Beyond the challenge
Highlights
- Macy overcomes the challenges of a childhood stroke to pursue nursing, showing resilience and determination.
- Support programs and inclusive services at ACU help her succeed and stay engaged in her studies.
- Her experience inspires a strong desire to give back through care and make a difference in others’ lives.
University can be challenging at the best of times – but imagine taking on a nursing degree while recovering from an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) stroke that impacts short-term memory.
That’s exactly what ACU student Macy Smedley has done, embracing her studies and thriving with the help of ACU’s supportive programs and services designed to help every student succeed.
To make it clear, Macy is living her best life. The keen netball player is energetic, resilient, independent and has so far met all her first-year Bachelor of Nursing commitments.
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But after experiencing her AVM as a seven-year-old, Macy had a few questions about how she would handle higher education.
An AVM is a type of stroke stemming from a tangle of blood vessels that create irregular connections between arteries and veins. This disrupts blood flow and prevents tissues from receiving oxygen.
It can affect individuals differently, and in Macy’s case it impacted her short-term memory.
“For example, some one might ask 'how was your apple?' and I'd forget,” she said.
“It's challenging in different ways but I look at it as a strength. I was initially scared and frightened about telling the whole world. But I realised it’s not something to be afraid of.”
Time to step up
Macy leaned into the challenge as she neared completion of high school.
Already interested in a nursing career, she participated in the Uni Step-Up program at ACU.
The program enables Year 11 students to experience the next level by studying two first-year university units.
It can be completed online throughout the year or on campus during school holidays. Credit for completed Uni Step-Up units can be applied to continued study in a related course at ACU.
“Step-Up gives real-life experience of university to people who otherwise may not have been exposed to it,” ACU Widening Participation Officer Kennedee Jeffs said.
“Once they’ve had that taste, we hope it can shape their perception of higher education and ultimately ease their transition into future studies.”
Paying it forward
Clubs, peers and ACU’s Access and Disability Service helped Macy stay engaged in her learning journey.
The Access and Disability Service works with students and helps make reasonable adjustments to help them manage the effects of their condition.
Macy is grateful for the support and driven to succeed in her chosen career by the inspirational care that wrapped around her while coping with AVM as a child.
“I have memories of the nurses making my stay in hospital so fun,” she said.
“They put on movie nights and it made me feel not so secluded. It made me want to be in the medical field so I could show that support back to others.”
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Republished 2026