OLD GIRL FEATURE

Angela Wilkinson: Nurse Unit Manager

Left: Angela and fellow IGGS Old Girl Katie Auld working at the Springfield Fever Clinic.

Right: Angela and her daughter Ella.

2020 has truly been the year of the Health Hero. All of us have been affected by COVID-19 in one way or another, but perhaps none more so than our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers. IGGS Old Girl and current parent, Mrs Angela Wilkinson, is a Nurse Unit Manager for the Specialist Outpatient Department at the Ipswich Hospital and has worked on the frontline throughout the global pandemic.

Mrs Wilkinson has worked at the Ipswich Hospital for over 21 years and believes that while 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, it has only reinforced the love she has for her profession even more. It has been a humbling and rewarding experience for her, being part of a team that includes several other IGGS Old Girls working together to support the community during this time.

“At the Ipswich Hospital, staff have had to step out of their comfort zone and have completely excelled while doing so. I have seen staff across the entire hospital support each other tremendously and everyone has stepped up to do the best job they can under incredibly difficult circumstances. But as much as we have had challenges in the health industry, people across every sector have had to deal with COVID-19 and the impact it has had both on professional and personal levels,” Mrs Wilkinson said.

For some industries, COVID-19 has meant forced closures and everchanging protocols. For some staff this meant head-to-toe personal protective equipment including compulsory masks, gowns and gloves for over eight hours each day. Whilst these measures are just another challenge delivered by COVID-19, they are absolutely imperative to protect patients, staff and the wider community.

“Queensland Health and the Ipswich Hospital have responded with speed and precision to establish processes in response to COVID-19. While it’s definitely changed the way that we do business, I don’t think these changes will stop, but they will actually improve the way that we provide care in the short term and the

The attitude of the School empowered me to believe I could be anything I put my mind to and to believe I could do anything.

long term,” Mrs Wilkinson explained.

“On a daily basis in response to COVID there were continuous changes and updates to provide to staff. The willingness of the staff to adapt to these changes so rapidly has been incredible and I am immensely proud of my team for how they have responded.”

Mrs Wilkinson believes that her schooling at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School prepared her for life beyond the School gates by instilling in her a variety of skills and values.

“Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School instils a sense of confidence, determination and diligence in its students and that is very evident amongst my group of friends from school who I still keep in touch with today. You don’t just walk away with an education; you walk away with an experience that will shape you forever.” “Not only did IGGS teach me to embrace being confident, it also taught me how to be compassionate and how to have a sense of self-worth. IGGS taught me a sense of determination to exceed in my career, to push myself to be the best I can be and to make the most of every opportunity. The School taught me such important values that I will hold for the rest of my life.”

Mrs Wilkinson’s daughter Ella began her IGGS journey in Year 7 at the beginning of 2020 and thus, she began a new chapter as a parent.

“To see her put on her uniform on that first day of school was so special. It’s been lovely sharing stories about my time at school and how things have changed, it’s a very special experience. Ella is really lucky to have cousins at both IGGS and IJGS as well,” Mrs Wilkinson said. “While the buildings and uniforms may have changed, the culture of the School has remained the same.”

There are still a few familiar faces around the campus from Angela’s time at IGGS including her then PE teacher, Mrs Summerville, who is now Ella’s Humanities teacher. Another familiar face is our very own Principal & CEO, Dr Britton.

“At Ella’s interview with Dr Britton, he instilled the belief in us that the School would support Ella throughout any challenges she may face and in whatever discipline she chose to pursue whether that be the Arts, sports or service,” Angela said.

“Ella is incredibly proud to attend this school and we’re very proud of our long association with it.”