Celebrating our Australian Defence Forces Reserve
We are very proud to have been awarded an Employer Support Award by Defence Reserves Support Tasmania, and privileged to support the work of our Australian Defence Force Heroes in keeping our people, properties and animals safe.
Transitioning out of the Defence Forces, Sharon White was looking for a role which would give her the sense of purpose and belonging she had grown use to when she was in the Australian Army, which included a tour in Iraq.
In a challenge presented to many who have served their country, Sharon struggled to identify where she belonged, and with finding a workplace where she could be part of a valued team and continue to contribute to society.
She landed a role at Hobart Day Surgery in January 2020, and within hours of starting her new position, was called out by the Army Reserve to assist with the bushfire outbreak over the 2019/20 summer.
Facing a dilemma – reporting for duty with the Army Reserve, or reporting to Hobart Day Surgery – Sharon decided to try and do both. On arriving for her induction at the hospital Sharon placed her deployment papers, alongside her faith in people, on the desk of Hobart Day Surgery’s Director of Nursing, Fiona Svamvur, anxious she would lose her job on her first day. Immediately understanding the situation, Fiona was quick to reassure Sharon she would have a job when she returned, and with a strong sense of pride in her country, Sharon left for deployment.
The bushfires left havoc in their wake, and much of Sharon’s role was related to the ensuing clean up.
“We went to a koala sanctuary where the army had constructed pens and in which the little koalas that recovered were safely held. The sanctuary accommodated over 100 koalas, many of which required treatment for burns, and were suffering from dehydration and starvation”.
“We were also responsible for cleaning up properties. We were sleeping in the school gym on the floor, working hard with limited food, but we were helping people who had lost everything – their homes, their livelihoods. We saw dead animals everywhere – birds, sheep – the smell was horrific, and the experience traumatic”.
Hobart Day Surgery has now been acknowledged for its role in facilitating Sharon’s involvement in the clean-up, announced as the winner in the Private Sector Medium Business Category Employer Support Awards by the Defence Reserves Support Tasmania.
For Fiona Svamvur the decision was an easy one, “We have enormous respect for Sharon’s selfless dedication and we’re proud of having been able to support her in this important endeavour. This is completely aligned with our values at Nexus of always endeavouring to bring out the best in human nature and we are delighted she has found a home with us.”
For Sharon, it’s all about the sense of greater purpose. “If you can see and help somebody – that’s something I love doing”. Sounds like a great fit for a hospital that focusses on placing patients first.
