Sunday, December 22, 2024

Brit who took job in Australia that ‘nobody wanted’ forced to flee country after dream turned into nightmare

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She thought the Australian town seemed harmless enough

Moving over to Australia is the dream for many, many people.

It seems like a weekly thing that someone is posting an Instagram reel of them heading down under, going off to work on the other side of the world.

And it was the same for this woman, a British nurse who took a job out there to go and live the dream.

Except, when she started the role ‘nobody wanted’ it all turned into a nightmare.

Kelly Wainwright had always wanted to work out in Aus and managed to get a visa for a job in the Queensland town of Mount Isa.

When she got there, she thought it ‘just looked like any dusty old cowboy town in the middle of the outback’. But the 43-year-old hadn’t been made aware of its high levels of crime and violence.

She started in her manager’s position in the sexual health unit of Mt Isa Hospital – a role that had been empty for nearly two years.

Wainwright explained to 9News that not ‘for one second’ did she think the ‘volatility’ of the town would cause her to flee.

Kelly got a job in the Queensland town of Mount Isa. (9News)

Kelly got a job in the Queensland town of Mount Isa. (9News)

Just six weeks after getting there, her home (provided by the government) was broken into and not long after, a group of teens allegedly assaulted her 14-year-old relative who was staying there.

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Footage of the alleged attack reportedly shows at least three teenage girls kicking, punching and slapping.

The nurse reported it to the police but she claims they told her: “You live in Mt Isa, I suggest you go and learn how to fight.”

Colleagues and her employers were so concerned for Wainwright that they asked for senior health officials to move her – but this was denied.

She felt she had no choice but to flee the country for her own safety. (9 News)

She felt she had no choice but to flee the country for her own safety. (9 News)

9News saw emails from her manager which read: “I have fears for Kelly and her family’s immediate emotional wellbeing as a result of informing them that their request to move was not supported.”

As Wainwright was struggling with the situation so much, she ended up leaving the country and returning to the UK. That’s because her visa was specifically tied to her role at the hospital.

She explained: “I just gave all (my possessions) away and off we went with just our suitcases,” before describing the situation as ‘really disheartening’.

North West Hospital and Health Service declined to comment on her individual matter to 9News, but added that it provides ‘safe’ accommodation for employees.

Featured Image Credit: 9 News

Topics: Australia, Crime, Health

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