Sue Hall Wins QNMU Award for Excellence

The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) is the professional association for nurses and midwives in Queensland. Their annual Awards recognise and celebrate the professional excellence and contribution of its 69,000 members. A QNMU member of 45 years, Sue believes the only way to improve the health system is to be a united front. She strongly advocates for a collaborative working environment where staff are encouraged to learn and constantly improve their skills for their communities.

Sue has been Tieri’s resident child health nurse, midwife and immunisation nurse for over two decades and delivered countless babies in that time…some of which were in an ambulance en route to the hospital!

Tieri News caught up with Sue to chat about her recent win, her career journey and why she loves being a nurse and midwife.

What does winning this award mean to you?
To be recognised by not only my colleagues, but by the community is such an amazing feeling. It is actually very surreal. After 45 years of nursing, I was still stunned at the variety a nursing career offers now. The people at the presentation night were all so very talented and passionate about their jobs, yet they were all so very different, except for one thing: the goal of giving great care to people.

What prompted you to become a nurse?
Well, it’s a funny story actually. I wanted to be a policewoman, but in those days police women stayed at their desks, no females were out and about in the field. I never could sit still very well, so I looked into Nursing. Shift work, family friendly, lots of variety, government job, stability, and I liked to talk to people – I thought it sounded great. Many vocations did not allow you to work once you were married and had children – there was no maternity leave when we had our children. Back then, a woman’s place was in the home!

Where did you train and when did you qualify?
I did my training at Rockhampton Base Hospital in 1977. Training was done at the hospital, not at a University. The Sisters still wore the flying caps on their heads and all nurses wore uniforms that were colour-coded to represent what year level they were.

I qualified in 1980. I nursed for a few years and then we had our wonderful children. I went to University to do my Bachelor of Health Science, then my Midwifery and then Child and Adolescent Health. I couldn’t have done all that studying without my husband who was not only good with taking the kids fishing and camping, but also the housework, so I could study.

Any patient moments or stories from our career that stand out for you?
Where do I start?! Sorry, what happens at the Tieri Family Unit and Child Health Centre
stays at the centre – your secrets are safe with me, Mums and Dads of Tieri!

But I will say I have had many a great laugh with parents regarding their children. REMEMBER: if they are still sleeping in your bed when they are 18 years of age and they bring the girlfriend or boyfriend into bed with you then, YES, we definitely have a problem!

What do you love most about your job as a nurse?
What’s there not to love? The people and families are amazing, the way they let me into their homes and lives and the trust we build is rewarding. I love the freedom I have, to provide care to people and families within our region.

The versatility of this centre is great. I see antenatal and postnatal women; babies and toddlers from birth; immunisations from birth to 100 year olds; primary and secondary school children through to elderly clients. The list is never ending.

What do you remember about your first week on the job in Tieri?
That was a long time ago, nearly 25 years – a quarter of a century! Tieri was in the middle of
the boom then. I was seeing 50 clients a week and we had 60 babies born in town each year. I know I didn’t have any administration assistance, so paperwork? What paperwork?!?! LOL.

Fast forward to today, what’s your current focus in your role?
Providing the best care that my community needs. The client will always come first and foremost in this position, and I will do everything possible to make sure they know someone is fighting for them and their health.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or mention?
I would like to thank my husband, Darrell, for helping me study and thereby obtain the best job in the world.

I would also like to thank my Administration Officer (AO) past and present, Kerry. Without a great AO, I really would go around in circles. It’s not a pretty sight.

Also thank you to our Operational Stream past and present, Darrell and Krissy. The centre does look like a cyclone has entered, but believe me when I say the children had the best time playing.

As for the grounds, they always look great, and the gardens take a lot of work to maintain.

And of course, a very special thank you to the Tieri community for all your support. There has been many a tear shed in the centre, but a lot of laughter as well. You are amazing, don’t forget that. Be kind to yourself.