Rockhampton Mental Health expansion

>> Jo – Clinical Nurse:

So what attracted me to the region was me and my husband were working separate shifts, and we were complete ships in the night.

An opportunity came up for my husband to be a CNC for the early psychosis team.

And just the region, just everything just seemed so much nicer than where we were at the time.

>> Phil – Clinical Nurse Consultant:

There was a number of things that surprised me about the region.

I think the first thing that stood out was that everybody was friendly.

And that's not to say they haven't been friendly where I've been before, but I think people seem to have a bit more time for you here. They're very welcoming.

>> Iain – Nurse Manager, Acute Care Services:

It's a little bit more laid back up here.

The work's the same, the people are the same, but it's just a little bit more laid back. Looking at the expansions and just the changes that are occurring here is something that really appealed to me.

Got a new building coming up, mental health inpatient unit, but we've also got some smaller boutique services that we're kind of putting into effect here in Rockhampton.

>> Solveigh – Clinical Psychologist:

So I've come actually from a metro area, and something that really attracted me here is the lifestyle, and also the better commute to and from work and better parking, and also housing affordability.

One of the other pros for Queensland Health is the work-life balance and flexible working arrangements.

I have recently been off on maternity leave and just returned, and being able to come back and work in a really supportive environment where I can balance that work and family life.

>> Phil:

Working in regional mental health is different, and I think one of the differences for me that's really struck me is that there's less available to us as a service, but people seem to really excel when it comes to that and really make the best of everything they have, which gives us all really a closeness and makes for a better team. And people are looking out for one another more.

>> Jo:

My manager has been really good at pointing out what I'm doing really well and just appreciating what you do a bit more, which is nice.

>> Solveigh:

Big focus is really around ensuring that there is a supportive staff culture, and that wellbeing of staff is actually at the centre of it as well, and also that there are those ongoing opportunities for career development and progression.

>> Phil:

There's definitely an opportunity to work to your full scope of practice. I've arrived here and taken on a more senior position. It's now allowing me to expand my knowledge.

>> Iain:

So joining my team, look, it's challenging, but then mental health is challenging.

But if you want some variety, covering ED, CL, acute care, there's the inpatient unit, there is so much opportunity here.

And there's so much funding going into our area as a whole. It is literally an exciting time to be looking at coming to somewhere like Rockhampton or the Cap Coast.

It's the time to come to an area that's changing, and changing positively, and just creating a better client experience.