Mark Condino's interest in nursing began when he started working in aged care while he was still at school.
“I realised I enjoyed the combination of science, problem-solving and, most importantly, working with people.”
At the same time – Year 13 at South Otago High School – Mark was completing a pre-nursing course through the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT).
“Spending one day a week at SIT gave me an idea of what nursing involved and helped me decide that it was something I genuinely wanted to pursue.”
Mark (22) completed a Bachelor of Nursing at SIT in 2025 and now works as a registered nurse at Heritage Lifecare’s Clutha Views Lifecare in Balclutha.
His role involves providing clinical care to residents, administering medications, monitoring changes in their condition, and working alongside the wider healthcare team.
“There is a lot of coordination and clinical decision-making involved. You have to be able to recognise when something has changed, work out what needs to happen next and communicate that clearly to the people involved.”
The relationships he has with residents is the part of the job Mark enjoys most.
“In aged care, you get to know people over time. You learn their personalities, routines, histories, and the things that are important to them. That makes the role about much more than simply treating an illness or completing a task.”
Another highlight has been reflecting on his progression from caregiver to nurse.
“It’s quite rewarding to look back and realise that the small decisions you make along the way can eventually add up to something much bigger.”
Mark was born in the Philippines and moved to Balclutha when he was 10. As well as the pre-nursing course, he took English, Maths, Chemistry, Geography and Outdoor Education in Year 13.
While Chemistry, Maths and English have been particularly useful, Mark says Geography and Outdoor Education taught him different ways of thinking, how to work with people and adapt to unfamiliar situations.
“I think having a mixture of subjects was useful because nursing itself requires quite a broad range of skills."
“Biology probably would have been useful, but I wouldn’t let not taking a particular subject put you off nursing. I didn’t have the perfect combination of subjects, and I was still able to make the transition successfully.”
SIT’s Zero Fees scheme was an attractive drawcard for Mark – “It reduced the financial pressure of tertiary study and allowed me to put more of my focus into my education and clinical learning” – and he was also drawn to SIT’s practical approach to learning.
“The clinical placements were a major highlight because that’s when the things you learn in class start to come together. You’re no longer just learning about a condition or treatment – you’re applying that knowledge with real people and working as part of a healthcare team.”
If you’re considering nursing as a career, Mark recommends getting some exposure to healthcare, if you can.
“Most importantly, choose nursing because you actually want to work with people,” he says. “The qualification is only one part of the career.”
Writer: Sara Carbery from Leaving School Magazine