Calvary Hospital learning and development coordinator Jane Phillips (far left) and Graduate Nurse Transition Program coordinator Tania O’Hanlon have welcomed the five new graduate nurses, Ella Fellows, Kathryn Box, Amelia Edwards, Amanda Reid and Joanna Paradesi to the hospital. Photo: Supplied.
A new cohort of five graduate nurses has joined the ranks of Calvary Hospital.
Ella Fellows, Kathryn Box, Amelia Edwards, Amanda Reid and Joanna Paradesi joined the hospital in mid-February after completing their nursing degrees in 2025.
Each of the nurses will serve in different wards across Wagga’s private hospital, where for at least the next year they will learn how the hospital operates in an effort to kickstart their careers.
Learning and development coordinator Jane Phillips said the hospital was excited to bring the group on board in the hospital’s 100th year of operation.
“Our graduate nurses are the hospital’s future,” Ms Phillips said.
“This year’s intake of grad nurses started last week. All five of them are all really eager to be a part of Calvary, and we’re so excited that they chose to start their careers with us.
“They’ve got all that wonderful new practice, that new evidence-based practice that they learnt while they were studying.
“They’re fresh faces. They want to learn and contribute, and we want to help them thrive.”
Graduate nurse Kathryn Box said she had lived her entire life regionally and that working at a hospital such as Calvary was the ideal place for her to start her career.
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is help people,” she said.
“I’m from a regional background. Originally, I grew up on a farm, a property back in Victoria, and I’ve seen the injuries that people have sustained when on the farm.
“I know how hard it can be for people to get proper help, and how hard it is to attract medical professionals to those areas.
“I’ve always wanted to be able to help those people in those regional areas.
“I hope to stay regional and remote even after my graduate year, because that’s just where I want to work.”
With Calvary Hospital now celebrating its 100th year, Kathryn said it was a special feeling to know she was part of a hospital that had been offering support to patients for so long.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s only my second week, but you can see how special the hospital is,” she said.
“I’ve already worked with such experienced nurses and learnt so much from them in such a short time.
“Just talking to patients as well, who have been coming here for years and years, it’s pretty clear that a lot of people, both staff and patients, really care about this place.”
