While farming is the cornerstone of Jacinta Dore’s family life, nursing holds a special place in her heart.
Jacinta has a particular passion for her role, as MLHD Child and Family Health Nurse, based in Urana.
Jacinta began her nursing career in 1984, and discovered she had a special interest in paediatrics.
After qualifying as a nurse, Jacinta studied midwifery and undertook further paediatric training at Adelaide Children's Hospital, where she spent a “beautiful but sometimes very sad couple of years” taking care of babies under the age of 12 months.
“It could be pretty challenging at times, and I look back now and I think how young I was. It was lots to deal with at such a young age, but I loved it,” she said.
In 1993, Jacinta moved to Urana, where she married her husband and juggled working as a registered nurse at Urana Hospital and managing their farm full time.
“Our local community child and family nurse was very well loved and admired, and had been here for many years, but was approaching retirement age,” she said.
“I decided to be proactive and diversify my skills further and study child and family nursing, as that is where my heart was.”
Jacinta’s special skill set as a registered nurse and midwife with additional training in paediatrics and child and family nursing, coupled with her farming experience, meant she was perfect for the role when it became available.
“When I am not in the sheep yards, or helping out at harvest and doing whatever is needed I am out in the community helping our families,” she said.
“I know a lot of my clients; many are friends and family. Having our farm, raising our family, going to community events, attending footy, we all can talk, we share, and we build really special relationships and trust each other.
“I can empathise with the trials and tribulations of farming life, as a mother and a person living in a rural community.
“It is a privilege to be accepted into the lives of a family, to be given that trust as a health professional,” Jacinta tells us.
“I have watched our youth grow, and see them now raising their own families.
“It is a relaxed relationship at times, very accessible.
Jacinta finds inspiration in the everyday parts of her role.
“There is a certain job satisfaction when you know you've helped someone, given some guidance or good advice,” she said.
“I guess that's what really keeps me going, because you can see the difference you are making to someone who may be unsure, or struggling, and you can go in and support them, and point them in the right direction.”
Jacinta covers a 100km radius, but as many regional communities have become smaller over the years, she has seen her service adapt to allow her to build wider networks and link in with other child and family nurses throughout the district.
“Opportunities to meet new people and to learn, to share your knowledge and skills, to problem solve, collaborate with local GPs, other organisations, allows for better care for our families in these smaller communities,” she said.
“We can more easily cover services in other towns as we are all working together as an extended team. We are familiar with each other, and we have a certain confidence in our skills because we are able to share in professional development opportunities together as the child and family network of MLHD.”
From partnering with NSW Education in pre-schooler vision screening, to administering vaccines in high schools, or volunteering at the local footy club, Jacinta enjoys finding different ways to continue to engage with the communities and different organisations around her.
“I have taken most opportunities offered to me to further broaden the connections and services we have in our communities here, and I really enjoy being kept on my toes,” she said.
“It's very special to live and work in this town. I have known some of these families for such a long time, across generations, and they know who I am and that is very special and unique.
“There is a real community spirit here and, that is priceless.”
Jacinta encourages other health professionals considering living and working in a smaller regional town as a long-term pathway.
“When you have a passion for a particular area, say in nursing or in health, there are so many local opportunities to carve out your pathway,” she said.
“You just have to see what is available and where. Once you find your niche, your passion, you may well find an amazing opportunity to create really incredible relationships with the people you look after.”
