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Leah Hammond, 43, has been General Manager at South Pacific Private, a leading treatment centre for addiction and mental health care in Sydney's Northern Beaches, since June 2024.
What's the best part about your job?
Supporting people, be it clients or staff, to have the tools to do what they are here to do.
What is something about your job that not many people know about, and what would surprise other people about working in a private hospital?
Apart from being the General Manager, I am also a Registered Nurse with over 22 years' experience and have spent most of my time working in the private health system.
Whilst it's not surprising to me, the critical role of private mental health facilities is often overlooked. They provide significant contributions to the mental health landscape, providing a middle ground between the higher level of security that the public system provides and community-based care.
We offer a safe and supportive environment that allows individuals to find stability and develop skills to assist them in their recovery journey. Private mental health facilities are vital assets to support our primary and tertiary healthcare colleagues.
What do you love about working in a private hospital?
I've loved learning about the Model of Developmental Immaturity which encompasses the work we do at South Pacific Private. It makes it unique from any other treatment centre I've come into contact with.
What do you like to do outside of work and/or what is something your colleagues don't know about you?
One of my favourite pastimes is running! I love to run (when I can find the time) and would like to one day run a full marathon. I'm also very, very slowly studying a Diploma of Counselling.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
"Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." - Albert Schweitzer.
- If you are looking for a role in a private hospital, check out the latest job opportunities here.
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Previous Interviews:
10/4/2025 Amy Ryan - Parramatta Eye Centre