Starting a new job is usually a phase of excitement and nervousness for any person. But for internationally recruited employees, joining Monash Health also comes with the opportunity to resettle in a new country. Over the past year, we have welcomed over 110 nurses and midwives and 170 doctors from across the world.
To celebrate the milestone, we chatted with four employees who have moved abroad to join us at Monash Health.
Jagon Babu
For Jagon Babu, moving to Australia from New Zealand has led to more work and networking opportunities.
“Having a master’s degree in nursing and over 13 years of experience in nursing as an RN and lecturer, and ward management experience, I realised my credentials are more appreciated here.”, says Jagon, who started working as a Registered Nurse (RN) at the Surgical Ward, Dandenong Hospital in March.
Saeba Thomas
Saeba Thomas is from India and relocated to Melbourne in 2019. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lead to a delay in Saeba’s Australian Medical Council exams until 2022, but she persevered. She started as a Hospital Medical Officer (HMO) at Monash Health late last year and is now in her second year of postgraduate study.
“Knowing people who have migrated as I have and making new acquaintances with those was ideal for settling into Monash Health.
“The dynamic environment of a hospital exposes us to a wide range of medical cases, patients of diverse backgrounds, fosters a broader skill set and sows the seeds of cultural competence and empathy,” she says.
Chanikan Tanasatitchai
Chanikan (Press) Tanasatitchai moved to Melbourne from Thailand in January and started as an HMO in our Emergency Department (ED). She is also one of the first employees working at the Victorian Heart Hospital (VHH) since its opening.
“I’m really impressed with the people here. They are professional and listen to the concerns of employees. We receive good senior support here, which helps us improve and provide the best care for our patients.
“I don’t have a car and I’m new to the country. So, they allocated me to the VHH and Monash Medical Centre (MMC), which was convenient for me.”
Similar, to Jagon and Saeba, Press received recommendations and advice from friends who had already settled in Victoria from overseas.
“I heard Monash Health was good for training posts and is multicultural.”
Marie Kitano
Supporting our junior doctors from overseas is the In recent years the group has grown with Monash Health’s international recruitment, including the introduction of IMG Representatives. One of them is Marie Kitano who is from Japan and an HMO at Monash Health.
“Monash Health is a huge organisation and also services a large and diverse patient group. The non-clinical communication aspects are also important to patient care. So having a diverse workforce helps to broaden our approachability and lower cultural and language barriers to our patient care.”
The IMG Support Working Group also develop resources and guides to support IMGs both on the job and off the job.
“It’s hard setting up a new life on your own, often without family, emotional and financial support. Being an IMG myself, I want more IMGs to feel supported. I relate to their experiences and can represent and advocate for them.
“For some IMGs, our first Australian job could also be our first time in an English-speaking environment. Typewriting and using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) may be new to employees from countries that use manual processes in hospitals. And some cultures have a lot of hierarchy, which can make them afraid to ask questions in a new workplace.
“Recently, the IMG team created induction resources for starting work and settling in Australia. We are also trialling bringing back the buddy system for IMGs, connecting a new starter with a more experienced IMG that they can relate to.”
Monash Health embraces internationally recruited healthcare workers
Monash Health’s international recruitment has been part of the Victorian government’s Pandemic Repair Plan, which welcomed 2000 new employees to our Victorian public healthcare workforce. Dandenong Hospital was the backdrop for a recent Ministerial visit, announcing the success of the plan.
“Victoria has a world-class health system, and we are thrilled that thousands of highly skilled healthcare workers have chosen to move overseas and call our state home, joining us in providing the best care for Victorians.”, says The Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health.
Dipak Sanghvi, Board Chair, and Martin Keogh, Interim Chief Executive also attended the ministerial visit in Dandenong. Martin highlights the international recruits’ important and positive impact in ensuring we continue to improve our excellence in timely care for our patients.
“It’s been amazing to welcome so many new faces to Monash Health from overseas and across Australia in the past year. Monash Health supports a diverse and multicultural community in Melbourne’s South-East, and it’s wonderful that our workforce reflects the diversity of the community we care for.
“As Monash Health evolves to provide care where and when it’s needed most, it’s our people who keep moving us forward. From frontline clinical care to critical behind-the-scenes clinical support roles, we are optimistic our people will drive a brighter future for the community we care for.”
To our new employees who have come from across the globe, welcome to Monash Health and welcome to your new home in Victoria, Australia!