Nursing Director of Medical Services at QEII Hospital, Julie Finucane OAM bids adieu to a storied career that spans over four decades, leaving an indelible mark on the fields of nursing and the military.
In 1975 she embarked on nursing training at PAH, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to healthcare and military service.
As someone who has witnessed Julie’s growth, Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery at Metro South Health, Veronica Casey shared that Julie’s tenacity and perseverance is second-to-none.
“There’s always a story to be heard from the people who have worked with Julie. Uplifting is the word they all use to describe her impact,” Veronica said. “Her commitment to patients and social justice and what is fair, means she has instilled in many generations the need to always do the right thing.
“It is through her leadership that we have seen her drive the nursing profession forward but also shape QEII into what it is today.”
Julie says since her start at QEII in 2010, she has seen the hospital evolve in leaps and bounds with two new wards opened over the last year.
“We have seen such an increase in capacity, and I’m proud of where we are. I think we have grown tremendously in the way that we address emergency presentations and treat our community. I’m very honoured to have been a part of that.”
Julie's impact extends globally, with deployments to Bougainville in 2000 and Banda Aceh in early 2005, where she provided crucial nursing care and organized equipment for disaster relief efforts. Her efforts were recognized with the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 and the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal in 2005.
Colonel Julie Finucane boasts an impressive array of qualifications, including Bachelor of Nursing and Diploma of Applied Science, Master of Emergency Nursing, fellow of both the Australian College of Nursing and the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA), where she served as the inaugural Executive Director. She is currently the Honorary Colonel Commandant of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service.
Among her numerous achievements, CENA honoured Julie with the 'Julie Finucane OAM Medal for Leadership in Emergency Nursing' for her outstanding leadership in the field.
Dedicated to developing the nursing profession, Julie held roles in the CENA Trauma Nursing Program Steering Committee and the CENA Professional Standards Committee.
She has also served as the President of the Centaur Memorial Fund for Nurses, organizing an annual memorial service commemorating the sinking of the 2/3 AHS Centaur off the Queensland coast in 1943 and the loss of 268 lives off the Queensland coast.
Julie speaks with immense fondness about the nurses under her care and the unsung heroes—ground staff, gardeners, fund-raisers, carpenters, and plumbers—who contributed to the success of her endeavours.
“I am honoured to see the way the medical and nursing staff on the floor are looking out for each other. It has made me proud to realise that I am leaving behind a legacy of compassion for our patients and our staff. Metro South Health is in good hands.”
The retirement of Julie Finucane marks the end of an era, but her influence will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.