Buderim Private Hospital will recognise the diverse achievements and contribution of women to society, particularly in the field of nursing and medicine, as part of International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8.
This year's IWD theme is 'Balance for Better’, and as part of UnitingCare which includes the well-known and respected services of Blue Care and Lifeline, the Buderim Private Hospital is proud to be one of the largest employers of women in Queensland.
General Manager Wallis Westbrook said: “International Women's Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the significant contribution of women as part of our 780-strong workforce at the Buderim Private Hospital, as well as their role in the broader community.”
Buderim Private Hospital has a workforce comprised of over 80 per cent females, including many in both clinical and non-clinical leadership roles. Fifty per cent of the hospital’s executive leadership team are women, including Rae Priaulx (Director of Clinical Services) and Adriana Leonardi (Director of Support Services).
“I am extremely proud of the contribution of all staff, both women and men, who provide one-on-one care from the heart to almost 25,000 patients at our hospital each year,” he said.
“A large female workforce offers us a unique set of views, values, beliefs and experiences which go into our decision-making and enable us to be a highly-effective and compassionate service provider,” he said.
The Buderim Private Hospital also has almost 200 female credentialed doctors who provide additional specialist advice and care to Sunshine Coast patients. One of those specialists is Urologist Dr Kirsten Hoyle who began her training when there was only one other female Urologist in all of Australasia. Dr Hoyle went on to become Queensland’s second female Urologist.
“I was always brought up believing that you can do whatever you want, it doesn’t matter about your gender or ethnicity or anything else, it comes down to whether you are capable,” Dr Hoyle said.
“I didn’t have female role models in my career but I had a mindset that I could do anything and I believe that stood me in good stead throughout my life,” she said.
“I was also fortunate throughout my career to benefit from mentors who took the time to help train, educate and encourage me, all of whom were men,” Dr Hoyle s aid.
“In my experience, if society truly values people and gives them opportunities based on their ability, gender balance will happen naturally. I strongly believe in equal opportunity and I think mindsets are slowly changing, important discussions are taking place, and progress is being made.”
“My message to little girls and young women would be to aim high and follow their dreams, not because they are little girls, but because they are little and full of dreams and ambition,” she said.
“You never know until you try. You are the only person that can be you, no one else can do it for you, so go for it – you may not achieve it but at least you know you have tried.”
Dr Hoyle is an active member of the Local Medical Association and is a member of the committee as well as the editor in chief of the Sunshine Coast Medical Association’s newsletter. Dr Hoyle also sits on the Medical Advisory Committee at the Buderim Private Hospital and is the current chair of the Surgical Services Specialist Committee.
Buderim Private Hospital has been serving the Sunshine Coast community since 1980 and is part of UnitingCare, which is the health and community service provider of the Uniting Church.