Amy Walker, Midwife
Amy Walker
Seven years ago, Amy Walker left Melbourne on a four-wheel drive holiday with her husband, excited about seeing the ‘real’Australia. It was a holiday that would change her life.
She could hardly have imagined that today she would still be ‘on the road’ – working as a midwife in Fitzroy Crossing, in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
Amy completed her midwifery course at Broome, one of the first stops on the 4WD holiday. Her husband got a job teaching in Fitzroy Crossing, and Amy went too, joining the local community health team as a nurse. “After 12 months, the community midwife position became available and I was lucky enough to get the job. I’d had a couple of years’ experience as a midwife in Broome and really enjoyed the work,” she says.
She now works as the community health midwife for the Fitzroy Valley, based at Fitzroy Crossing Hospital.
“Living in the Kimberley is a fantastic experience, it really does get into your blood,” Amy says. “Working in community health is busy. Fitzroy Crossing is surrounded by about 40 communities with an approximate population of 3,500 people. There are four different language groups and about 80 per cent of the population here is Aboriginal.”
Amy brings to the job flexibility, a willingness to learn and the experience of having worked in a small community in a remote area. “It is a great opportunity. As a community midwife, you can provide a great service to the community. It’s a team effort with the hospital and various community agencies, working together to support each other to provide positive outcomes.”
Her advice for anyone thinking about making a similar move and working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is to get involved with the local community. “I think that you have to get out and meet people, socialise and join in the community activities such as sports, otherwise the isolation could get to you. I love being able to go fishing and camping in such a beautiful part of the world and spend time building relationships. Living here now for 18 months, Fitzroy has become my home.”
“But”, she adds, “one day I will finish that 4WD holiday.”
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