At NWRH, we’re passionate about helping our clients and supporting our community. We help people who may not have any other access to specialised healthcare, and the best part of our jobs is working with people to help them become healthier and happier.
Our podiatrist Kate and physiotherapist Olivia are part of our Longreach team, each travelling several days a week to provide services in surrounding towns in rural Queensland. In their professions, they see and treat a vast range of health concerns.
“I enjoy the variety of clinical presentations that we’re fortunate enough to see in the central west,” said Kate. “You often have to use creative problem-solving skills. Being able to travel for with work is a great advantage to the job and keeps each week interesting.”
Kate and Olivia both moved to Longreach from other parts of the country, attracted to NWRH’s workplace culture, and the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives in a close-knit community.
“I love seeing clients and building relationships with them,” said Olivia. “I see clients regularly around town. They’ll often stop me to let me know that their pain is reduced, or they have more movement, which I love.”
Our teams work independently, sharing their knowledge and working to provide high-quality care to the communities they are working in. “Working together is hugely beneficial for clients,” said Olivia. “We often have case conferences for our joint clients, and we can achieve more impactful results when we work as a team. We can also refer clients to our specialist teammates when a problem is outside our scope.”
Kate enjoys being independent and rising to the challenge of being responsible for making clinical decisions. “We receive support and have a mentoring program for both graduates and experienced clinicians. We keep in contact with other allied health professionals, such as podiatrists and physiotherapists at the hospital too. We also interact with other clinicians and do interdisciplinary case conferencing, which helps us develop other perspectives.”
Olivia and Kate take on a high level of responsibility for their clients and their work, which makes achieving great results even more rewarding. “It’s always nice to discharge clients, but it’s also sad to see them go,” said Olivia. "I had a client this week who came to see me even though they weren’t scheduled to visit. They were pain-free and just wanted to tell me how well the treatment had worked. I was so proud of their progress. Knowing they can now have a better quality of life because of our work is so exciting.”
Outside of work, Kate and Oliva are both actively involved in the community in Longreach. There’s always something to do, from kayaking at the river to playing team sports, to going out to see local attractions. Longreach is a beautiful place, and everyone loves getting outdoors.
“Longreach is a very social town and everyone is welcoming, said Kate. “There are plenty of places to go and activities to do on the weekend; from coffee shops and tennis courts, to spending weekends on the river or going to the races. It’s great having an airport so it’s easy to get away for a weekend to see family and friends.”
Kate and Olivia are both looking forward to progressing their careers and building their clinical experience. NWRH offers a range of mentoring and personal development opportunities, which Kate and Olivia are continuing to make use of as they grow in their fields.