UK nurse Emma Nugent on life in Tasmania, job at Royal Hobart Hospital

Nurse Emma Nugent moved from the UK with her family to give life in Tassie a crack – and she says the huge gamble has paid off.

Emma Nugent, Nurse at the Royal Hobart Hospital, moved from the UK to work in Tasmania. Picture : Mireille Merlet

It’s the beaches and blue skies that have captivated UK nurse Emma Nugent.

She has been working at the cardiac lab at the Royal Hobart since January last year after moving to Hobart with her husband and two children aged 8 and 11.

Ms Nugent grew up in Rutland, the smallest county in England, and after university worked at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in the Heart Emergency Centre for five years.

After travelling extensively she and her husband moved to his home place in County Tyrone. Northern Ireland

“We knew there was more out there in the world.

“Brexit happened, then Covid hit and we thought if we don’t do it (move) now, we never will.”

Emma Nugent, Nurse at the Royal Hobart Hospital, moved from the UK to work in Tasmania. Picture : Mireille Merlet

She has a brother in New Zealand and considered Scandinavia and Malta which were not “on the other side of the world from family and friends” like Australia.

“We both had jobs, the children had school places and we found a rental before we left the UK.”

The gamble has paid off.

“We love it here. I love the beaches which are on our doorstep and try to swim twice a week in the ocean.

“I used to swim in the laughs in Northern Ireland which were so much colder than the sea here.

“The skies are so blue.

“That’s one thing that I can’t get over. Blue and not grey!”

She describes her job as “great” and says the children love their school and extra curricular activities.

UK nurse Emma Nugent responded to a call to live and work in Tasmania and is happy she made the move. Tasmania Health is now trying to recruit more nurses from the UK system to boost our workforce. Picture Supplied:

“I had never worked in the cath lab before, so it was a really steep learning curve, but I can’t fault the support of the team that I work with. They’ve been very patient with me and I really appreciate the time and effort that they’ve given to help me get to where I am now.

“Nursing salaries are so much higher in Australia compared to the UK, but then the cost of living is also a bit higher, so I suppose it does balance out.

“Having said that we feel we have more disposable income to put towards weekends away, camping, activities, great food that’s available here in Tassie.

“The good thing about Hobart for me is that it’s a city, but doesn’t feel like a huge bustling city, which is great as we’re from the countryside.

“Everyone seems so friendly whether you’re walking through town, along the beach or hiking to a waterfall.”

Originally published as UK nurse Emma Nugent on life in Tasmania, job at Royal Hobart Hospital