Celebrating 50 years of compassionate care

From her first days as a young General Nurse at Auburn District Hospital in 1976, Louise’s career has spanned an extensive list of roles including as a Registered Nurse, Childbirth Educator, QUIT Counsellor, Tobacco Health Promotion Officer and Senior Project Officer.

“Nothing beats delivering babies as a midwife but then also the satisfaction of working with patients on their terms in their homes as a community nurse is also super rewarding,” says Louise.

Along the way, she broadened her skills through counselling and social work studies, strengthening her holistic approach to patient care.

“I have loved almost every part of my time in health and feel grateful to have had so many ‘different jobs’ all rolled up into the one career,” says Louise.

Throughout five decades of change, including the introduction of technologies and improved access to care, Louise has kept the community at the heart of everything she does.

Today, as Senior Health Promotion Officer, Louise is known for championing kind, inclusive and culturally safe care. Her leadership has been instrumental in initiatives such as the Inclusion Collaborative, which she describes as one of her proudest career achievements.

“Throughout my entire career, my responsibilities have shifted but my interest in inclusive, kind and equitable healthcare has always remained and grown,” says Louise.

“Seeing the Inclusion Collaborative grow and help shape the way we care about all people is probably up there in the reward stakes”.

When asked what’s next for her life and career plans, with a smile Louise admits there is still more she would like to achieve.

“There is still unfinished business to sort, and I need to decide what to do when I grow up!”

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District warmly congratulates Louise Maher on her extraordinary 50 years of service to our community.