• Skip to main content
  • Skip to navigation
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
Government of Western Australia Crest
Government of Western Australia
Government of Western Australia Crest

Additional Menu

  • Accessibility
  • Contact us
Go to WA Government search
  • About us
    • Overview
    • Vision and values
    • Our structure
      • Board
      • Executive
      • District Health Advisory Councils
    • Our research
      • Clinical trials
      • Innovation
      • Research
    • Building projects
      • Project - Bunbury Regional Hospital redevelopment
      • Project – Laverton Hospital
      • Project – Tom Price and Paraburdoo Hospitals
      • Project - Geraldton Health Campus
      • Project - Mullewa Health Centre
      • Completed projects
      • Country health housing
    • Publications
      • Annual reports
      • Strategic plans
      • Health profiles and service plans
      • Policies
    • Contact us
      • Provide feedback
      • Aishwarya’s CARE Call
  • Our services
    • Kimberley
      • Kimberley regional profile
      • Kimberley local health directory
      • Kimberley health services
      • Kimberley contacts
    • Pilbara
      • Pilbara regional profile
      • Pilbara local health directory
      • Pilbara health services
      • Pilbara contacts
    • Midwest
      • Midwest regional profile
      • Midwest local health directory
      • Midwest health services
      • Midwest contacts
    • Goldfields
      • Goldfields regional profile
      • Goldfields local health directory
      • Goldfields health services
      • Goldfields contacts
    • Wheatbelt
      • Wheatbelt regional profile
      • Wheatbelt health services
      • Wheatbelt contacts
    • South West
      • South West regional profile
      • South West local health directory
      • South West health services
      • South West contacts
    • Great Southern
      • Great Southern regional profile
      • Great Southern local health directory
      • Great Southern health services
      • Great Southern contacts
    • Command Centre
      • Acute Patient Transfer Coordination
      • Acute Specialist Telehealth Service
      • Advanced Patient Monitoring System
      • Emergency Telehealth Service
      • Inpatient Telehealth Service
      • Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service
    • Voluntary assisted dying
  • Our patients
    • Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - PATS
      • About PATS
      • PATS contacts
      • PATS claim forms and information sheets
      • PATS processes explained
      • PATS subsidies
      • PATS eligibility
      • Eligible specialist medical services
      • Frequently asked questions
    • Country PatHS
    • Live Organ Donor Travel and Accommodation Reimbursement Scheme
    • Telehealth
      • Is telehealth suitable for me?
      • Do you already have a telehealth appointment scheduled?
      • Telehealth for non-government organisations and health professionals
      • Telehealth stories
      • Emergency Telehealth Service
      • Telehealth technical support and regional contacts
  • Our workforce
    • Work with us
      • Living and working in country WA
      • Medical workforce and education
      • Nursing and midwifery careers
      • Allied health and health science careers
      • Online Contractor Registration and Induction
    • Students
      • Career prospects
      • Work experience
      • University and TAFE study
      • Financial assistance
      • Student health professionals
    • Scholarships and grants
  • News
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. 2024
  4. 01
  5. 24
  6. Close-to-home training means Sarah and her family can stay in the Midwest

Close-to-home training means Sarah and her family can stay in the Midwest

Close-to-home training means Sarah and her family can stay in the Midwest

24/01/2024

Born in Port Hedland and growing up between Kalbarri and Geraldton, it's safe to say that Registered Nurse Sarah Battilana is a country girl through-and-through.

But a career in healthcare wasn't always on her radar.

"Prior to my role at Geraldton Regional Hospital, I was working as a dermal therapist, running a salon," she said.

"From a young age I was always interested in nursing and when I moved to the city, I volunteered at Solaris Care, a cancer support centre inside Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital."

After some time in Perth, Sarah realised she wanted to raise her young family in a close-knit community, not unlike her own childhood experiences.

Being a single income household, Sarah said she knew would have to work while studying and thanks to the training and professional development opportunities available at Geraldton Regional Hospital, was able to start out as a Patient Service Assistant, before being supported to transition to an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) role.

After working as an AIN for 12 months, Sarah became a Registered Nurse

Sarah told us she has a passion for country communities and being from rural and regional WA herself, brought local knowledge and context to her care.  

“Patients appreciate my local knowledge, understanding and ability to provide culturally appropriate care,” she said.

WA Country Health Service Acting Executive Director Beverley Hamerton congratulated Sarah for her determination and commitment to caring for others.

“Staff like Sarah make our health services tick,” Beverley said.

“It’s important we support people from all professional backgrounds to transition to a career in healthcare if they’re interested.

“By enabling people to study and upskill close-to-home and then supporting them to transition throughout hospital ranks, we are creating a sustainable country health workforce.” 

Sarah is set to start a 12-month Mental Health Graduate Program with WA Country Health Service and is looking forward to the challenge.

Last Updated: 24/01/2024
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Footer menu

  • wa.gov.au
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Brought to you by the Department of Health, Western Australia

© Government of Western Australia 2018 to