On International Day of the Midwife (Tuesday 5 May), Mater Private Hospital Townsville is celebrating the addition of four new graduate midwives to its new Pimlico maternity unit.
And the new recruits include one local who took a rocky road – literally – to chase her passion.
From blasting bedrock to birthing babies, Mater Private Hospital Townsville Graduate Midwife Taylor Cook, 31, changed careers from working with miners to working with Mater’s tiniest minors.
“I was on the blast crew at the Curragh coal mine and then I drove trucks at South Walker Creek,” Ms Cook said.
“I was working in the mines for about five years, but I’ve always loved babies and I wanted to do something rewarding… I studied to become a Registered Nurse for a year while living in Nebo and still working in the mines.
“I realised my passion was midwifery, so I moved home to Townsville and enrolled at James Cook University.”
Ms Cook is one of the four graduate midwives who recently started at Mater Private Hospital Townsville, along with Zara Roberts, Bella Rapisarda and Zara Wojtowyez.
Ms Cook said she has now found a career she loves.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing new life come into the world,” she said.
“I love my job, and it’s so nice being in a brand-new facility. It doesn’t feel clinical and it’s a nice space for women to be in.”
The new Mater Private Hospital Townsville Maternity Unit opened in March as the final part of the site’s $40 million expansion project. The unit is expected to welcome about 600 North Queensland babies each year.
Ms Cook has some simple advice for people thinking about a career in midwifery – just do it.
“My only regret is not doing it sooner!” she said.
"I feel so privileged to support our women in such a vulnerable space and am forever in awe of their strength.
“I put it off for so many years thinking I wouldn’t be able to handle it or it would be too much responsibility, but there’s so much growth in it.
“It’s such a rewarding career. I work with some beautiful midwives and we all support each other.”
Mater Private Hospital Townsville Acting General Manager Anna Olson said International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to thank all the hardworking midwives in the community.
“Our Mater midwives provide outstanding care, and we are thankful for the work they do every day,” Ms Olson said.
“This year’s International Day of the Midwife theme is ‘One Million More Midwives’, and Mater is actively supporting this by providing opportunities to graduate midwives like Taylor who will go on to have long, successful and rewarding careers in healthcare.”
