Chun Liu took a long road to becoming BRHS’ 2021-22 Graduate Registered Nurse Award – one that took grit to travel.

That road began eight years ago when Chun left her native Beijing on her own, aged 15, to complete secondary school and a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in Sydney. Then, she headed from Sydney straight to Omeo, then Bairnsdale, to launch her nursing career with BRHS.

Chun’s tenacity was recognised with her award, given each year to the most outstanding Graduate Registered Nurse to complete their graduate year.

“My mum studied in Japan when she was young,” Chun said of her journey to Australia. “She wanted me to open my mind, go out and see the world. I didn’t know what it would be like. It was a challenge, but I adjusted, I adapted and it’s been a very worthwhile journey.”

When she finished university, Chun said there were no opportunities in NSW for international students like her to find a place for their graduate year – their first working as a Registered Nurse in a healthcare setting.

Her life changed when she saw a BRHS advertisement calling for graduates. She was accepted to the East Gippsland Collaborative Program, which includes stints at Omeo Regional Health or Gippsland Lakes Complete Care.

Chun spent her first three months in Omeo, arriving in May 2021. It was a huge step into the unknown, but Chun knew she wanted to experience life in the country.

“I am a city girl. I was born in Beijing. I lived in Sydney. Omeo was a really big change. I didn’t have my driver’s license. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know where Omeo and Bairnsdale were,” she said.

But she said BRHS Graduate Nurse Coordinator Kate Roberts was welcoming and supportive – even driving her to Omeo for her first day. “It was a bit nerve-wracking, but Kate is really approachable and supportive. Even before I came, she phoned and sent emails to give me an idea of what it’s like down here.”

With support from Kate and the BRHS nursing education team, Chun did well at work, made friends, explored the ski fields at Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain and connected with the community.

She arrived in Bairnsdale in September 2021 to complete her graduate year in acute care at BRHS’ Tambo Ward, testing her clinical knowledge in a much more fast-paced environment.

Kate said Chun shone. She said she and the nursing education team devised a range of strategies to help Chun thrive at work, and even helped her to learn to drive.

“She took up almost everything with gusto. She spent a lot of her spare time in the skills lab trying to upskill. She did everything she could to advance herself as quickly as possible. She was very keen and eager to learn. It was very admirable,” Kate said.

“She has the insight to see where her deficits were, to ask for help and then proactively address those. It’s incredible given that she doesn’t have that family support. She’s doing it alone. She’s having a go at anything to develop herself.”

With her graduate year complete, Chun is in her transition year, where she’s exposed to different specialist nursing roles. She has spent the past six months in theatre, and transfers in February to the Dialysis unit.

Kate said Chun has impressed everyone with her willingness to embrace every opportunity.

“She has an interest in emergency nursing. Off her own bat, she went to the Nurse Unit Manager in ED and asked if she could do some shifts there to get some experience,” Kate said.

Chun hopes to complete the next phase of her training, her postgraduate year, with BRHS.

“It took courage. It took time, but I am really glad I made the decision to come here,” she said.

“People are willing to help because it’s a small community. The work relationships, the friendships that I have here – you can’t compare what I had to what I have now.”

Life in East Gippsland is great, Chun said.

“There is a community of Malaysian and Chinese people in town. I’ve met lots of friends. I go to the Gippsland Lakes with my friends. We have the mountains and lakes. I enjoy nature. I can go hiking after work,” she said.

“I have my own place now. My friends normally come over for an after-work catch-up. We cook dinner together, watch Netflix.”

Chun said she would recommend BRHS to any graduate.

“There’s a lot of professional and emotional support from the educators. Everyone is willing to help if you need more experience with something. In a smaller hospital, people get to know you quickly. There are more opportunities. You can to graduate, transition and do post-grad here. It’s a really solid course,” she said.

”I think it’s a great opportunity for people. I feel like I have really grown since I moved here.”