Building compassionate careers

Among the thousands of proud Victoria University (VU) students who graduated in late 2023, there were four young people who were weeks away from embarking on careers that would test them in untold ways, but also bring a deep sense of personal pride. 

Imogen Nunddam (Immy), Tristan Williams, Tayla de Santa-ana and Rhys Radcliffe all work in various key positions at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, located on unceded Wurundjeri land.  

Like their proud Indigenous ancestry, each of the roles has a common thread; they work to improve the day-to-day lives of the people who come to St Vincent’s looking for care and compassion. 

Immy's story

Along with being a third-generation nurse, following in the footsteps of her Mum and Grandmother, she is also working on a research project in a First Nations Out-reach role for the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED), a telehealth consultation service at Northern Health. 

“I work with First Nations GP centres and I help patients use the system. I also do all the follow-up calls after their first consultations to see how they’re feeling.”  

Immy has also taken on additional work in The Centre for Palliative Care unit where she coordinates part of the program that focuses on engaging with First Nations peoples, along with creating opportunities for education and placements.

As a proud Gunditjimara woman, Immy says working in a cultural safe space is important, professionally and personally.

It’s great to know that I can connect with community at work and meet people from other communities, too. VU was a safe place for me to study – especially Moondani Balluk, it was great to know that other mob were around for support.

As a nursing student, Imogen said the VU Block Model was instrumental to her success. 

“I don’t know about other areas of study, but with nursing, staying organised is key. The VU Block Model meant I knew what was coming so I could plan my subjects, assignments and placements.”

Tristan's story

Colleague and VU alum Tristan Williams is an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer at St Vincent’s but is about to move into a new role as a Community Mental Health Engagement Worker. At any given time, he works with around 40 patients, many of them from First Nations or Torres Strait Island communities. Part of his job is to offer cultural support and help patients who need access to extra services.  

We see a lot of people who are suffering from inter-generational trauma. For many First Nations patients, hospitals can be frightening places. Historically, hospitals are where people had their children taken from them, or where they were mis-diagnosed or treated badly.

“Part of my work is to bridge the gap between patients and the hospital. I’m a friendly face – I talk with them, give them a cuppa, be an advocate and build trust.”  

Tristan, from Wiradjuri (NSW) and Wotjobaluk (Northern Victoria) Country, studied Social Work at VU and said the VU Block Model was a good match in terms of how he approached his study-load. “I’m task-driven, so studying one subject at time worked for me. It was still intense at times, but I couldn’t imagine juggling multiple subjects.”   

“I didn’t grow up in the nicest environments, so the idea of graduating from university was not something I considered until I was older. Graduation day was amazing but also overwhelming. I studied all through COVID, which wasn’t easy. A lot of my peers struggled financially and mentally, but we got through it.” 

Tayla's story

Social Worker Tayla de Santa-ana said there was a time when she felt lost when it came to choosing a career path, but experiences such as volunteering for mob and community events led her to VU, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work.  

Recently promoted from a Graduate Social Worker to a Grade One Social Worker, Tayla says her mother, who has worked “immensely hard for our First Nation community and families as a Koori Engagement Support Officer” inspired her career goals. “My mother continues that support in her current role within the Children’s Court. She challenges my thinking and inspires me to create a safe and supportive atmosphere around me for my community.” 

At St Vincent’s, Tayla works with acute patients, listens to their stories, acknowledges their experiences, and advocates for her patients, along with planning their discharge and ensuring support services are in place.    

A culturally safe space at work for me means having a designated First Nations location to come to debrief, feel safe, and supported. The Wilam Ngarrang Unit at St. Vincent’s offers all the above and more.

Rhys' story

Rhys Radcliffe wouldn’t mind a few more extra hours in the day. Right now, he’s working as an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer, along with studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at VU, and by next year, he hopes to be studying medicine at the University of Melbourne. Rhys' younger sister Grace is currently at VU, studying a Diploma in Education.

Growing up in the coastal West Australian town of Geraldton, Rhys’ love of the sea sparked an interest in marine biology, but his experience working as Aboriginal Health Worker at the local medical service set him on a different path.   

Along with his workmates, Rhys appreciates the effort St Vincents’ Hospital extends to First Nations staff. “Having a culturally safe workplace means I can be who I am”.

While studying at VU, the four students crossed paths with the then Student Employment Alumni Officer Irene Sazdov, whose role centred around creating employment opportunities for students eager to begin new careers.  

Now an Employment Consultant at Melbourne's not-for-profit agency MatchWorks, Irene was instrumental in connecting the students with their current employer. 

“I worked with the former VU students, along with Chris Delamont, St Vincent’s Human Resources First Nations Recruitment Co-ordinator who promotes and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. I’m incredibly impressed with how their careers have progressed.”

Chris has a long-standing connection with VU’s Aboriginal Student Support Coordinator. 

“It has been amazing that both organisations share the same values when it comes to First Nations education, employment and career progression. It is through these values that Rhys, Tayla, Immy and Tristan have become such role models for future First Nations people when it comes to careers in healthcare,” said Chris. 

Pride is a sentiment echoed by Registered Nurse, Nicole Watt, who manages the Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Services. 

“I am so proud to have witnessed their journey and success within our organisation.” 

For Marcus Brooke, Aboriginal Student Support Coordinator at VU, watching the students’ journey has been a career highlight. 

“Each of them has been outstanding ambassadors. To see Rhys, Tayla, Immy and Tristan make the most of their respective opportunities and truly excel is a testament to their diligence and the strong connection, primarily driven by Irene, between Moondani Balluk and St Vincent's. We couldn't be prouder of their achievements."

Discover more about VU's Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit.