Monash Health in the media: refugee ‘quietly achieving’ as ICU Nurse

In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Monash Medical Centre, Associate Nurse Unit Manager Fissaha Gobena is skillfully delivering complex care to critically ill people.

‘Fish’ as he is known to colleagues, is a long way from where he started his nursing career in Ethiopia.

‘[In my homeland] there was very little medical equipment or supplies. So, we had to do what we could to save lives,’ Fish told SBS.

‘There were a lot of infectious diseases, like malaria, typhoid and other fevers… but the main issue we managed was childbirth complications.’

Fish – who identifies as Oromo, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group – fled Ethiopia when authorities ordered that he join the military.

He spent time in Kenya, before joining extended family in Australia and embarking on postgraduate studies in critical care nursing.

Outside of work, the father of 2 – who is married to Monash Health Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sarah Gobena – mentors newly arrived Oromo refugees as they settle into life in Australia.

Last year, his efforts saw him awarded Monash Health’s ‘Community Champion’ Health Promotion Award.

‘Fish is quietly achieving impressive things as well as raising a family and being involved in the broader community. I am so proud of him,’ ICU Nurse Manager Adrienne Pendrey told SBS.

‘He is resilient and has such a passion for the work that he is doing and a willingness to help improve people’s lives.’

We invite you to read the SBS article here.