Ms Haines said she has valued the variety of work experience available to her at Lithgow Hospital.

“We get all sorts of conditions through the door. This week I’ve already worked with two patients with conditions that I’d never heard of before and that’s been a great learning experience and an opportunity to develop my skills,” she said. 

Ms Haines said she really liked the mentorship at the hospital and the in-services where she had the opportunity to ask questions and learn. 

Ms Haines, who is from Sydney, will spend the year at Lithgow Hospital working under the supervision of a senior physiotherapist. She said that Lithgow was her first choice for her graduate placement.

Ms Haines feels working at Lithgow has given her more hands-on experience than may be available at other metropolitan hospitals. She said her experience so far has made the idea of remaining in a rural area even more attractive.

“It has solidified in my mind that my future is in rural physiotherapy,” Ms Haines said.

Lithgow Hospital also received a new cohort of graduate nurses on Monday, February 26. 

The nurses, Claire Clarence, Beth McGrath and Kristen Sutherland, will each undertake rotations through wards and services at the hospital, including the inpatient ward, emergency department and maternity. 

During their first year, they will work under the supervision of senior nursing staff as they continue to develop and learn.

Ms Sutherland said she was excited to begin her nursing career at her local hospital.

Ms Clarence said that she aspired to become a midwife and was keen to learn from the hospital’s staff.

“I think the midwives at Lithgow are very skilled. I’d like to study midwifery because I love working with mothers and babies and helping to bring new life into the world,” she said. 

More opportunities are now available for health workers to learn under the guidance of senior Lithgow Hospital staff.

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Lithgow Hospital general manager Jill Marjoram said that training at a progressive, rural hospital like Lithgow could have a number of benefits.

“For new graduates and students studying medicine, nursing and allied health professions, one of the benefits of working in a rural setting is that there are often more opportunities for hands-on experience and variety than at a city hospital,” Ms Marjoram said. 

In attracting developing staff to Lithgow Ms Marjoram said that she has to acknowledge the local senior medical and other clinical staff who make these opportunities possible by willingly sharing their knowledge and skills. 

With the support and expertise of senior staff Ms Marjoram said that the hospital continued to attract enthusiastic and talented health workers.

“We’re proud to have these developing staff join our hardworking team at Lithgow Hospital in their tireless efforts to provide quality care for our community,” she said.