers to accessing care.

With three daughters under 12, Kim is grateful for the support she receives from her husband, family and friends to pursue her studies and is proud to be a role model for her children.

“The kids are really on board and supportive of me studying, which is lovely. I think it’s really cool to be a role model to the children. Everyone’s at school now, and so am I. It’s just a really nice feeling.”

She encourages others to go for it no matter what age or challenges they face. “Show them that you can be nearly 40 and still go after it. Get back in to studying and keep following your dreams, do all those things you’ve always wanted to. Just do it.”