Engineering a Brighter Future: Katherine Awarded Leadership Scholarship

Katherine, who works in the Engineering Department, is using the scholarship to complete a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management through the Australian Institute of Management.

Katherine said she was excited for the opportunity to continue learning and strengthen her leadership skills.

“I love working in the Engineering Department of the hospital because every day is different,” she said.

“I’m constantly learning new skills, meeting people and finding ways to help others.

“I love learning and want to make sure I can lead my team to the best of my ability, while also building stronger connections with other leaders and managers across the organisation.”

First offered in 2021 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Sisters’ foundation, the Sister Bridget Clancy Scholarship honours the visionary and courageous women who founded St John of God Health Care in Australia. The scholarship supports female caregivers undertaking studies focused on leadership development or women’s health.

Katherine has worked at Murdoch for the past eight years, beginning her career at the hospital as Maintenance Planner before stepping into the role of Project Engineer.

“I started at Murdoch in October 2018 as the Maintenance Planner, and in November 2022 became the Project Engineer,” she said.

“A lot of people don’t realise there is an Engineering Department, or that we do far more than fix door handles and replace lights.

“I really enjoy talking with people and learning how things work - whether it’s understanding a piece of equipment, seeing how a process is undertaken, or finding ways it could be improved.”

For Katherine, the most rewarding part of working in health care is knowing her work contributes to better outcomes for patients and caregivers alike.

“I love the fact that what we do can make such a difference in someone’s life, even if they never know you were involved,” she said.