Kate Gifford knows how important good mental health is.
Growing up on a 2,500 acre farm in St Arnaud, Kate has experienced first-hand the effects it had on those in a rural setting – including her family.
“Being on a farm, I was always worried about my family and how mental health support would work,” she said.
It was from this desire to make a difference that her interest for working in the mental health sector emerged.
In 2017, Kate completed her graduate year in the Older Person’s Unit, before shifting to Adult and Community Mental Health.
“I thought working in mental health might help others become more aware of the things that can happen in life. It’s amazing how much knowledge I’ve already gained, and being able to offer support to others through that. That’s my passion,” she said.
Ultimately, it was the reward of building a strong rapport with the more vulnerable patients which drew Kate back to the OPU, where she’s currently the Associate Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM) – which she said was “a huge achievement.”
“Working in the OPU, you feel a lot of empathy. The fact that someone can actually trust you, without knowing you, to assist with their daily needs, and venturing into the cognition side of it, is very rewarding,” she said.
When it comes to looking after her own mental health, Kate said it’s all about maintaining a good work-life balance.
“You can say work-life balance as many times as you like but that’s so important. Everyone knows it’s my safe space” she said.
“You need to dedicate yourself to something that makes you feel good.”
That “something” is the St Arnaud Hockey Club – where Kate fulfils the roles of player, coach and committee president.
“Hockey is a life support. [My manager] knows that and the other staff are really good when it comes to swapping shifts so I can train and play,” she said.
“It’s nice to keep going back to the community [of St Arnaud] too, to have those people you can talk to. I can be the person I want to be. The hockey enables me to be an influence for [those] outside of the hospital.
“The ANUM role has also helped me a lot, especially with the coaching, learning how to work to people’s strengths and weaknesses,” she said.
When she’s not in St Arnaud or at work, Kate is busy managing her 10 acre property in Harcourt with her partner.
“We have goats, sheep, dogs and chickens. Again, this is a part of my life that keeps me sane,” she said.
Having the ability to successfully manage each of her commitments, Kate said, has always come down to creating an understanding amongst her colleagues from the beginning.
“It’s all about communication, it’s about telling the other nurses why something benefits you,” she said.
“It shows that the more you communicate, the more you can be the better you.”
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