What is working as an agency nurse like, travelling around Australia through travel contracts? EN Michelle has completed more than 20 contracts with Affinity Nursing so far, discovering everywhere from outback Queensland to remote islands off the coast of Tasmania. A mum of four and grandmother to six, Michelle’s adventures show what can be accomplished as a travel nurse, while still getting to enjoy life and precious family time.

Some nurses measure the tapestry of their career in years and experience. Michelle measures hers in destinations, with her work taking her everywhere from the red-earthed towns of outback Queensland, to a small island off the coast of Tasmania that she keeps finding her way back to.

Having worked as an Enrolled Nurse across acute, medical, emergency, and aged care settings, Michelle has built a career in travel contracts that looks less like a resume and more like a map of Australia.

Outside of nursing, Michelle enjoys ‘the simple things in life’ – sunsets, the ocean, travelling, tapestry, and a good book. A mum to four ‘grown’ children, and a dedicated grandmother to six grandchildren – with a seventh on the way – she fits in family time wherever possible, across the many corners of Queensland they’re located.

Read on for Michelle’s take on agency contracts she can’t stop talking about, tips for new nurses, and why, a few years, she has no plans to slow down.

Making the switch to agency work as an Enrolled Nurse

Before Michelle set off on the journey of travel nursing in 2021, she had been working in a permanent role as an EN.

‘I went from a permanent position after 6 years to a casual position whilst being a carer,’ she says. ‘When time came to go full time again, it was the perfect time to trial agency.’

Despite her excitement, not everyone around her was convinced this decision would stick. ‘My NUM at the time laughed at me as I don’t like change,’ Michelle says. ‘Very true. Bit scary at first, but I soon adapted.’

Adapting to change is one thing. Picking which contract agency to trust is another, and Michelle says that part didn’t take long.

‘I went with Affinity right from the start,’ she says. ‘I asked around and did some homework, and liked that Affinity was Queensland based.’

What should first-time agency nurses know before they start?

Some new agency nurses prepare for a slight travel contract culture shock, and we wanted to see what had surprised Michelle the most.

‘I can’t say that travel nursing surprised me,’ she says. ‘It’s possibly better than I expected. I love the freedom it gives me.’

That being said, it’s not a lifestyle she’d recommend walking into without some confidence and clinical expertise behind you first. ‘Definitely have a variety of experience behind you,’ she says.

Michelle’s advice? ‘Don’t go until you’re really sure, as you need to fall into place very quickly.’

Some of the real surprises for Michelle, it turns out, have been more about her suitcase than her shifts. ‘What surprises me: I can finally pack a suitcase under 20kgs,’ Michelle says. ‘Took me a while! Watch out when I drive, though,’ she says. ‘I like the comforts of home!’

Finding contracts you want to return to, again and again

Ask ten travel nurses what makes a contract great, and you’ll get ten different answers. For Michelle, most of her favourite contracts generally have one thing in common: they’re a long way from a major city, her favourite being the rugged, laid-back island off the coast of Tasmania: Flinders Island.

‘My favourite contract would have to be Flinders Island off Tasmania. I am privileged to have been able to return now several times.’

When pressed for what makes this granite and tangerine lichen-spotted island so special, she says, ‘I love the laid-back island life and the weather challenges that make the experience. It is a well-run hospital and we are well supported. I particularly love how they respect their residents.’

‘Close behind would be the little country town of Alpha in Queensland,’ says Michelle. ‘Again, staff are well supported, and again, lots of respect for their residents.’

‘There’s something really special about country folk.’

What can you expect from a career in travel nursing?

One of the first questions new Enrolled Nurses ask us before making the jump to agency work: How much work is available? Where will I be based? We asked Michelle for her honest take on her time as a travel nurse so far.

‘I have been so lucky to all these places my travel nursing career has taken me,’ she says. ‘I can be in warm, sunny Queensland one week, to the wild winds of the Bass Strait the next.’

Michelle has worked in a number of stunning locations, from sun-baked outback Queensland, to the remote reaches of Western Australia, and all the way out to the underground opal town of Coober Pedy. Discovering unique, breath-taking regions like this across Australia is just one of the highlights of travel nursing – making your career as flexible and diverse as you choose.

Michelle’s tips for recharging between travel contracts

For Michelle, downtime isn’t an afterthought, but is part of the lifestyle she’s built for herself, and her long-term goals.

‘I have to make the time to rewind and recharge,’ she says. ‘The beauty of agency nursing is I can have time off between contracts as I please.’

Family comes first when a gap opens up. ‘Definitely first up is family time,’ Michelle says. With four adult children and six grandchildren (so far) spread all across Queensland, this often means plenty of driving between her home base, and contract stints across the state to make the most of her journey.

Outside of family time, you can probably find her enjoying the views from her caravan. ‘I really enjoy time away in the caravan,’ Michelle says. 

What does it take to build a long-term career in agency nursing?

Michelle has more than a decade of experience in high-demand clinical areas that facilities consistently need cover for. Having this experience in her skillset is in part what has allowed her to ensure a stream of reliable work.

Affinity is proud to be a top provider for connecting nursing and midwifery clinicians to contracts all over Australia.

If you’re an Enrolled Nurse (EN) or a Medication Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN), generally you will need five years of full-time experience and high-demand skills in areas like aged care and acute nursing to ensure you have a strong, well-rounded profile that meets the demands of facilities.

Opportunities are also available for clinicians such as Registered Nurses (RN), Remote Area Nurses (RAN), Registered Midwifes (RM), Clinical Nurses (CN), and Nurse Unit Managers (NUM).

Click here to register your interest, and to check if your skills and experience indicate you’re a great applicant.

More contracts, more adventures ahead

Four years in, it’s safe to say the experiment paid off. So what’s kept her coming back? It’s the people that have stuck with her most.

‘I have met so many incredible nurses on my journey of travel nursing. Lots I have continued to keep in touch with,’ Michelle says. ‘Some lifetime friendships have been made. Often I will run into a nurse that I have previously worked with at the other end of Australia. It never ceases to amaze me.’

Michelle also looks forward to more time with her family. ‘I love being able to spend time with the grandkids on my breaks and often raise my hand for nanny duties.’

So far, there’s no retirement date in Michelle’s plans in sight. ‘Hoping lots more adventures ahead!’ she says. ‘I want to continue for as long as I can still be on and off planes and buses, drive 12+ hours to a contract, and be able to lift a 20kg suitcase!’

What could your own journey look like?

Not everyone wants to chase red dirt towns and windswept islands the way Michelle has, and that’s exactly the point. Whether you’re drawn to the remote and unfamiliar, or you’d rather stay closer to a good coffee shop and a gym, there’s a version of agency nursing to build around your lifestyle.

Travel nursing with Affinity can offer: 

• Roles spanning every state and territory
• The choice to go remote, regional, or somewhere closer to home
• Exposure to diverse clinical settings
• Competitive packages with more in your pocket
• Long-term, back-to-back contracts when you want it

Join Affinity today to discover what opportunities are available for your clinical area.

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