March 2013 - Hunter New England Health - NSW Government

From Ireland to Moree, with no regrets
Attracting health professionals to work in rural and remote areas is
rarely an easy undertaking, particularly if they are overseas-trained.In
fact, the process is notoriously challenging. Recruiters need to navigate
the red tape associated with visas, sponsorship and qualifications. They
also need to ‘sell’ the unique lifestyle that comes with country centres.
But for the team at Moree Community Health, a recent overseas-trained
nursing placement has proven refreshingly straightforward. And the
keys to success have been a simple networking partnership, combined
with some old-fashioned country hospitality.
Margaret Hayes travelled more than 15,000 kms to take up her position
as a Child and Family Health Nurse at Moree, and says she has had no
regrets since arriving in Australia in November last year.
“Moving your family to another continent is not an easy decision – in
fact, many people warned us off the idea," Margaret said.
"But we have felt really supported and encouraged every step of the way."
Along with her husband Eamonn and two boys Timmy (15) and Jacob
(8), Margaret has found life in Moree "wonderful", with the welcome
received from locals described as "warm in every way".
“My advice to others considering working in a rural area is to keep
an open mind, and try not to have any preconceived ideas," said
Margaret.
"It will be different to what you might be used to, but if you take people
and situations as they come, there are many, many benefits to living in
the country".
For Margaret, the professional transition from Northern Ireland to
Moree has been smooth. She had spent the past 12 years working
within regional communities as a Health Visitor, the UK-equivalent of a
Child and Family Health Nurse.
The transition was certainly made easier, however, thanks to the
practical backing she received from HNE Health and the Rural
Doctor’s Network (RDN).
Moree Community Health’s Anne Lemmon worked closely with Emer
O’Callaghan from the RDN’s Rural Health Professionals Program to
secure Margaret’s placement, after recruitment for the child and family
health position had proven unsuccessful for more than six months.
"If it wasn’t for Emer and the Rural Health Professionals Program team,
we would never have found Margaret, and she might not have found us,”
Anne explained.
The Hayes family with Anne Lemmon (right)
“Emer guided us throughout, from initially putting us in contact with
Margaret, then during the interview, vetting and appointment processes.
She helped us arrange the relevant Australian training Margaret was
required to complete before she could officially be appointed.
“Although she’s based in Newcastle and I’m in Moree, Emer and I
were able to establish an excellent working relationship via phone
and email. She really has been a joy to work with and is an excellent
communicator, and the end result is a staffing appointment that we are
extremely happy with.”
Anne also went above and beyond the call of duty in an effort to make
Margaret and her family feel at home. She inspected rental properties
on Margaret’s behalf and emailed her the relevant photos, collected
Margaret and her family from the train when they arrived in Moree, and
arranged a welcome barbecue at her own home. A gift basket was also
arranged via Tourism Moree, which featured local food and information
about the region and events.
It really has been an invaluable experience in how to attract overseastrained
staff to a regional community,” Anne said.
“Working with Emer and the team has given me the confidence to
pursue other overseas applicants and consider sponsorship, and to
think outside the square when it comes to recruitment.”
Tamworth redevelopment to benefit mums and bubs
Mums and their babies from across the New
England North West will soon be cared for in
one of the newest maternity units in the state.
Next year construction will begin on the new
Tamworth Hospital building, which will include
the new maternity unit, birthing suites and
special care nursery.
"The brand new maternity unit, featuring 10
single rooms with private ensuites, will give
mums more privacy before and after they give
birth,” said Tamworth Hospital Maternity Unit,
Nurse Unit Manager Maureen Dawson.
“Having private ensuites in each room will
mean mums can stay in their room to use the
bathroom rather than making the sometimes
tiring walk to the shared bathroom at the end
of the corridor.”
An extra delivery room will be included in the
new birthing unit, taking the capacity from
three to four birthing rooms complete with
island baths.
“We have one older, shared bath in our current
unit, so it’s excellent that all women will have
access to a bath right in their delivery suite,”
says Mrs Dawson.
The new special care nursery will include 12 places
compared to the six cots currently available.
In time, and with more planning, the special
care nursery will care for babies born at 32
weeks. Right now all babies born under 34
weeks are transferred to a more specialised
hospital for care.
“The change will mean we can care for
children who have more serious conditions
such as respiratory distress, and fewer
families will have to follow their baby to a
larger centre,” Mrs Dawson said.
hnehealth.nsw.gov.au 3