About the Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre

The Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre is a not-for-profit health provider servicing the Swifts Creek and surrounding district.

The Centre is managed by a volunteer Committee of Management. The Committee employs a full-time Bush Nurse Manager and a number of casual and part-time employees.

We have a membership of 505 people, who live in Swifts Creek and the surrounding communities. We also provide services to non-members and visitors at a small charge, with the fees set out on the membership page.

Membership and fees

The Bush Nursing Centre from McMillan Street, with a tall cypress standing in front of it

The waiting area at the Centre, looking out through the glass entrance doors to the garden

The curved red reception desk at the Centre, with the health noticeboard behind it

Alpine ranges rising above a sea of cloud

Vision

Our Vision is to continue to provide our essential, quality, accessible health service encompassing a wide range of bespoke health and wellbeing supports; relevant to our geographically isolated community of Swifts Creek and surrounding districts. We will encourage optimum health and maximise independence of all community members.

Implicit in this vision is that our Bush Nurse Manager will lead and mentor our team members to provide a skilled, proficient and personalised link with the broader health system given our remote location. The nature of the service will be integrated, non-discriminatory, culturally appropriate and we will aspire to expand our service in response to the changing needs of the community through partnerships and innovations.

Mission

Our Mission is to be a responsive community hub advocating for the holistic health, wellbeing needs and providing acute emergency response to our local community and a transient population. We provide multi-skilled professional nursing and forge partnerships with other services to address emerging needs.

We provide a high quality, culturally appropriate, flexible and innovative service that aims to ensure the safety and long-term sustained wellbeing of the community. We advocate for members by collaborating in a range of community consultation opportunities, and by partnering with other local organisations and projects.

Values

Our values foster a culture of excellence, and drive our strategic initiatives, ensuring we deliver personalised, high-quality care, affirming our role as a vital health service provider in the region.

Connection

Provide a safe and inclusive environment through teamwork, community leadership and strategic partnerships.

Service to the Community

Respect the individual, strive for excellence and act with integrity.

Accessibility

Fair access to health care and social support services for all. Providing a Community Hub for the public in times of need.

Sustainability

Sustainable healthcare across a lifetime. Securing funding to continue the operation of the Centre.

Innovation

Continuous improvement underpinned by evidence-based governance.

Bush Nurses

The people you will meet when you walk in.

Susan Carroll

Bush Nurse Manager for 14 years, and a nurse at the Centre for 28. Sue has been a mainstay here since the 1990s, when she started as a relieving nurse. She is a Registered Division 1 Nurse and Registered Midwife, a nurse immuniser, a Women's Health Nurse and a cervical screening provider. She was a finalist in the 2022 HESTA Awards.

Jacinta MacCormack with her dog Scolie, under the wisteria at the Centre

Jacinta MacCormack and Scolie

Jacinta has been at the Centre for over nine years, with a background in oncology and palliative care. She ran the COVID vaccination clinic here and at the other eastern Victorian bush nursing centres. She won the Victorian Rural Workforce Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Outreach. Her dog Scolie welcomes members at the door.

Sarah O'Brien

Sarah joined the team in 2023. She grew up in Swifts Creek and still lives in the area she calls home. She is registered both as a nurse and as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, with a Graduate Diploma in Critical Care and training in remote area nursing, suturing and immunisation.

Claire Chapman

Claire started at the Centre in August 2024 as a casual relieving nurse. Her background is in critical care, including intensive care, emergency and cardiac nursing, and her passion is cardiac nursing. Claire and her family have a property at Swifts Creek and are looking forward to making it home.

Norman Clarke

Norman has been a Registered Nurse since 2003, after a first career as a fitter and turner, then 17 years as an Ambulance Officer with BHP. He taught clinical nursing at Southern Cross University for 10 years and spent six at Omeo District Health. He has also nursed in a First Nations community in Cape York.

Rebecca Campbell

Bec came to the Centre with 20 years of emergency nursing behind her. Her interest is in rural and community health, and in the safety and wellbeing of the people she looks after. She is looking forward to being part of the community here.

Committee of Management

The Centre is run by staff and a Committee of Management. The Committee are volunteers from our local community, responsible for governance, finance, fundraising, policy and procedure, and our accreditation.

These are very committed people and one of our members was on the committee for almost 30 years. The successful Centenary Celebration was organised and run by staff and the Committee.