Newsroom

It`s Queensland Women`s Week, and nurse Lauren is taking us behind the scenes of her non-traditional nursing role in the Brisbane Watchhouse.

Lauren works closely with her Queensland Police Service colleagues, where she and a close-knit team of Metro North nurses provide care to those in custody.

She tells us how empowering the role is and shows us that being strong can mean being approachable and kind.

"At university I felt community and custodial nursing was overlooked and undervalued, and I thought that if I pursued this, I could make a difference in an area of nursing that is not as well recognised," she said.

"I feel it is very empowering as a woman to work here with your non-traditional patients, and over time I have learned how to build rapport quite quickly with people and being able to do that is a huge win for me.

"I feel even more accomplished when I can contribute to improved health outcomes for a vulnerable population." 🚓🫶 ...

"I was an engineering project manager, and I worked 25 years in Queensland power stations. Hong Kong for 4 years, Iraq for 2 years, the Philippines for 5 years; my wife was a fly-in, fly-out wife whilst I was in the Philippines. All of these were very good experiences. I had 3 or 4 guys that really changed the direction my life. I come from a blue-collar background, but I was able to go to university because it was free. That`s where I met my wife, now we`ve been together for 52 years."

💭 Monday Mantra, Joe, general surgery patient at RBWH. ...

For young women looking to enter the workforce, "manufacturing" is no longer defined by the manual labour focused industry of the past. It has evolved into a high-tech, clean-room environment where biology meets engineering. 👩‍🔬

The Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI) at RBWH is the first facility of its kind dedicated to advancing 3D scanning, modelling, and printing of medical devices, bone, cartilage, and human tissue, bringing together clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and consumers.

One of these people is Issy - a Biofabrication Educator who combines her background in fashion with her passion for human experience and helping people to create products and systems that meet consumer needs.

“Fashion and healthcare may seem worlds apart, but they share a core focus on the human body. Both require customisation and tailoring to individual needs,” Issy said.

“Most people do not spend much time in hospitals. When they do, the environment can feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. My work has explored everything from rethinking how medical devices are designed, to improving how people navigate hospital spaces, to supporting clinicians in adopting new technologies.”

This week ahead of International Women’s Day, HBI welcomed 33 female students from across Queensland as part of an initiative to inspire the next generation of female leaders in manufacturing and engineering.

One of these students is Bree who is keen to pursue a career as a boiler maker and is excited by opportunities like these that make it easier for women and girls to pursue manufacturing careers.

A big Shoutout Saturday to the team from HBI and the work they do to continuously improve our ways of working. 👏🏥 ...