Nurses set international horizons

Geelong nurses set international horizons

 

Two experienced nurses from St John of God Geelong Hospital are starting exciting new challenges to improve health care overseas, having been appointed to roles that will support some of the most underdeveloped communities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hospital coordinator, Liz Elsworthy, and Division One nurse, Jenny Tait-Robertson now have key roles in St John of God Health Care’s health development programs in East Timor and Papua New Guinea respectively.

Both nurses have decades of experience at St John of God Geelong Hospital and will use their finely honed skills to bring about sustainable health improvements in their new roles.

Liz will be deployed to the East Timorese capital, Dili on Monday to start her position as a Quality Nurse within the Nursing Development Program that St John of God Health Care operates in partnership with the Timorese Ministry of Health. She will live and work in Dili on a full-time basis as one of ten expatriate nurses employed by St John of God Health Care to work closely with Timorese hospital staff to improve skills and practises on the wards of the national hospital.

Jenny’s new role, as International Health Project Officer, will coordinate capacity building activities with the remote Walamu Health Clinic, to improve primary health care in collaboration with the Brothers of St John of God. Although based in Melbourne for much of this role, Jenny has already completed a needs assessment in Papua New Guinea and has previous experience in international health through delivering an immunisation program in East Timor.

Jenny said: “The Brothers of St John of God are working hard to improve essential services that would not exist without their intervention so I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with them in this new role.”

“The Walamu Health Clinic provides essential primary health care to around 6,500 local residents in very remote locations. The main challenge ahead will be addressing the future education and resource requirements to enable the community in PNG to better manage their health needs into the future.”

Reflecting on her new assignment in East Timor, Liz added: “Having worked in a top class facility like St John of God Geelong Hospital for many years the environment in East Timor will be very different. The infant mortality rate remains high in East Timor and it’s not uncommon for babies and young children to die from conditions such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. I know what to expect and I am looking forward to working alongside the Timorese nurses to help them develop the skills they need to better manage their own health facilities.”

Group Director of Social Outreach and Advocacy at St John of God Health Care, Anne Russell-Brown, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jenny and Liz to their new roles. Geelong may be without their considerable skills for a while but their expertise will certainly be put to good work in some crucial health development programs.

“All of our international health programs focus on the development of people in local communities and we strive to build the capacity of health workers in neighbouring countries where we can bring about sustainable improvements in health care.”

Click here to view story published in the Geelong Advertiser Monday 13 February 2012