John is a Registered Nurse and Nurse Education & Research Coordinator at Tennant Creek Hospital, with 21 years of experience in emergency and remote area nursing. He is currently seconded to Flinders University to facilitate student placements and advocate for higher education. John’s passion for health care began as a volunteer ambulance officer, leading to multiple degrees and a focus on clinical education. Notably, he has championed the skills of Aboriginal Health Practitioners, leaving a lasting impact. In his spare time, John engages in voluntary work and enjoys off-road camping adventures.
What is your role and what does your work focus on?
I am seconded 1 day per week to work with Flinders University at the Tennant Creek office. I am involved in facilitating health practitioner student placements and advocating for higher education in the local region. My professional role is Registered Nurse.
Where did you work and / or study before joining CMPH / Flinders?
My substantive role is Nurse Education & Research Coordinator at Tennant Creek Hospital, where I have worked for the past 14 years, 9 of them as the NERC.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your current field, and how has your passion evolved over time?
I was a farmer in the 1980s but had to leave the land due to drought and high interest rates, so returned to school. As a volunteer ambulance officer in country SA, I developed an interest in health care and eventually ended up with a Bachelor of Nursing. I was always interested in clinical education but felt that I needed credibility as a clinician and manager first, acquiring two Masters degrees and a clinical Graduate Certificate, as well as 21 years of experience as an emergency nurse and a remote area nurse.
In 2015 I became a full-time educator and now strive to keep up-to-date and relevant, including acquiring a second Graduate Certificate. Currently, I am exploring gamification as a way of creating interest in clinical education in my workplace.
Can you share a memorable experience or project from your career that had a significant impact on you or the community?
When I was manager of a small remote health centre, I worked hard to champion the skills and knowledge of the Aboriginal Health Practitioners. The AKPs were at a conference in the regional centre and their colleagues from around the region were complaining about how badly they were treated by remote area nurses in general. The group from our clinic were not participating in the complaints, and when asked, they replied that they had nothing to complain about because “we have John Wright”. When an observer later told me about this, I felt that all my battles to support the community and their AHPs were worth it! Most of those AHPs are still working at that health clinic 15 years later.
How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?
Some would say that I don’t know how to relax! I spend my spare time doing voluntary work with CRANAplus, the peak body for remote health (Chair of the Board), with the NT Board of the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia (Chair of the Board), and with the NT Emergency Service (Unit Officer). Occasionally I get to go camping and 4WDing, but I’m very good at breaking my poor old 80 series Landcruiser while having fun off road, so have to fix it regularly.