Paola Ortiz Barillas
My name is Paola Ortiz Barillas, and I am a Registered Nurse with 17 years of nursing experience, including 15 years specialising in cancer services. My journey into nursing and, in particular, cancer nursing, is deeply personal and shaped by experiences that began in my childhood.
I was born in El Salvador and, at teh age five, my mother, my two siblings and I were fortunate enough to be accepted by the Australian Governement as refugees. Australia became our home, and I have always been increadibly greatful for teh oportunities and sense of belonging that this country has provided my family.
My passion for nuring began at a very young age. When I was nine years old, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, I was too young to understand what cancer meant, but i understood that my mother was unwell. I remember the many hospital appointments, the unfamiliar environment, and, most importantly, the nurses who cared for my mother with compassion, patience and kindness. Watching them support her and our family left a lasting impression on me. Without fully realising it at the time, I knew that one day I wanted to be someone who could provide that same care and support to others.
I commenced my nursing career in cancer services in 2011 at Monah Medical Centre, Clayton, working within a Haematology ward. I was given the opportunity to upskill in chemotehrapy administration, and this became the biginning of my specialisation in cancer nursing and a career that I have found increadibly rewarding.
In 2014, i made the move from Melbourne's south-east to teh west and commenced working within the Western Health Day Oncology Unit. Throughout my career, i have continually sought opportunities to develop my knowledge, skills and leadership capabilities. I completed postgraduate studies in Cancer NUrsing, progressed into the role of Associate Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM), and for the past three years have had the privilege of serving as the Nurse Unit Manager of the Day Oncology Unit at Western Health, Sunshine Hospital.
My career has been shaped not only by professional devlopment but by the people I have had teh privilege of caring for. Working in Oncology has taught me that nursing extends far beyond clinical knowledge and treatment. It is about being present during some of the most vulnerable and uncertain moments in a person's life. It is about listening, providing reassurance, advocating for patients and families, and helping people navigate what can often be an overwhelming journey.
Alongside my professional journey, I am increadibly proud to be a mother to two wonderful children, now ten and five, and a wife to my supportive husband. Balancing family life with a demanding and rewarding career has presented its challenged, but it has taught me resilience, perspective and the importance of compassion in every aspect of life.
For me, nuring has never simply been a career. It is a privilege, a responsibility and a way of giving back. Every day, I strive to provide the same compassion, care and support that made such an impression on me as a young girl, and to ensure that every patinet and family I encounter feels heard, valued and cared for.