Derry grandmother credits NWRC for "seamless transition" to midwifery career

Local mum and granny Laura Morrison, who just recently qualified as a midwife – says returning to full time education in her 40s was one of the best decisions she ever made.

Laura graduated from Queen’s, attending the prestigious university after completing the Adult Access Course in Health and Welfare Diploma at North West Regional College (NWRC).

And during College’s Week 2026, celebrating how colleges equip people from all walks of life with the education, training, and skills they need to succeed, Laura is telling her story championing adult and lifelong learners.  

“If you’d told me five years ago that I’d be leaving a 17-year career in Mortgage Services behind and becoming a midwife, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Laura. “And to top it all I became a mamó (granny) to Maeve which was special.  

“I had already had a Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Computer Science but with the job I was working in the pressure was becoming too much. When Covid hit and everyone started working at home my husband saw the pressure I was under, so when the chance of redundancy came up, we decided to go for it.

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“I applied for Midwifery, but I didn’t get in because I didn’t have my GCSE Science. I wasn’t sure what to do then – go back to work or not – but I found out about the Access course at NWRC and managed to get my application in right before the deadline.

“Studying the Access course was the best thing I could’ve done, looking back now I see it was the right path for me, if I had gone straight to Uni it would have been a struggle because I had been out of education so long.

“It was a great asset for me on the academic side because when I went to Queen’s to study Midwifery it was a completely seamless transition because of everything I had learned.”

Laura says studying Midwifery was demanding. - “Some mornings I was up at 5:30 and not home until late, I have the most supportive husband and family who helped me manage it all. 

“I am delighted now to have qualified – it’s a big deal going from a student in a white tunic to a blue one and it’s taking time to get used to. 

“Midwifery is a rewarding career – but so different to how some people view it – it’s not just about holding a wee baba – we provide emotional support, supporting women on all stages of their journey

“The big thing I've learned and love about being a midwife is being there for women through some of their most vulnerable, exciting, nervous, happy, sad times of their lives and being their voice and advocate when they need it.

“To anyone considering returning to education I would say think about it. I’m delighted I did it.”

NWRC offers Access courses in Health & Welfare, Science and Combined Studies. To find out more visit www.nwrc.ac.uk/fulltime.