I think everyone in my immediate family has worked or had some involvement with Caboolture Hospital.

I was born at Caboolture Hospital in 1997. Mum worked here in CSSD and now works next door in the private hospital.

Dad was a paramedic on Bribie (now retired) and he always shares anecdotes
of the times around Caboolture Hospital.

He initially moved to the Bribie Station from New Zealand in 1990/1991 and remembers a time before Caboolture Hospital when they had to go directly to Redcliffe.

My sister Tiffany was also born here.

I went to St Columban’s College, across the road from the hospital. In my early days of high school, the Woolworths complex hadn’t yet been built, so some afternoons we would all converge on the hospital canteen in hoards.

I had many career ambitions growing up – firefighter, policeman, teacher and Air Force pilot.

I think I settled on medicine in mid-late high school because it brought aspects such as teamwork, communication, science and helping people together nicely. That and my maths teacher told me engineering was probably not my calling.

Caboolture Hospital serves such a broad spectrum of patients and their families, and it’s unique in the sense that the medicine you practice has a degree of acuity and complexity that you might not expect.

As an Intern, I haven’t done anything remarkably lifesaving or made any grand medical breakthroughs; but what I have enjoyed is getting to know the teams that make up our hospital.

Despite adversity and some vocal critics, everyone seems to be on the same page when it comes to delivering high value healthcare and I have worked with such kind and invested colleagues.

I would have fallen over in my first few weeks if it wasn’t for the help of the surgical nursing staff on ward 2A.

Everyone, from the directors down, are approachable and patient-centred. Despite the challenges we face, everyone digs in for the community.

I’ve seen countless staff on their way out the door U-turn and show a lost patient or family member to the lifts or to medical imaging.

I like this area, this hospital and the teams, so after further training and experience in bigger and more regional hospitals, I may end up calling it home when I eventually get my letters.

Have you got a story to share? Email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au.