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Sue and I have been nursing in the same
environment in NZ for a number of years and decided
to move outside
the square and meet the challenge of nursing in Australia.
We both have
families and our youngest children are fifteen years
old, so we felt confident that our husbands and children
could cope without us for three months.
Rural Western Australia was the area that
interested us, simply because we wanted to experience
nursing that was totally different to anything we had
experienced before.
We had no expectations when we arrived
in Kalgoorlie and arrived with an open mind just thrilled
to have the opportunity to live the dream. This, I feel,
has made our time here all the more enjoyable, as everything
is new and different. As the hospital is easy walking
distance to town, life is not impossible without a car
and many local items of interest can be managed easily.
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Living onsite in the Nurses quarters has been one of the
many highlights providing non stop entertainment,
companionship and variety with the opportunity to live
and develop friendships with different cultures, nationalities
and age groups.
Working in the Special Care Unit has been
most enjoyable. The permanent staff are very patient
in teaching and tolerating the many transient staff
members who interchange here constantly.
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We had no
expectations when we arrived in Kalgoorlie and
arrived with an open mind just thrilled to have
the opportunity to live the dream.
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Australia is so very different to New Zealand. The
vastness of the country
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Right:
Sue & June in one of the Gardens that separates
the wards.
Far Right:
A road sign showing the distance
to Kalgoorlie
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is what is so obvious to begin with and it never ceases
to amaze us, that nurses, in their days off will travel
to Perth by car for the weekend when in New Zealand,
the same driving time would take you from one end of
the north island to the other. We love the red dirt,
the eucalyptus trees, the history, the vastness of the
countryside, and the friendliness of the people.
There are many highlights, but one that springs to
mind is the trip to Esperance. The scenery was fantastic,
the driving experience unique, the beaches to die for,
and yes we went swimming in May when everyone else thought
we were crazy!
Advice we would give to would be travelling
nurses is to go for it! Age is no barrier as we are
both in our late forties and have really enjoyed moving
outside our comfort zone. We haven’t
completed our three months yet and we are already planning
our next trip (if
our families and work colleagues back home can cope
without us).
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Kalgoorlie hospital has been a fantastic
experience, from our young colleagues in the nurses
quarters, the nurses we have worked with, the patient
and tolerant medical staff, the very adaptable PCA’s
and the wonderful resources of Jane from staff development.
Why HealthStaff Recruitment? Well that
is easy! Suzanne was the only one of many agencies we
contacted who replied straight away, kept in constant
contact, reassured, informed, clarified, and became
our lifeline. She even rang us once we arrived in Kalgoorlie
a couple of times much to the amazement of other nurses.
We will be going back to New Zealand all
the richer for the experience.
All the best from June & Sue
For current vacancies in Kalgoorlie
please contact HealthStaff Recruitment.
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