EVERYDAY PEOPLE - Nadine Dodd - Look for the light

Nadine Dodd was born in Brisbane twenty-seven years ago. At the time, her family lived in Ipswich, but when Nadine was about eighteen months old, they packed up and travelled around Australia, eventually settling in Hervey Bay.

As an only child, Nadine gravitated towards her dad, enjoying hanging out with him and playing with boy's toys. She remembers always wanting an older brother and feeling that she could never get away with anything.

Nadine had a mixed experience with school. While she enjoyed her early years she preferred hands-on learning with her dad, over high school classes. Despite her ambivalence, she performed well enough to enter the University of Southern Queensland. Torn between engineering and nursing she chose nursing appreciating the flexibility and opportunities for travel, and completed a Bachelor of Nursing.

After graduation, Nadine secured a position with Queensland Health, where she worked for several years in hospitals, aged care homes, and rural nursing. However, she has had her fair share of struggles. Burnout from hospital work led to severe health issues, making her feel like a shell of herself and forcing her to rebuild her physical and mental well-being. She adopted a routine focused on self-care, including a morning ritual of yoga and regular gratitude exercises, supported by a network of friends. This period of recovery helped Nadine learn to prioritise her health and resilience.

This was a difficult time for Nadine, she was only in her early twenties, and up until that point she had been working hard and had even bought her first house. Reflecting on this period, she says, “Having the right people around me, but also, having my own back too was what got me through. Even though I had all these things going against me, I knew I just had to rise above them.”

Nadine knew she needed a change and considered travelling with her nursing career but instead found an opportunity to franchise Nurse Next Door on the Fraser Coast. Now, she leads a team of 35-40 people, running clinical operations while her mother, Sue, handles accounting and administrative tasks.

Nadine loves tinkering with cars, a pastime that began in childhood when she assisted her dad with tools and learned basic car maintenance. She enjoys four-wheel driving, appreciating the freedom it brings and the opportunity to explore Australia. Alongside her partner, she runs “Endless Weekends,” organising 4WD and car events to raise funds for charities. This venture began with her parents’ neon sign business, which Nadine transitioned online during the pandemic, combining it with her interest in health products.

The We’ve Got You Foundation was born out of Nadine and her mum’s dedication to the community. The foundation addresses gaps in healthcare funding, particularly for aged care clients, enabling them to stay in their homes and access medical appointments. Her commitment to giving back is evident from her involvement in community organisations like Riding for the Disabled and Zonta.

Nadine's positive attitude and willingness to take on challenges have been crucial to her success. Despite initial fears, she has embraced opportunities and found that her burnout ultimately sparked her journey into health and wellness. She enjoys outdoor activities, including beach walks and car events, and looks forward to welcoming a baby with her partner in September.

Nadine’s message is, “It doesn’t matter where or what you come from, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. When it feels like it’s all too much, just look for that light and keep pushing forward. Make sure you have something small to look forward to each day.

By Kim Parnell

From What’s On Fraser Coast