My nursing career began in September 1967 in the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania.

In 1993, I was working at Calvery Hospital Hobart as Assistant Director of Nursing – Management and was contacted regarding the new hospital being built at Caboolture.

Gemma Cockroft with Mum Jill Smith

I subsequently applied for the position of the Director Patient Care Services (DON).

On being successful in my application, over the next year our family of four, which includes my husband and two daughters, made our home in Queensland.

I remember the first day at Caboolture Hospital. I received a wonderful reception from Marie Shea and the commissioning team. We had much to do.

As the member of an executive team of three, I was blessed to work with wonderful colleagues, including all the enthusiastic nursing, medical and auxiliary staff.

We opened the hospital with the emergency, medical and paediatric units, followed by surgical, then maternity at a later date.

The opening day was wonderful and I believe we all (staff) had a great sense of pride at what we had achieved as a team.

Commissioning day

It is always very special coming back here and seeing how much the hospital has changed. I barely recognise it now,
but I can see how much the staff at Caboolture continue to support the community.

My daughter Gemma is now a nurse educator at Caboolture Hospital.

She is truly committed to her profession and it gives me great joy to see her progressing in her career and the care she provides to her students and patients.

Our aim for the Caboolture community was ‘Quality Care for those whose lives we touch’.

Gemma Cockroft, Nurse Educator Clinical Placements

I always knew I wanted to be a nurse and was relieved when I was accepted into university. I completed my degree in 1999.

I now get to return the favour in my role as Nurse Educator at Caboolture Hospital, supporting undergraduate nurses pursuing their nursing career in the hospital my Mum Jill Smith helped to build and open.

I’m a little bit more invested because I know how much love and effort Mum put into the place. Her passion to deliver quality care and ability to empower staff to take responsibility and accountability continues to inspire staff to provide quality care to the local community.

There is such a nice sense of community here at Caboolture. Everybody knows each other and is invested in the delivery of quality care. I try and instil this into my students, like Mum instilled in me.