For Multicultural Nurse Navigator Katherine (Kate) Wickson, culturally safe care is more than a healthcare principle, it is a commitment to walking alongside patients and supporting them to navigate their healthcare journey with confidence.
Since commencing in the role in 2022, Kate has worked across Logan and Beaudesert hospitals, helping people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds access and engage with healthcare services in a way that respects their individual needs, experiences and cultural identities.
Kate’s passion for multiculturalism began long before her nursing career, initially studying anthropology before entering the healthcare profession. A nurse navigator-led project on the Gold Coast in 2016 first sparked her passion for navigation and she later worked as a Rural and Remote Generalist Nurse Navigator in the Central West, advocating for communities experiencing barriers to healthcare access and preventative services.
“When the Multicultural Nurse Navigator position became available at Metro South Health, it felt like the perfect opportunity to combine my two passions in advocating for multiculturalism and culturally safe care alongside nurse navigation,” Kate said.
For Kate, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is continually learning from the people and communities she serves.
“Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow and become more culturally safe,” she said.
“Culturally safe care is not simply a mandatory training that you can tick off and complete. It’s about walking beside an individual and learning about their culture with humility and gentle curiosity.”
Beyond her clinical work, Kate is also a member of Multicultural Staff Connect@MSH, a recently established staff network that provides connection, support and visibility for staff from diverse backgrounds.
Kate said the staff network has created a welcoming and inclusive space for staff who are passionate about improving culturally safe care across the organisation.
“The environment is incredibly supportive, and the enthusiasm and engagement I have witnessed from other members really inspires me to deliver the best culturally safe care that I can,” she said.
The impact of Kate’s work and advocacy has recently been recognised beyond Metro South Health, with her being named as a finalist in the 2026 Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) Nurse of the Year Award.
Kate said she felt shocked but also very honoured when she learnt of the recognition.
“Given that Metro South Health is one of the most culturally diverse hospital and health services in the state, this is a fantastic opportunity to highlight some of the amazing multicultural initiatives and high levels of culturally safe care that are coming out of the organisation and to continue my advocacy for culturally safe, equitable healthcare."
While grateful for the acknowledgement, Kate said the nomination represents something much more than a personal achievement.
“To me, winning Nurse of the Year as a Multicultural Nurse Navigator would reflect the value of culturally responsive care, advocacy and health equity for diverse communities that I have always believed in,” she said.
To show your support, vote for Kate in the QNMU Nurse of the Year Award. Voting closes on Monday 6 July.