It wasn’t until her early 30s that Jesse Kavanagh realised her calling was in healthcare.
“I want to provide not just clinical medical care but emotional support and to be the calm, compassionate presence that women (and their families) need in both their happiest and most difficult times,” Jesse said.
Jesse is one of 19 the new graduate midwives to begin in the Western Sydney Local Health District.
She joins another 100 new nurses who will begin their positions next month.
Jesse is excited to start her career as a midwife at Blacktown Hospital, the same place she gave birth to her three children.
“My experience [at Blacktown hospital] shaped my understanding of what it means to receive both compassionate care and to navigate the healthcare system,” Jess said.
Living in Western Sydney for more than two decades, Jess is passionate about giving back to her local community.
“It is where my children have been born and raised, it is where all my friends and my children’s friends are, where we have settled our roots and created our support networks, and it is the place we know as home,” Jesse said.
Jesse says her deep connection to the community is a source of admiration and strength.
“The diverse communities in this area represent a range of life experiences and culture, and I am passionate about providing care that respects and embraces that diversity,” Jesse said.
As the cohort of new graduate nurses and midwives embark on the start of their career, the excitement and sense of purpose is clear.
“I am eager to begin this new chapter and offer the support, compassion, and expertise that women deserve, all whilst growing as a midwife myself as I finally feel like I am where I am supposed to be,” Jesse said.