Navigating a New Path: From Public Health to Private Stomal Therapy & Wound Care
For over nine years, I worked in the public health sector as a Registered Nurse, gaining invaluable experience across a vast range of clinical presentations. Being part of a highly skilled team on a high-acuity surgical ward, we tackled complex cases with confidence and expertise. At the time, we didn’t fully recognise the exceptional level of skill we possessed, but looking back, I feel incredibly grateful to have flourished alongside such an amazing team. We lifted one another up, shared knowledge, and mentored countless nurses who came and went over the years.
But like many in the industry, the growing complexity of patient care without corresponding changes in nurse-to-patient ratios left us stretched thin. The unpaid overtime, the emotional and physical exhaustion—it all began to take its toll. I found myself questioning whether I could sustain this path for another 30 years. What truly ignited my passion for nursing? What gave me the drive to keep going?
The answer was clear: Stomal Therapy & Wound Care.
After becoming a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence, I recognised a glaring gap in services. The expansive Mallee region of Victoria—like many rural areas across Australia—had no access to community-based specialised support in these crucial areas. My passion for both stomal therapy and rural healthcare drove me to take a leap of faith and commit to making a lasting change.
Establishing a private, mobile, in-home nursing service was no small decision. Private nursing practice remains a relatively new concept in Australia, and finding the answers I needed wasn’t always straightforward. There were moments of doubt—was I making the right choice? But despite the uncertainties, I knew that meaningful, lasting change takes time.
Not every day is filled with direct client care, but the work behind the scenes is just as crucial. Countless hours are spent refining clinical policies and procedures—because even though it’s just me running my business, having a strong foundation is pivotal. I dedicate time to sending emails, making phone calls, and writing letters to organisations across the region—not just to promote my services, but to advocate for individuals who have long been without access to specialised community-based care.
This journey is challenging, but it’s also deeply fulfilling. Rural health matters. Access to specialised care should not be a luxury—it should be a right. And I’m committed to forging a new path to ensure that people in the Mallee, and beyond, receive the support they deserve.
