“I came for one year and stayed for seven”: How Char went from UK Nurse to HCA Clinical Lead. Meet Char: The UK nurse who came to Australia for a 12-month working holiday… and never went home!
From navigating solo travel and lockdown farm work (where she happened to meet her fiancé!) to working through Hotel Quarantine, travel nursing across regional Australia, and eventually stepping into the role of Clinical Lead in our Sydney corporate office. Char’s story is the ultimate proof that an Aussie nursing license opens doors you never even imagined. We sat down with Char to talk about medication name shocks, life on the road in Ballina, and her number one piece of advice for anyone sitting on the fence about making the move.
Hi Char! Thanks so much for sitting down with us. To kick things off, tell us a bit about yourself: where are you originally from, and what was that initial spark that made you want to move to Australia?
I’m originally from Newcastle in the UK. I first came to Australia on holiday and absolutely fell in love with the lifestyle and everything Australia had to offer. I always told myself that I’d come back and work here for just one year, just to experience living and working in Australia. Well… that one year turned into seven years! And I’m now an Australian citizen, so I think it’s safe to say Australia became home.
You worked in Australia during the pandemic, which must have been incredibly daunting. Firstly, thank you for playing a vital part in the Hotel Quarantine team. What was that experience like, being part of such a chaotic time?
It was incredibly rewarding to know that we were playing an important role in keeping the community safe and supporting people through what was such a difficult period. You had to remain calm, adaptable and supportive, even when things around you were changing so quickly. Looking back, it was certainly daunting at times, but it was also an experience that taught me a lot about resilience, teamwork and staying composed under pressure. I’m very grateful to have been part of the Hotel Quarantine team and to have contributed during such a significant time.
The paperwork is always the scariest part for international nurses. Looking back, how did you find the process of transferring your license and documents? Is there anything you’d do differently if you did it again?
My experience was a little different because, when I went through the process, everything was still done on paper. I had to complete physical forms and post documents all the way to Australia, so it was definitely a much slower and more daunting process than it is today. Now that so much of the process is online, I think it would be much more straightforward for international nurses. If I were to do it again, I would start preparing all my documents much earlier and keep a clear checklist of everything required. I’d also make sure I had certified copies and all supporting documents organised from the beginning. That would have made the process much less stressful!
You came over solo. How did that shape your early days here, and how did you find your community?
I came to Australia solo, just a few months before COVID hit, so the timing was certainly interesting! As the lockdowns were starting to come into place in Sydney, I decided to head out and complete my regional farmwork instead. It wasn’t how I had imagined my first few months in Australia would go, but it turned into one of the most memorable experiences of my life. And, as it turns out, it was also how I met my fiancé! So, I wasn’t expecting that when I came to Australia on my own.
You’ve had an incredible career progression with HCA, moving from contracts to travel nursing, and now into the office! Can you walk us through those different chapters and how each role compared?
It’s been quite a journey, and each chapter has been very different! I started with HCA working in Hotel Quarantine, which was an incredible experience and certainly a challenging way to begin. It taught me a lot about working in a high-pressure environment, adapting quickly and working as part of a large team during a very uncertain time. From there, I moved into travel nursing, which gave me the opportunity to work across different locations and healthcare settings. I really enjoyed the variety that came with travel nursing and being able to experience different workplaces, teams and communities. It also helped me become much more adaptable and confident as a nurse.
I then moved into Corporate Health, initially working across our vaccination clinics and later becoming involved in our skin check and health check clinics. This was a completely different side of nursing again and gave me the opportunity to develop skills in health promotion, preventative health, education and clinical programs.
Now, I’m the Clinical Lead for Corporate Health, based within the Sydney office. My role has shifted more towards clinical leadership, supporting our nurses, developing and overseeing our programs, and helping ensure we maintain high clinical standards across Corporate Health.
I still also pick up casual shifts on days when I’m available for corporate clinics, which I really enjoy because it keeps me connected to the nurses and the clinical side of the business.
