But instead he was the first ever student to achieve 100 per cent, with his final mark over the two-year course being an impressive 95 per cent.

It follows similarly high marks in his Master of Science (Dementia) which he completed two years earlier.

Mr Nancarrow is a Ballarat Health Services’ Bill Crawford Lodge nurse unit manager and said he took up the studies to help his dementia understanding.

“I have a good insight now into what people with dementia are going through and their families too,” Mr Nancarrow said.

“It’s very misunderstood and we have more young people coming in too. It’s more prevalent than before.”

He said Ballarat also has a big indigenous population but he hadn’t realised they faced disadvantages in accessing health care in particular.

“Even health policies today are….aimed at the white, mainstream population.”