Wheatbelt midwife encourages people to choose a country career

Eastern states-born, Geraldton-raised Sophie McKenna first started work as a graduate nurse in the cardiothoracic and vascular ward at Fiona Stanley Hospital in 2017.

But it was another kind of heart issue that led to Sophie’s most significant career development to date: she met and married Matthew, a farmer based near Northam, and wanted to continue her career in the Wheatbelt.

Sophie discovered there were exciting opportunities available through WA Country Health Service (WACHS) and so she decided to pursue her interest in newborn and maternal health and become a registered midwife.

Sophie joined Northam’s midwifery group practice (MGP) team in February and said she hasn’t looked back.

“I love building a strong relationship with the women and their families. There’s also a connection with the community and it feels great being able to provide care to women close to their homes,” Sophie said.

“In Northam we have midwives, a GP obstetrician and the person who holds it all together is the ward clerk.

“It’s a small and close team who love to socialise.

“Everyone is very supportive, and I feel comfortable to ask questions, which is important as a graduate.”

Sophie spoke enthusiastically about the opportunities she’s received since embarking on her country midwifery career.

“I’ve become much more confident and have been able to work independently in triaging calls and performing assessments. I feel well supported by the senior midwifery team,” she said.

“Working in an MGP as a graduate is the best experience and you don’t get that opportunity in the metro area.”

In addition to gaining valuable professional experience, Sophie said her life away from the city has reinforced her decision to ‘lead with the heart’.

“Northam and the surrounding areas are so beautiful, and it is close to Perth which is convenient for catching up with friends,” she said.

“I love the lifestyle of being in the country.”

WA Country Health Service’s MGP is an award-winning model of maternity care that connects expectant mums to the same midwife throughout their pregnancy and into the first few months of postnatal care.

It has been run across regional Western Australia by WACHS for more than a decade and allows women with uncomplicated pregnancies to deliver their babies safely and closer to home.

Placement in a regional MGP gives graduate midwives the opportunity to use more of their skills and develop their experience while being fully supported by senior midwives.

Opportunities for graduate midwives are available across regional Western Australia and include MGPs in the Wheatbelt, South West and Kimberley, along with hospital-based rotations across the continuum of care in our state-of-the-art maternity units in Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton,  Broome (with rotations to Kununurra and Derby), Port Hedland, Karratha and Kalgoorlie.

Graduates are also able to tailor their programs to include Aboriginal health and rotations in our smaller remote hospitals.

In addition to being part of our statewide team delivering more than 4,500 babies every year, our valued graduate midwives have access to our Command Centre’s 24/7 Midwifery and Obstetrics Emergency Telehealth Service that brings a senior midwife and obstetric consultant to every hospital in country Western Australia.

Find out more about our graduate midwifery opportunities here.