Did you ever think when you boarded that flight that you’d end up working in the corporate office? How has HCA helped you grow your career outside of bedside nursing?
Definitely not! When I first boarded that flight, I never imagined that I would eventually end up working in a corporate role. My focus was simply on getting registered, settling into Australia and building my nursing career. HCA has given me opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have considered when I first arrived. Working in different areas of healthcare has allowed me to develop skills beyond bedside nursing, particularly in leadership, education, clinical governance, program development and supporting other nurses.
I’ve really enjoyed being able to use my clinical experience in a different way and have a broader impact across the organisation. It has also shown me that your nursing career doesn’t have to follow one path, there are so many opportunities to grow and take on different roles while still using the skills and experience you developed as a nurse.
Travel nursing is a dream for so many. What was your favourite location to work in, and what is the reality of life on the road as a travel nurse?
My favourite location was definitely Ballina. It was such a beautiful place to live and work, and I really enjoyed the lifestyle there. Being able to experience a new part of Australia while still doing what I love was one of the best parts of travel nursing. I think travel nursing can definitely look like a dream from the outside, and in many ways it is, but there is also a reality to life on the road. You’re constantly adapting to new workplaces, new teams and new routines, and you’re often away from your usual support network, friends and family. You have to be comfortable putting yourself out there and making the most of wherever you are. For me, though, that was also what made it so rewarding. You get to meet so many different people, experience different communities and build confidence as a nurse. It really helped me become more independent and adaptable, both professionally and personally.
From a clinical perspective, what did you find to be the biggest difference between the UK healthcare system and the Australian system? Was it a steep learning curve?
I think the biggest learning curve for me was actually the medications! In the UK, we tended to refer to medications by their generic names, whereas in Australia I found that people often refer to medications by their brand names. So initially, someone might mention a medication by its brand name and I’d be thinking, “I know that medication, but I know it by a completely different name!” It definitely took some getting used to and I spent a lot of time checking medications and familiarising myself with the Australian brand names.
From a clinical perspective, the nursing fundamentals were very similar, so I wouldn’t say it was a huge learning curve clinically. It was more about learning the differences in the Australian healthcare system, hospital processes and terminology and the medication brand names were definitely one of those things!
Adjusting to a new country always comes with surprises. What was your biggest culture shock when you landed in Australia?
Honestly, my biggest culture shock was probably something very serious… the crisps! In the UK, the pink packet is prawn cocktail, so you can imagine my surprise when I came to Australia and realised the pink packet was salt and vinegar!
What has been your absolute favourite, ‘pinch-me’ experience in Australia so far?
Definitely one of my biggest “pinch-me” moments was visiting Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays. It was honestly breathtaking the beaches, the water and the scenery were everything you imagine Australia to be.
Even though you live here now, the adventure never stops. What is still sitting at the very top of your Aussie bucket list?
Definitely Rottnest Island to see the quokkas! That is still right at the top of my Aussie bucket list. I’ve seen so many photos of quokkas and their famous little smiles, and I’d love to see them in person.
To wrap things up, what is your number one piece of advice for any international healthcare worker who is sitting on the fence about making the move to Australia?
My number one piece of advice would simply be: just do it! I originally told myself I would come to Australia for just one year, and somehow that one year has turned into seven years! I completely fell in love with the lifestyle, the people, the opportunities and everything Australia has to offer. I think it’s completely normal to feel nervous about making such a big move, especially when you’re leaving behind your family, friends and everything familiar. But sometimes you just have to take the leap and see where it takes you.
Ready to start your own Aussie story? ✈️
Whether you’re planning to come over for a quick 12-month adventure or looking to build a lifelong career like Char, our international recruitment team at Healthcare Australia is here to handle the paperwork, guide you through compliance, and help you land your dream role. Your journey starts with a simple conversation. Apply Today or drop our friendly international team an email at international@healthcareaustralia.com.au to jump on a chat. Who knows where that first flight might take you!
