For Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service graduate nurse Cory Payne, stepping into the emergency department at Maryborough Hospital is more than just the start of a career—it’s a full-circle moment.
At 17, Cory survived a serious car accident in rural Western Australia, 2 and a half hours north of Perth. He was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital, where he spent a month in intensive care, followed by two months in rehab.
“I spent 3 months in hospital, including 16 days in a coma,” Cory said. “I had 56 stitches and 24 staples, as well as 3 bleeds on my brain and a tracheostomy.”
It was during his long recovery that Cory developed a deep appreciation for the nurses who cared for him. They became more than just his healthcare team—they became his support network.
“The nurses went above and beyond. I had signed up for a charity run two weeks after I was released from hospital. A lot of the nurses who had been on my care team came and did it with me,” he said. “Their support was great – even though I’d left the hospital I still felt like I had that community around me, helping me get better.”
Originally planning to study engineering, Cory’s experience as a patient changed his path.
“I was going to do engineering before the accident, but after I came out of rehab, I decided to change to nursing,” he said. “It’s important to me just to help patients get that comfort as well as providing the best care, so they have the best possible outcomes – that’s what I feel like I’m more aimed towards these days.”
Cory moved to Wide Bay when his wife, a veterinarian, took up a job in the region. While completing his studies at UniSC, he worked as an Undergraduate Student in Nursing (USIN) at WBHHS, giving him a head start in learning the hospital’s systems, staff, and culture.
Now, as a registered nurse in the emergency department, Cory is particularly drawn to trauma care.
“I feel like I can really help people in ED – I’m leaning towards trauma, just being with them because I can relate to their experiences,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be where they are, so it’s great just to help relieve that.”
Cory has also shared his experience with young people as a speaker and mentor for the P.A.R.T.Y (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) Program.
“I’ve been through it all firsthand so they can see it, and I tell them my story,” he said.
From patient to nurse, Cory’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and giving back. And now, he’s using his past to help shape better futures for others.