Patients are benefiting from the dedication and expertise of local healthcare professionals like Kim Chetland, whose career has come full circle with her appointment as Nurse Unit Manager of the Peri-Operative Department at Phillip Island Community Hospital.
Patients benefit from Kim’s career of caring
August 26, 2026
Kim Chetland, centre, is the new Nurse Unit Manager of the Peri-Operative Department at the Phillip Island Community Hospital. She’s with Registered Nurses Sophie Wolswinkel, left, and Sally Eccles.
Kim first joined the team at Wonthaggi Hospital in 2010, working as a casual Personal Care Assistant on the sub-acute ward, Armitage House.
Since then, she has worked hard, gained qualifications and embraced opportunities, positioning her to now lead a team of 10 at Phillip Island.
“I’ve always been supported by my managers and the organisation to grow my skills and experience, and pursue any opportunity I wished to,” she said.
Having grown up at Kongwak, and now living locally with her three children involved in sport, Kim sees healthcare as more than just a job.
“Caring for my community is an amazing thing to be able to do, so more people can receive care close to home,” she said.
After Armitage House, Kim worked as a Personal Care Assistant at Kirrak House residential care centre, Wonthaggi, while studying a Bachelor of Nursing degree online.
She completed her graduate year at Wonthaggi, experiencing rotations in Acute and Theatre, the latter she loved and chose to specialise in. Kim gained a post-graduate qualification in anaesthetics and recovery, and took on more responsibilities, ultimately becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist and then an Associate Nurse Unit Manager of Wonthaggi’s Peri-Operative Department.
Kim knew nurse leadership was the direction she wished to pursue and so a NUM role was the next logical step.
“Health offers you a great career. There are so many opportunities to grow and you can go anywhere,” she said.
“Now that we’re part of Bayside Health, there are even more pathways to collaborate with our other sites, including The Alfred and Peninsula University Hospital, and learn from each other.”