From football boots to scrubs, Kiah Carmody-O'Toole is making an impact in the nursing world.
A proud Aboriginal woman, Kiah never imagined her name would land on the University of Newcastle's HD Commendation list. But after overcoming setbacks that questioned both her cultural identity and academic ability, she's now thriving in a career she loves.
Growing up in Forster on Worimi Country, Kiah faced discrimination for having skin deemed "too light" to be Aboriginal. The constant questioning of her identity left her feeling disconnected from her culture.
Struggling to focus at school, she left in Year 10 feeling like she didn't belong.
"I just felt different—like I was dumb and didn't fit in," Kiah recalls.
"But on the football field, that all disappeared. That's where I felt most like myself."
At 16, Kiah's journey took an unexpected turn. She earned a Diploma in Childhood Education while juggling representative football. With her mother and Pop driving her to the Central Coast four times a week for training with the Central Coast Mariners, it became clear where her future lay.
"At 18, I moved to the Central Coast to focus on football, but I always had a deep passion for Aboriginal health," Kiah said.
"So when I found out the University of Newcastle had a campus here, I jumped at the chance to study nursing."
But university wasn't easy. Away from family, balancing studies with professional football, and representing the Australian Indigenous Football team, Kiah faced challenge after challenge. She failed her first subject, was diagnosed with ADHD, and ultimately retired from professional sport.
"At first, uni felt like high school all over again - like I didn't belong. But after my ADHD diagnosis, everything made sense: the struggle to concentrate, getting kicked out of class, not retaining information," Kiah explains.
"I'd achieved so much in sport, even co-captaining the Australian Indigenous Football team, but I knew it was time to hang up the boots. Nursing became my priority - I wanted to be there for my mob when they needed me most."
Despite the hurdles, Kiah found her rhythm, excelling in her studies and making the HD Commendation list and being the first in her family to earn a degree. She credits her success to mentors, sport, and rediscovering her cultural identity.
But the challenges didn't stop there. During her placements, she encountered racism that once again made her question her place.
"This time, I had mentors who showed me how to respond and find my voice. This made me an even stronger, prouder Aboriginal woman," she added.
"Now, I'm passing on that knowledge and mentoring young ones facing the same struggles."
Through leadership in the Australian Indigenous Football team, connecting with the University's Wollotuka Institute, and volunteering at the Central Coast Clinical School and NAIDOC health clinics, Kiah found her strength.
Today, she's a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Wyong Hospital – scoring one of only four in a highly sought-after position.
From feeling like an outsider to becoming a leader in her field, Kiah's journey is proof that resilience, passion, and the right support can change everything.
