NCN Health welcomes new nurses

“I'm looking forward to all my rotations in Cobram,” Ms Mason said.

Ms Mason completed her work placements at Epworth Hospital, Austin Hospital and Eastern Health.

She studied at Deakin University in Burwood and had the rare experience of entering the workforce during a global pandemic.

“The hospitals in Melbourne really handled it well, we were wearing full PPE, getting temperature checks at the door and everything was locked down,” she said.

“The first two years of university were great but the third year was online, so it was pretty hard.”

Ms Mason is now living in Cobram and is no stranger to regional Victoria, having grown up in Swan Hill.

“My family and friends think it's great that I'm back in the country,” she said.

But moving to country Victoria is a new experience for Ashely Lin, who has also relocated from Melbourne.

Ms Lin studied at Deakin University in Burwood and completed placement at Box Hill Hospital.

“I’m very happy I get to experience different rotations,” she said.

"It’s very different from my previous experience in Melbourne, in Cobram we help each other with patients and I really enjoy working here.

“It’s such a lovely small town and NCN Health gave me a lot of support when I moved.”

Originally from China, Ms Lin, 23, moved to Australia in 2015.

“My mum was a Chinese medicine practitioner, so I always knew I wanted to work in this industry that I really enjoy,” she said.

Ms Lin said adjusting to a lack of Coles and KFC in Cobram will be a challenge.

"A lot of nursing placements were postponed because of COVID-19, so I feel really lucky,” she said.

NCN Health chief executive Jacque Phillips welcomed the graduate nurses.

“Our graduates have already displayed great resilience and adaptability obtaining their qualifications during the pandemic,” she said.

“We look forward to working and learning with them in the coming months and years.”