A YOUNG nurse is encouraging others to pursue a career in the healthcare sector to "future-proof" their employment. Login or signup to continue reading Cameron Park's Matilda Strickland, 23, works in the NICU at John Hunter Hospital and says nurses can never be replaced by emerging technology. "Healthcare is the most important industry of the future because nothing can ever replace the skills and care delivered by a qualified nurse," she said.
Employment in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry is projected to grow by 15.8 per cent by 2026 - a growth rate higher than the national average. Projections by Jobs and Skills Australia show the care and support economy is expected to grow by 22 per cent within the next 10 years.
Ms Strickland said working in healthcare was hard but rewarding and was "one of the best things she's ever done". "I love working in the NICU and in paediatrics. I'm very fortunate to be part of people's lives and use my skills to help them at what is such a vulnerable time for families," she said.
Ms Strickland embarked on her nursing career as a school-based trainee before continuing with a Diploma of Nursing with TAFE NSW and completing a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Newcastle. "I gained the technical knowledge and experience, which not only built my professional confidence but also helped me to grow as a person," she said. "Starting as a school-based trainee was a challenge, but the experience has made me the nurse and the person I a.
