June 15, 2017
A new Director of Nursing has started work in the South Burnett.
Registered nurse and midwife Margaret Wedge began her career in health at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where she did her nursing training.
She then worked as a nurse in Rockhampton and completed her midwifery training before moving back to Brisbane to work in a range of areas including perioperative nursing, and quality and safety.
During this time Ms Wedge undertook further study including a Graduate Diploma in Health Leadership and Management, and a Master’s Degree in advanced nursing – infection control.
Ms Wedge then pursued her interest in rural health, working in a number of roles for the South West Hospital and Health Service, culminating in becoming Director Of Nursing at Roma Hospital.
When the position of DON Rural South Burnett became available within the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS), Ms Wedge welcomed the opportunity to further her career in rural health.
Ms Wedge’s new role is based in Kingaroy but covers the whole South Burnett cluster which also includes Cherbourg, Murgon, Nanango and Wondai.
“DON Rural South Burnett is a really great role that is challenging and requires me to use all of my on-the-job experience and higher education learning,” Ms Wedge said.
“I heard good things about the Kingaroy area as a place to live and work, all of which I have found to be true.
“The South Burnett cluster of the DDHHS has a great staff of very experienced and hardworking professionals who are passionate and highly skilled.
“The DDHHS itself supports the cluster to deliver an excellent community health service that reflects its values of compassion, integrity, dignity, innovation and courage.
“Kingaroy offers a great rural lifestyle and I am particularly enjoying exploring the many walking trails around the area with my labrador.”
Ms Wedge said she was looking forward to continually improving the high standard of rural health services in the South Burnett.
“I am passionate about nursing and enabling nurses to work to their full scope of practice,” she said.
“This region has a geographical advantage of its health services being located close together, making it easier for health service teams to integrate and work together to achieve better health outcomes for patients.
“I also hope to work with the local community to get feedback on what a great health service means to them and will strive to deliver that to the best of my ability.”
