At just 18 years old, Sebastian Jovanovic embodies the qualities of compassion, patience, and intelligence required to succeed in the nursing profession.
As a student with Mater Education and an assistant-in-nursing at Mater Private Hospital Springfield, Seb is proudly following in the footsteps of his parents.
Seb’s journey into healthcare seems almost predestined, given his familial ties.
His mother, Billy Jovanovic, is the Nurse Unit Manager of the Cancer Care Centre at Mater Private Hospital Springfield, and his father, Milutin Jovanovic, serves as an aged care nurse in Springfield.
The influence of his parents played a pivotal role in Seb’s decision to pursue nursing from a young age.
“My parents’ backgrounds as nurses were massive motivators for me to pursue nursing,” he said.
“When I was a kid, I always wanted to work as a nurse. Now that I’m a bit older and working in healthcare myself, I appreciate what they do and the incredible impact they make even more.”
Seb began his healthcare training at St Peter’s Lutheran College Springfield, earning a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance through Mater Education’s Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program.
Billy Jovanovic expressed her pride in her son’s decision to enter the nursing field.
“We’re so very proud of him as he takes this next step!” she said.
The hospital-based training provided by Mater Education has been a highlight for Seb, allowing him to engage directly with healthcare professionals and gain hands-on experience.
“I’m surrounded by doctors, nurses, and volunteers at work, and I get to ask them questions about what I’m learning at Mater Education, which is such a unique experience,” he said.
“I wanted to start as an AIN and work my way up, one by one, to a doctor. I want to be able to see and gain experience from every single opportunity that I can.”
Seb’s advice for anyone considering a healthcare career is straightforward.
“Take the plunge. Everyone at Mater is there to support and help each other,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re studying or working here, it’s all just massive smiles and positive attitudes. It’s a great environment to be in.”
