Kerri Curran  -   11/05/2007
The opportunity to work in the rural setting for a few weeks presented itself in mid-1997. All of my final year Dietetics placements were in Melbourne, and a ten-week temporary position in Swan Hill would provide a great experience. Little did I know at the time, that ten years later I would still be experiencing a diverse role offered by the Dietetics Department of Swan Hill District Health! Not long into the ten-week stint, it was clear that the position I was covering could become a permanent one. Each weekend, I returned to Melbourne and scanned the employment pages. Swan Hill was a long drive from home, family and friends, but other jobs advertised didn’t seem as though they would offer a role as varied as what I was experiencing. At that time my job involved providing nutrition support and advice to patients on the acute wards and residents in Aged Care, providing nutrition education in outpatients and presenting to a range of school and community groups, and client groups such as at Antenatal classes and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Over the years, my role has changed with the expansion of our Department. My role continues to include seeing individual clients and presenting to a variety of community groups in and around Swan Hill. I am also facilitating a men’s health program, assisting schools with developing Food and Nutrition Policies and healthy canteen menus, writing newsletters for schools and clients with diabetes and writing nutrition tips for the local newspaper, workplaces and school newsletters. Although, due to distance, it is often difficult to attend seminars and conferences, Professional Development is supported. I have had the opportunity to attend National Conferences and numerous other workshops and seminars. SHDH also supported me in completing a Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and a Certificate in Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics. Time spent on the road between Swan Hill and Melbourne has lessened, from weekly to once every few weeks. It took a while to get involved in netball and the Swan Hill social scene, but I have now been involved with a local netball club for several seasons, played night netball with a few different teams (winning one grandfinal) and I also participated in the Murray River Marathon with a team of friends and workmates. The Allied Health team has always been a social bunch, with morning teas, after work drinks, and the odd party, barbeque or winery tour, and many past and present workmates have become great friends. And with a mortgage, marriage to a local farmer and two children, it looks like ten weeks in Swan Hill could become much, much longer.
  Maryjane Burns  -   15/06/2005
After completing my “Diploma of Applied Science (Nursing)” at Ballarat University, I did my graduate year at Swan Hill District Health. I then moved to Melbourne and completed a diabetes course whilst working night duty at Rosebud. Once I completed the course I couldn’t wait to move back to the country life at Swan Hill to enjoy the BBQs, the open spaces and my pets. After six months I moved to Mildura and completed my midwifery and coronary course and became an associate charge nurse. Mildura was too far away in the sense of travelling to horse races and horse shows, that was my leisure time activity so you guessed it I moved back to Swan Hill. Many years on and I have married a local, had a child and am now the Staff Development Officer. In this role I greet and orientate all new staff and try to make all new staff feel welcome. Since returning to Swan Hill the ‘My Hospital’ concept has been developed. I whole-heartedly support this initiative as it supports giving ownership of the Hospital to the staff as well the community. Swan Hill District Health is truly one big happy family that is a big part of the Swan Hill community. At Swan Hill District Health people know you by your name, as does your manager. They care for you as an individual and a person that is part of a proactive business heading towards a bright future. I am proud to be part of the team/family at Swan Hill District Health and look as though I will be here for future years to come. It’s not just any hospital, it’s ‘My hospital’.