Amy Brindley
I hope that I can have a significant impact on the many women who require pregnancy education.
I grew up in country NSW in a small town on the Murray River. My childhood was what was considered “normal”; with minimal technology, a lot was left to the imagination. I spent many years growing up on a farm, which is the opposite to a lot of my city friends, but I’m forever grateful for my upbringing.
After high school, I chose to study Exercise Physiology and after graduating and taking some time off, I then went on to study Physiotherapy. However, partway through this degree, I made the transfer into Midwifery. I have always had a strong interest in Health Science and the human body, but it took a little while to find my main passion – which I now feel that I have!
Throughout my previous study, I always had a strong pull toward female anatomy, pregnancy and birth, and women’s health. I decided during my second degree that I needed to really focus on my main interests and pursue what I hoped would lead to a successful and passionate career. Therefore, I transferred into Midwifery and haven’t looked back since!
I’m passionate about advocating for women during their pregnancy and really connecting with them in all aspects – antenatal, birth and postnatal. I love getting to know the families and their experiences with pregnancy; no two stories are ever the same and there are so many challenges, so women really appreciate having extra support during this time.
I chose to study at UTS because of the location. I needed to be central to the Eastern suburbs so the decision seemed like a no-brainer. After a little more research, I was pleased to see that the course had a high world ranking and was the top course in the country.
For me, the most rewarding aspect of the course has been experiencing the miracle of life! Not everyone has the opportunity to see a new life entering this world and it is a privilege that women allow us to use their most painful, yet incredible hours and minutes to learn from and better our knowledge and skills.
Considering that I have been studying for the better part of the last seven years, I have spent my uni years in many different ways. The first few years were definitely a learning curve: I was discovering about what I was most interested in but also, I was enjoying the uni life. From then on, I feel like I have been the textbook description of a “mature age” student. I really focus on my studies and want to excel in my work and learning. I have high standards for myself, which can sometimes hinder my social life, but I think after this many years, I have a good handle on things.
Ideally, I want to start working as soon as possible! I’m interested in working in a rural setting or moving closer to home and family for a few years. Given that there is a shortage of midwives in rural and remote areas, I hope that I can have a significant impact on the many women who require pregnancy education and I want to learn as much as I can from midwives who are willing to teach.
My advice to future students would be – if you have an interest, pursue it! Don’t wait a few years and see if you’re still interested or not: give it a go and there is always room to move or change things up. Also, don’t feel pressured during high school to achieve the highest marks possible, or feel as though you have to choose a specific course because someone else has told you to. There are so many pathways and options for entry into different degrees. It has taken me seven years, three different courses, three qualifications, three universities and two cities to figure out that I am in the right degree and career path!
