Emergency nursing specialist joins Urgent Care
We are pleased to welcome Mary-Ann Smith who has taken up the role of Nurse Unit Manager in our Urgent Care Centre (UCC) after living and working around the globe.
Mary-Ann and her partner Erick recently relocated from New Zealand to join us in the heart of the beautiful Central Goldfields in Victoria.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mary-Ann trained as a nurse and midwife in South Africa. She brings strong nursing skills and expertise from managing maternity and emergency departments in places far and wide – from her homeland to South Africa, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
With a Masters in Emergency Nursing behind her Mary-Ann has her sights set on developing the UCC into a centre of excellence with a big focus on education and upskilling her team.
“I would love every moment to be a teaching moment. My goal is to make everyone the best version of themselves,” said Mary-Ann.
The opportunity to experience a different way of life while working in a rural health setting helped prompt the move to Australia, with many leisure opportunities available outside of work.
“We’re very outdoorsy, so this appealed to us a lot, especially as my husband is a keen cyclist, and I have a much better work-life balance in this environment.”
From the word go, Marie-Ann and Erick felt supported and part of the community.
A local GP invited them for dinner on their first night and loaned them a car, while MDHS assisted with housing to help the couple settle into their new environment.
The fitness duo enjoy exploring Maryborough and surrounding towns like Dunolly and Castlemaine, as well as the local bushlands.
“I love going for walks in the forests – it’s so good for the soul. I’m still looking for koalas.”
As an accomplished group fitness instructor in pilates, yoga, pump and spin, Mary-Ann is taking classes at a local fitness provider, which is helping her meet many new people.
“The whole community is so friendly. Wherever you go, your accent is a giveaway. As soon as you open your mouth people want to know where you’re from, how you got here and you have a conversation.
“As soon as they hear that I’m a midwife and an ED nurse they say – oh, we’re so lucky to have you. They make you feel that the town is a better place for having you here.”
Thanks, Mary-Ann. We are so glad you’re here.
With nursing staff in demand and a fantastic country lifestyle on offer, now is a great time to apply for a nursing role at Maryborough District Health Service.
For more information about current vacancies visit: mdhs.vic.gov.au/careers
About us
Maryborough District Health Services is a progressive and inclusive healthcare provider offering a wide range of health services in the Central Goldfields in Victoria.
Our vision is to change the healthcare story as we embark on a major transformation to improve health outcomes in the region.
This is an exciting time to join our team with a new $100 million dollar hospital on the way, and a dedicated team of more than 450 staff to provide best practice care.
In addition to offering the advantages of affordable, country living, we provide benefits such as training and development through our Centre of Inspired Learning, flexible work arrangements, salary packaging, social club activities, and staff support through our health and wellbeing and employee assistance programs.