Happy International Women’s Day 2025
A message from our founder, Phillipa Wilson – Celebrating the journey of support, independence and sisterhood.
I celebrate International Women’s Day – where building support for women’s rights and their full participation in the economy, politics, community and in everyday life is ongoing.
As a woman with 4 older sisters with a strong supportive mother of 7 – I had a great start in dynamic, equality, family relationships. My sisters (3 who were nurses) were solid role models.
Fast forward – Premium Health commenced when I was 30. It breathed in response to me being newly divorced, a single working mother (3 days per week), and in a time where registered nurses roles in hospitals were being challenged by other newly created health roles and redundancies were high. I worked in an environment where the predominant workforce were women and despite this most hospitals were inflexible with shifts, the pay was basic, childcare assistance and carers leave were non-existent. As a single mother – the environment sucked!
The most critical and important goal in my life was to be a ‘’present’’ mum to William and to do that I needed to be fully independent in a city where my support family was 100kms away. I realised I had to move away from the inflexible hospital environment, where shift work did not suit me and Will nor provide a childcare option for the shiftwork. I took a redundancy package and commenced studying – which led me to opening Premium Health some 6 months later.
I worked from home for several years – I was ‘’present’’, happy and challenged. I was able to drop Will at school, I was able to nick away and help at ‘’canteen, reading recovery and sports events’’. As PH grew, I became financially independent and employed only nurses (for around 20 years) – we were a 100% female led organisation. We created an organisation many years ago where the sisterhood recognised and fostered inclusiveness, provided opportunities for career advancement, paid well and offered flexible working arrangements.
Now in 2025, our staff who are women represent 79% of our workforce and continues to be a women led organisation. Thank you to all my colleagues for holding me and PH accountable to my gender and thank you to the strong unwavering women in my life who taught me to stand my ground and be brave.
– Phillipa Wilson, Founder & Director
