Social worker and professional development leadership consultant Samantha Ferguson has been enjoying her short-term placements at health facilities across rural and regional NSW as part of NSW Health’s Deployment Program.
Here she describes a career change that she would have never imagined.
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“There was a moment when the Lismore floods had just occurred, and I was at work seated next to workforce and they mentioned they needed a social worker in Lismore as soon as possible. So I put my hand up and said, ‘I’m a social worker and am happy to help’. And that was the start of my amazing journey”, reflects Samantha excitedly.
“Until that point in time, I thought they only ever needed nursing or medical staff. I am so lucky it was the right place at the right time”.
As part of NSW Health’s Deployment Program nursing, medical, allied health, and non-clinical staff have the opportunity to express their interest to be posted to local health districts all over the state.
When Samantha recalls her deployment, she says it was an extraordinary experience to be able to go out to rural NSW to help.
“It was such an honour to just come in and support a team in need. You just feel like you're contributing to making a bit of a difference. Even if it's short term, you still feel like you're doing something to help. And I love that”, said Samantha.
Giving back to her community really puts a smile on Samantha’s face. The seasoned social worker says it’s a privilege to be able to offer your services and at the same time come away with a whole new outlook on life.
“You learn so much every time I go on a different job. I'm learning all the time. One of the best experiences of going on deployment is the interaction with multidisciplinary teams as well as the community. It's incredible."
When she is not offering her social work services out in pockets of regional NSW, Samantha is back home running her own business as a professional development leadership consultant, providing support to NGOs and public service organisations.
And what intrigued Samantha the most about the deployments was the scope the opportunity offered her with her own career.
“I like that I can still run my business while I'm also helping out a community. The flexibility is great, and to combine that with experience, the entire package is so wonderful”, said Samantha.
Going out on deployments around NSW offers staff the opportunity to serve on the healthcare frontline, and according to Samantha, you also get to be part of a learning experience you cannot gain from a textbook.
“These deployments offer things you really don’t get taught by academics. When you're continually exposed to certain situations, it is a real honour to be part of that person’s experience. Being able to go out to those communities to really see what it's like is something very different", said Samantha.
“It’s very special to be present and understand how the particular event actually impacts the community and remembering that the staff in the hospitals and their families also are the community. It completely overlaps. There's no separation. That is something people do not realise."
“There is something very connected about these deployments. You go to the supermarket, and you run into the nurse that looked after you or your mum the day before. There's no delineation. So it's a very different experience", says Samantha warmly.
There are of course times that are not so common, yet that sense of community connection is still there.
“I will never forget getting rescued by Defence Force personnel in the second deployment at Lismore. That was probably a highlight that I wasn't anticipating. That was so interesting and such an extraordinary experience, but one where people just come together and work together, it's just amazing.”
Samantha has so far been placed in health care settings in Lismore, Young, Taree and Narrabri.
But despite the adventures and the learnings, for Samantha it always come back to the people, and that is what sees her leaving the door wide open for more deployment opportunities.
“The best or the most inspiring part of it all is just the teams that you get to work with and the learning that you pick up from them. And the passion they all have, especially with so many doing it tough out here. To work beside people and to support people who are just doing the best they can to serve their people and community is so special. The commitment to community is inspiring, it really is the people's community.”
