Louise Cook is a Bullwinkel scholar who is passionate about advancing rural nursing leadership opportunities through continuous learning.
As a nurse navigator based in Clermont but also servicing Moranbah and Dysart, Louise is committed to building on her leadership skills despite the challenges and complexities of the job “on the fringe of the health service”.
Earlier this year, Louise applied for and was awarded an Australian College of Nursing (ACN) Foundation inaugural Bullwinkel Scholarship.
The scholarship provides access to specialised professional development to further build rural leadership capacity and provide high level, evidence-based nursing director management.
The Bullwinkel Scholars program honours the memory of 21 Australian nurses who died at the Bangka Island massacre on 16 February, 1942 with Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of this tragic event.
There were 21 scholarships awarded to registered nurses across the country in February this year.
Louise was driven to apply for the scholarship after she completed an ACN nurse unit manager leadership program last year.
“It felt like a natural progression really as I was proactively seeking professional development opportunities after being asked to step up into leadership roles,” she said.
The scholarships were presented at Duntroon House in Canberra in March.
Being a Bullwinkel Scholar was one of the highlights of Louise’s nursing career.
“To pay homage to the legacy left by the nurses on Bangka Island is a prestigious honour I intend to foster through competent nursing leadership,” she said.
Following the scholarship, Louise attended a ACN nursing director leadership program which was a five-day masterclass in Sydney in May.
“The combination of high calibre speakers, in depth discussions, networking opportunities and colleague camaraderie contributed to an enriching experience which has equipped me with practical tools, theoretical knowledge and ongoing support to establish modern, sustainable nursing leadership,” she said.
“After completion of the course I was thrilled to gain a secondment as a Rural Reliver Director of Nursing in Central Queensland, which included orientation and a supportive environment in the role.
“This proved to be a challenging and valuable experience which has contributed to my interpersonal skills development and career growth. This has also opened up further leadership opportunities within my substantive role.”
Louise has worked in Clermont since 1998 and has been a Nurse Navigator for five years. It was a very rewarding role which helped her empower people to manage their healthcare needs and to navigate the health system, she said.
“I love the sense of accomplishment you get from this job and I love the sense of community here in Clermont,” Louise said.
“Patients are so grateful for your help and you build some really lovely working relationships with people who appreciate your assistance.”
Like the challenge of managing complex patients across three rural hinterland towns, distance should not be an obstacle to career development opportunities.
“I’d definitely encourage other staff working in rural areas to ensure they take advantage of any and every professional development and learning opportunity available,” Louise said.
“It’s always intrinsically rewarding for yourself and for your community to build on your leadership skills through quality learning.”
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