We caught up with our Narrogin Lumen Study Hub neighbour, Jess Daniels from Holyoake to hear more about her educational journey.
Jess’s story is one of determination, adaptability and following your intuition. It was truly inspiring to hear Jess explain how she wanted something, saw an opportunity and took the steps to get there. From changing her Bachelor course twice to creating a job in the location she wanted by setting up her own health promotion project,
Jess’s path has been challenging but rewarding.

Growing up in Narrogin with close community connections and feeling passionate about health,
Jess knew she wanted to work in her hometown and give back to the community that raised her.
She started off with a Bachelor in Human Biology at Curtin University, with the idea of becoming a Physiotherapist. She soon realised this was not the direction she wanted to go in, and changed to Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Notre Dame. 18 months into this course, Jess wanted something a bit less sciency and more creative and community focused, leading her to course switch into Health Promotion. The transition was surprisingly smooth, thanks to Jess’s proactive approach and the support of her university coordinators. With a lot of the units being very similar,Jess was able to get 12 months of credits for previous learning, effectively only adding 6 months of extra study.
Jess moved to Perth to complete her studies, which was a bit of an adjustment at first, but she quickly found her feet with support from friends and family, joining a netball team and working part time as a babysitter and swimming instructor.
After graduating, Jess faced the challenge of finding her place in a field as broad as health promotion. She had a strong desire to return to her rural roots, and when a job opportunity in Narrogin did not immediately present itself, Jess decided to create one herself. She attended a networking event where she learned about a scholarship opportunity with the Australian Health Promotion Association, where recipients received 6 months of funding from Healthway to plan and implement a pilot Health Promotion program. Jess pitched her idea to Jo Drayton from Holyoake and she was quick to jump on board.

Lumen Wheatbelt Study Hubs – Education Success Stories
Jess and Holyoake where successful in receiving the rural scholarship and Jess started her project“Within REACH” in March 2021. The project aimed to provide reliable and easily accessible information and support on all things health and wellbeing to young people living in the Southern Wheatbelt. Despite its promising start, the initiative faced funding challenges after the initial six-month grant period. While this was a disappointment, Jess’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. She soon found herself in back-to-back roles at Holyoake and WA Country Health Service, where her innovative spirit and commitment to rural health continued to shine. Jess’s ability to adapt was evident as she navigated short-term contracts and part-time roles, eventually securing a full time position at Holyoake, focusing on alcohol and drug prevention.
Reflecting on her journey, Jess encourages others to take the first step, even if the path isn’t immediately clear. “Sometimes you just have to start,” she advises. Her own career trajectory demonstrates how exploration and openness can lead to unexpected but rewarding outcomes. She also emphasises the importance of perseverance: “If there’s no role available, create one. That’s what I did.”
Jess’s story highlights the power of resilience and flexibility in overcoming challenges. From navigating course changes to setting up innovative projects and building a career in rural health,she shows how passion and hard work can pave the way for success. For anyone considering studying or working in regional areas, Jess’s journey offers inspiration to carve your own path and create a meaningful career.
Thank you Jess for sharing your story with us!
Has Jess’s story inspired you to follow your own education dreams? Pop by one of our Lumen Study Hubs or contact us for a chat to discuss the possibilities and let us help you light your path to success.