Sadie Vale

Sadie had grown up at Colbinabbin just outside Rushworth. Sadie begun her career at St Vincent Hospital in Melbourne, and later on had travelled to Bendigo Health for work.

“After 4 years travel to work, I decided to take a punt on a role closer to home,” she said.

“I was a bit apprehensive, District Nursing wasn’t an area I’d pictured myself in, but once I started, I loved it.”

Sadie began as a District Nurse at Waranga Memorial Hospital. In the early years there was little formal management structure, but around 2009 she joined the Nurse Unit Manager team.

For many years Sadie job-shared the management role along with the daily district rounds and balancing family life.

Her career at GV Health has also included major projects and secondments.

Sadie spent 12 months at the main campus working on National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards as a standard 12 Lead, and later leading the model of care for Waranga Health new facility for 18 Months.

Sadie returned to District Nursing, then shifted into education in 2022, supporting students and staff across Tatura and Rushworth, additionally still works the occasional District Nurse shift.

For Sadie, the heart of the role is the community.

“Caring for people in their homes is a privilege,” Sadie said.

“You learn so much, assessing clients in all kinds of environments, thinking on your feet, being resourceful.

“It’s regular, family-friendly work that fitted around raising my 3 sons, and it’s deeply rewarding.”

She recalls one man living in a shed near Murchison, found droving cattle on foot.

“We did what assessment we could by the roadside.

“He later rode his bike into town to see the doctor.

“We looked after him for years until he passed away locally.

“A lovely, memorable man.”

After three decades, Sadie has seen huge changes, from generalist beginnings to the rise of technology and more technical care.

What hasn’t changed is her pride in the work.

“It’s been a great journey, hard work, very rewarding.

“I’m proud of the commitment and grateful for the support from my colleagues, GV Health, and the community we serve.”