Carly’s journey began when her mother-in-law passed away, bequeathing her historic home, full of nostalgia and quirks, a beloved piece of Junee heritage, that Carly and her family could not bear to part with.
“It was the most lovely, unusual place, over 100 years old. Steeped in history and a little mystery, it has all sorts of character as old places often do. We felt it was a wonderful opportunity to continue a family tradition in my mother-in-law’s memory.
“Our city lifestyle had become tedious, the long commute to and from work, the expense of a huge mortgage, the cost of living and then trying to factor in quality time for our family activities.
“I said to my husband, let’s just go, so we packed up our family for historic Junee, and have not looked back since.”
Carly has over 18 years’ experience as a Registered Nurse and manager, specialising in intensive care, and was not concerned about finding work within the Riverina and was appointed Facility Manager Position at Junee Multipurpose Service (MPS).
A country person at heart, her friendly personality and attitude, has ensured she has been able to build positive relationships with staff, general practitioners and her community alike.
“I grew up in Queanbeyan, where my mother was also a mother craft nurse at the local hospital and everyone said, ‘Hello, how are you? How can I help?’
“It is just natural to me to also be that way, my office is situated in the heart of the hospital, open and accessible where I can welcome passers-by and have the situational awareness, “Carly said.
In her 20th year of nursing, Carly’s role as Facility Manager has not interfered with her passion and dedication to practising nursing daily.
“I love caring for others and find it is a privilege to look after people, particularly when they're incredibly vulnerable. To be able have a meaningful impact in other people’s lives, as part of your working day, well it is the reason I get out of bed each morning, to be able to give to the community in that way.
“I've come from a large tertiary hospital, so there's not much I haven't seen in 18 years as a critical care /ICU nurse. I want to share that knowledge and experience with the team here at Junee,” Carly said.
“Working in a rural remote setting gives you that sense of community and that you probably make a significant difference to people's lives every single day. I feel really privileged to work with some amazing people in the team, who just want what's best for our community.
“MLHD is focused on delivering exceptional healthcare, and that starts with innovative recruitment, we want to try to grow our own health care professionals, offer as many opportunities as we can for local people who want to pursue a career in health.
Carly also has been working with the Clinical Nurse Educator to develop a structured education plan, offering programs to help staff reach their full potential. She has also facilitated the placement of four graduate nurses at the facility, broadening their placements to include time within the Acute, Emergency and Residential Aged Care setting.
“I began my career as an assistant in nursing at an aged care facility, and it was fantastic because I was able to develop meaningful relationships with the residents. It is one of the biggest privileges to look after the elderly and to ensure they are given every opportunity to live and enjoy their best life,” Carly said.
“Last year we were able to permanently place two of our Registered Nurse Graduates here which is wonderful and have committed to offering Registered Nurse Graduates placement in every intake if possible. We also support the School Based Traineeship Program, encouraging students to perhaps pursue a career with us in the future.
Carly feels passionate about inspiring people to share their ideas, their goals, and then trying to make those things happen.
“I've achieved a lot in my career, and we have an amazing team here. Nurses seem to have a thirst for knowledge, to broaden their skills, so I want to foster good relationships and nurture professional growth.
Carly encourages other health professionals who are seeking a change, to consider living and working in a more rural, remote area.
“Just do it! You develop a different set of skills and have more opportunities for career development and leadership. To be part of a smaller community where you can make such a significant difference to people you come to know, means that you really do have better job satisfaction.
“I have gone from commuting over 45 minutes to and from work each day in the city, to literally always being just two minutes away, if ever my children need me.
“There is something extra special about knowing you have that time with your family, taking the pressure off, and still enjoying a rewarding career and making a difference.