‘A special place to work’: Why Amy Farrelly chose Mercy Health to shape an incredible career
From a baby’s first breath to their final check-up, Amy Farrelly is there. Our dedicated Nurse Unit Manager has provided care to countless lives at Mercy Health since 2007. Whether she’s stepping into an exciting role or building true relationships with people who share her values, Amy is shaping an incredible career with us – and there’s so much more to come.
Countless moments
Amy Farrelly’s days are filled with firsts. A baby’s first breath… a milestone successfully reached… a family finally getting to use their brand new car seat. In her role as Nurse Unit Manager at the Mercy Hospital for Women, Amy is there through all the battles and breakthroughs. The most rewarding moment of all? She says it comes much later than you’d anticipate.
“We’re lucky enough to see the babies return to visit us, and they could be seven years old by that point,” Amy says. “There are the ones that pulled on your heartstrings when they were in the nursery and you remember their family’s faces. So, that makes you feel it’s a pretty special place to work.”
In the nursery, Amy works closely with a tight-knit team to provide great care. There are over 10,000 people just like them at Mercy Health – they’re compassionate, tough, and have a whole lot of heart. Amy says they’re qualities you need to work in health care, but at Mercy Health, you also know you’re part of something bigger – something she helps us build every day.
“I am very lucky to be able to work in a specialised tertiary hospital. It’s opened my eyes to how we are viewed in healthcare more broadly. There’s a real sense of community within our organisation and I believe it’s because of the care we provide and the scale at which we provide it. I love being part of that community.”
Meaningful opportunities
Amy always knew she’d end up working in the health industry. She imagined herself helping those who needed it most, exploring the idea of a career in allied health or midwifery. But it wasn’t until she went down the path of nursing and into neonatal care that she found her true calling.
“I came to Mercy Health in 2007 to do an introduction to special care nursing course,” Amy says. “In 2008, I then went on to do further postgraduate studies in neonatal intensive care nursing. I worked as a clinical nurse for many years before progressing into an Associate Nurse Unit Manager role and then eventually to the Nurse Unit Manager role in 2016.”
Amy’s journey with us didn’t stop there. After completing a Masters in Health Administration, she most recently stepped into the Acting Deputy Director role of the Women’s and Children’s Program – and she says the opportunities to grow are endless.
“I have enjoyed all the career progression opportunities I’ve been able to hold in the organisation. I’m very fortunate to step into the Acting Deputy Director role. The size of Mercy Health opens up a lot of opportunities for staff to progress, which is very exciting. There are many career progression pathways beyond the local department level, which is great.”
A team to rely on
A career in health and human services isn’t always easy, and Amy believes it takes true heart. While she’s found plenty of joy in her role, she’s also no stranger to the challenges caring for neonates can bring. Amy says it’s not for everyone – but anyone at Mercy Health will find meaningful support when they need it.
“We have an amazing relationship within the nurseries. There’s fantastic collaboration between the medical nursing and allied health staff, and everyone is on the same page – everyone’s opinions matter and we are all equal. We’re all here for the same goal of providing holistic care for each baby. And when those challenging times do happen, we have multidisciplinary debriefs where everyone can come together and ensure we’re all OK. It’s those challenging times that do bring the team together.”
For Amy, the future is bright. Our size and scale give us more opportunities to innovate and expand our services – and to pass those opportunities on to our people. And we’re proud that Amy will be right at the heart of every new step we take.
I hope I can continue to grow professionally and provide leadership and guidance to support each of the departments, and to help steer the direction of the organisation,” Amy says. “And I hope we can continue to mark ourselves as a leader in women’s health care. It’s just the beginning.”
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Last reviewed May 7, 2024.