More than 200 Nurses and Midwives started their first day at CHHHS

After breaking his back racing motorcycles one nursing graduate wanted to give back, joining a record-breaking number of nurses and midwives starting their first day at CHHHS.

Cairns Hinterland Hospital and Health Service have welcomed the addition of 180 new registered nurses, 34 enrolled nurses and 11 midwives to hospitals and clinics in Far North Queensland. Registered nurse Will Reid and Kiara Dundas are 2 of over 200 nurses that will consolidate their clinical knowledge and skills learnt during their studies at Cairns Hospital. Picture: Brendan Radke

After breaking his back racing motorcycles one nursing graduate wanted to give back, joining more than 200 nurses and midwives starting their first day at Cairns Hospital.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service welcomed 226 nursing and midwifery graduates for their first day on Monday.

Registered nurse Will Reid made the monumental shift from construction to study nursing in 2021 after a motorcycle crash and Covid gave the single father a new perspective on life.

“We were hearing that all these nurses were having to work crazy hours, putting in a massive effort, and they were really seen as unsung heroes,” Mr Reid said.

“I thought that was the way that I could best contribute to my community.

“I broke my back in 2019 so that was also … a bit of a catalyst to doing this because I couldn’t do sort of real heavy lifting anymore.”

The 2025 cohort of graduates include 178 registered nurses, 37 enrolled nurses and 11 registered midwives, placed across Cairns and rural hospitals.

CHHHS nursing and midwifery executive director Leanne Boyd said the record breaking cohort relieved pressure placed on a tired workforce.

Cairns Hinterland Hospital and Health Service have welcomed the addition of 180 new registered nurses, 34 enrolled nurses and 11 midwives to hospitals and clinics in Far North Queensland. CHHHS nursing director of educational research Jaya Thomas, registered nurse and midwife Kiara Dundas and registered nurse Will Reid are 2 of over 200 nurses that will consolidate their clinical knowledge and skills learnt during their studies at Cairns Hospital. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I don’t think we’ve ever had that many graduates here at Cairns, so I think it’s really exciting and it shows a real energy and a real need … it’s absolutely a record,” Ms Boyd said.

“They bring a great fresh energy to our tired workforce, so it’s really important for them to come into our organisation.

“They bring different perspectives as well and challenge the status quo which is always welcome.”

Graduates across the cohort completed years of study as well as hundreds of hours of often unpaid placements to get to where they were.

But registered Midwife Kiara Dundas said the end result was worth it.

“There’s something super special about welcoming a new life into the world and helping women and their families,” Ms Dundas said.

“When that baby is born and they take their first breath … just being there for that moment and helping the women and their families. .. It’s just the best reward.”

Originally published as More than 200 Nurses and Midwives started their first day at CHHHS