Tag: Mornington Island

Musings about my time nurse practitioning on Mornington Island.

Just a Travel Update

It’s been a while since posting an update on my work in Mornington Island. Today marks my second rotation so I figure a quick update is warranted.

There’s been a flurry of activity since my last stint there. In the last week I’ve been to Perth for meetings, followed by Sydney for a really great dermoscopy course, and am now in Mount Isa getting ready for another flight to Mornington! Some interesting photos from my most recent travels:

Salt Flats Over WA

No those aren’t clouds from my window – they’re salt flats from dried up waterbeds over WA.

A Perth Dawn

It turns out Perth is an excellent place to turn you from a “late sleeper” to an “early riser”. I woke up at 3:30AM like clockwork each day!

Pink Lakes over Victoria

If you look closely you’ll see a pink lake down there. No, it’s not toxic sludge! Apparently a salt-loving algae lives in the water.

And that’s it! Off to share experiences with the Mornington community.

Settling In!

Establishing routines, both professionally and personally. Have been walking home from work and walking/jogging since arriving (a full two days!). 😅 Efforts at ingraining healthy activity are being offset by the fact I’ve had macaroni and cheese for three meals since arriving on the island. 😂 I figure I have time to figure out how/what to cook and…small steps.

I am grateful for the community, patients and staff that have been helping me with my transition to island life. The clinic is still in its early formation and PHC services are in a very early phase of transition from the acute hospital sector. This will be a challenge but never insurmountable. Ultimately, it’s the community itself that will have to drive this change. I see myself as merely a facilitator. Hope that’s the right approach…

Yesterday kids horsing around on the jetty where crocks have been sighted. Happily swimming, splashing and laughing. Amazing how they just flaunt danger like that…seems to me I was probably the same as a kid…but I don’t recall crocks – real or imagined! 😝

Little ones hunting with wooden spears easily twice their height walking waist deep in the water. Beautiful satin black and brown contrasting with fluorescent blue water. Sun high and bright in the sky. Sea birds calling. Waves lapping against young sand. It is a blessing to witness this.

Missionary, Mercenary or Misfit? Which will I be?

The old saying goes that those white fellas that choose to work rural/remote are either a missionary, mercenary or a misfit. Although there is some uproariously funny dialogue about this phenomenon…I can’t help but feel a bit anxious about how I’ll be perceived and received on Mornington Island. Even with the best of intentions, one can fail miserably in these contexts.

I hope and pray I’m not any of the above…and am just “Chris, our nurse practitioner.” Just being seen as a helping hand is enough for me. Time will tell…

Mornington Island: A Start to a New Adventure!

Well today’s the day I start a new chapter in my nursing career. I’m off to Mornington Island for a 6-month stint to work with with Gidgee Healing, an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Service. I’ll be helping the community transfer primary healthcare services away from the acute public sector hospital there. I’m a bundle of nerves!

I’ll be posting here as often as possible – keep your eyes peeled!