Making a difference drives Change Manager Jodie
After more than 30 years within the finance sector, Change Manager Jodie Thomas wanted to work in an industry where she would make a difference.
2 Dec 2022
Making the leap into health care with St John of God Health Care in May 2022, Jodie said she hasn’t looked back.“I was a bit exhausted and stale after working in finance and thought I needed to do something completely different,” she said.
“I chose the care sector and more specifically hospitals because I wanted to make a difference. I am not sure if there was any unconscious bias in play either but our son had just welcomed a son at St John of God Subiaco Hospital and I live near St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital where I visit the physiotherapist regularly, so I was familiar with the organisation.”
Since joining, Jodie has been part of a team helping to implement two major projects within two completely different spheres – one regarding security and another regarding the clinical upgrade of our existing cardiovascular system.“I have a real sense of satisfaction in working on these two projects which are completely different and allow me to work with a range of stakeholders,” she said.
“What I have loved is working with the clinicians who are so helpful, even when they are under the pump and have so many competing priorities, they still want to help.
“They’re just really easy to talk to particularly when I get to meet them face to face in the hospitals.
“The other thing I have loved is learning about what is required to run a hospital. I think we all know it is complex to run a hospital but when you get actually get in behind the scenes, it’s just mind blowing and I really enjoy that because it is a really good challenge.”
Jodie said she had gained a real sense of purpose in working within health care.
“The difference between working in finance and health care is that at the end of the day I am contributing to making someone healthier and better, which is so much more rewarding,” she said.
“For me personally, I know that I am doing something much more important now than what I was doing.”
Jodie said she was enjoying her flexible working arrangements, on par with other industries, but with an added benefit.
“The difference for me is that my job is nine to five,” she said.
“That’s not to say there's times when you don't do a little bit extra here and there, particularly during a critical phase of a project but I don’t do that every day or have to sustain it for 18 months.
“The other aspect that is nice is our working environment at Kings Square One in Perth. When you do come into the office, everyone is really lovely and I’ve never had anyone push back on me even when calling them out of the blue and asking for some information which you have to do as a new starter.”
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