New nurse graduates Alana Shanley (left) and Summer Harris (right) will be placed across CWHHS hospitals and health services, including Winton, Barcaldine, Longreach, and Blackall.
Summary
Six new registered nurse graduates start work from 3 August with Central West Hospital and Health Service.
Six new registered nurse graduates start work from 3 August with Central West Hospital and Health Service.
Central West Health Executive Director Healthcare Access and Coordination Karen McLellan said the August intake took to 17 the total number of new graduates taken on this year, with 10 nursing and one midwifery graduates having joined the health service in February.
“The August intake graduates will be placed across our hospitals and health services, including Winton, Barcaldine, Longreach, and Blackall,” Ms McLellan said.
Initially, two nurse graduates each will be posted to Winton Multipurpose Health Service and Blackall Hospital and one each to Longreach Hospital and Barcaldine Multipurpose Health
Service.
“The nurse graduates will rotate across various clinical areas, including hospital wards and emergency departments,’’ Ms McLellan said.
“The graduates will have the opportunity to rotate to other facilities during their first year.
“Generally, Longreach will rotate with Winton and Blackall will rotate with Barcaldine.
“This rotation model is designed to help the graduates gain hands-on experience, applying their training while improving patient care throughout communities within Central West region.’’
New registered nurse Alana Shanley is one of this year’s August graduates and is no stranger to country living.
“I grew up on Brisbane’s northside but have been living in the northern rivers of New South Wales for the past five years and am currently in Ballina,’’ she said.
“I’ve always enjoyed caring for people, whether it be through disability, mental health, aged care, or drug and alcohol support work, and so nursing seemed like the next step in my career.
“I went to Southern Cross University in Lismore where I did my degree over four years and worked two or three jobs for most of that time.
“It was hard! But I enjoyed the challenge and am super proud for persevering.
“I chose the Central West nurse graduate program because I’ve heard a lot about it, and I’ve always wanted to have experiences out of the ordinary but didn’t get around to it in my 20s.
“When I looked into rural nursing, I found that there are so many opportunities and options to upskill and really just want to learn as much as I can while there.’’
Ms Shanley said her initial posting would be at Blackall Hospital and she was very keen to meet everyone there and get her career under way.
Born and bred in Brisbane, new graduate Summer Harris also joins Central West Health in August and will be posted initially to Barcaldine Multipurpose Health Service.
She completed her degree through the University of the Sunshine Coast while also working as a disability support worker.
Ms Harris said she chose to become a nurse because she wanted to help others through some of the most challenging times in their lives.
“I find it rewarding to make a positive difference,’’ she said.
“I also enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where I need to think critically and act quickly, as it keeps me engaged and continually learning.
“One of the things I love most about nursing is that no two days are the same, every shift brings new experiences, new challenges, and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.’’
Ms Harris said she applied to start her career at Central West Health because she wanted to experience the rural lifestyle and challenge herself in a new environment.
“I think I’ll gain a wider range of clinical experience and see things that I might not get the chance to see in a Brisbane hospital,’’ she said.
“I’m excited to learn, build my confidence, and make a difference while working in a close-knit community.’’
Ms McLellan said Central West Health offered a supportive and attractive environment for new nurses and midwives looking to launch their careers.
“We are thrilled to welcome these new nursing graduates,” she said.
“At Central West Health, we are committed to providing comprehensive training and mentorship to help new nurses transition from university into the workforce.”
The 12-month graduate transition program combines theoretical learning with practical assessments, offering graduates mentorship from experienced staff members.
“Our graduates are an integral part of our team, and we are proud to support them as they embark on a rewarding career,’’ Ms McLellan said.
“We hope their first year in the Central West will inspire them to continue their careers here and take advantage of the opportunities we offer.’’