Gateway Health employee Pauline Bluck celebrated 10 years with the organisation on July 1.
She first connected with Gateway Community Health (as it was known then) in 2010, when she was working in a managerial role for the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNs). The service was located in the basement of Gateway Community Health.
Unfortunately, RDNs decided to stop providing services in Wodonga in May 2014 and Pauline found herself looking for a new role.
She saw an ad for a practice nurse position at Gateway Health, applied and then officially started on the July 1, 2014.
“At the time Gateway Health was still mostly recognised as a place where you might go if you had family, mental health and alcohol/drug issues,” Pauline said.
“The medical clinic was still in the infancy stage and wasn’t recognised as being part of Gateway Health.”
When Pauline started at the clinic, there were five GPs and two practice nurses.
Over the past 10 years, it has grown significantly. There are now more than 15 GPs and more than 15 nurses providing care for patients.
The medical clinic has added a midwife service, a refugee clinic, a sexual health clinic (Clinic 35) and the gender service. All of these services provide much-needed health care option for patients in our region.
“The medical practice offered bulk billing for many years and this was a big draw for a lot of our patients,” she said.
“Patients realised they could access not only bulk billing but excellent quality GP and nursing services.”
In addition, the GPs or nurses can also refer their patients to any of the program or services offered at Gateway Health or elsewhere to address any additional needs like food or housing insecurity.
“It’s wonderful being part of a team that provides holistic care and helps our patients navigate the different referral pathways if needed,” she said.
Pauline reflected on the impact working at the medical clinic has on her life over the past 10 years.
She’s been given many opportunities to expand her skillset to provide better healthcare for her patients. Pauline said the staff at the medical practice feel like family and are so supportive.
“At the end of the day, if I can put a smile on my patients’ faces, let them feel they are being heard and provide great nursing care, then I have done my job,” Mrs Bluck said.
“I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else!”
This July marks the 10th anniversary of the merger of Gateway Community Health in Wodonga and Ovens & King Community Health Service in Wangaratta.
Today, Gateway Health is a charitable, not-for-profit community health organisation providing affordable healthcare, support services, community programs, and outreach initiatives across North East Victoria and parts of southern NSW.
The needs of rural and regional people and communities are our priority when delivering quality care across sites in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Benalla and Shepparton.
