Graeme Walker - North West Private Hospital

Graeme Walker has been Allied Health Manager at Ramsay Health Care's North West Private Hospital in Brisbane for more than four years.

What's the best part about your job?

Leading a team of skilled and compassionate health professionals that make a positive change in people's lives every day.

What is something about your job that not many people know about, and what would surprise other people about working in a private hospital?

The depth and breadth of services in world-class surroundings based on the latest medical evidence and science including: acute care, maternity, outpatients, mental health, rehabilitation, counselling, exercise physiology, chronic pain management, cancer care, dietetics, orthopaedic surgery, neurology, psychiatry, speech therapy etc. The list goes on and on and on. We are blessed to have access to the best healthcare in the world.

What do you love about working in a private hospital?

Staff are dynamic, proactive and solution-focused. Of course, there are difficulties and challenges within every hospital and workplace but if you have a team that support each other and want the best outcome for the patient, it creates a fantastic working culture.

What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is something your colleagues don't know about you?

I just joined a trail-running club who happen to be sponsored by a craft ale. From what I can understand, they run up and down incredibly steep hills as quick as they can, sometimes in the dark, and then celebrate with an ice-cold beer afterwards. What's not to like?

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

I have two pieces of advice:

• In the workforce, always act like you are 35. A recruiter gave me this advice some years ago. It is quite inspired. What she meant was, when you are young in the workplace, don't act as a novice. If you are smart and competent, step up and do whatever you are capable of doing in a mature way. Similarly, when you are an older worker, don't act like it. Approach your day with youthful energy. To quote a famous Frank Sinatra song: "You're 35 and it's a very good year."
• Never work for horrible people. Life is way too short to tolerate really bad bosses. If you find yourself working for one, start looking for a new job. Immediately. Then sack the bad boss. By leaving.

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1/4/2024 Shaelene Marshall - Hillcrest Rockhampton Private Hospital