Gloria Fernando

Completing an overseas placement in Sri Lanka with Work the World was an incredibly valuable and transformative experience. As a qualified paediatric nurse, I was eager to step beyond my usual clinical environment and gain insight into how healthcare is delivered in a different country. 

With my Sri Lankan heritage, the experience held personal significance, allowing me to contribute to patient care in a place that feels like home while deepening my understanding of global health and culturally responsive practice.

The Work the World team was extremely organised and helpful during my placement. The head office in the UK was highly accommodating and answered all my questions about the trip and the logistics of the placement.

Once I arrived in Sri Lanka, the in-country team made me feel completely supported and prepared. They helped us settle in by providing clinical sessions on dengue fever, cultural guidance on navigating the hospital system, and Sinhala language classes that allowed us to better communicate with patients and staff. From giving us a city tour to orienting us to the hospital and each of our departments, the team ensured we felt confident and welcomed. The in-house manager, Chathindri, and assistant manager, Niranjan, were always approachable and ready to help. They regularly checked in with us and offered debriefs throughout the placement, which made the experience both well-supported and encouraging. 

Living in the Work the World house felt like having a community away from home. It was an incredible experience to meet other healthcare professionals and students from other countries who were equally adventurous and like-minded. After long days at the hospital, we would gather for dinner to share stories, reflect on our clinical experiences, and learn from each other’s perspectives. 

The house itself was spacious and comfortable, with a large living and dining area and air-conditioned rooms. The house was located near the picturesque Kandy Lake, making it easy to reach the central market, large shopping centres, and cultural attractions. The in-house staff were exceptional, from the housekeepers who kept our spaces tidy, to the security guards who made us feel safe, and the chefs who prepared delicious and nutritious meals. Their kindness and attention to detail made the experience enjoyable and homely.

During my placement at the Peradeniya Children’s Hospital in Kandy, I observed several key differences in nursing care and the healthcare system compared to the children’s hospital where I work in Sydney. One of the most noticeable differences was the limited availability of resources. Parents had to bring in their own bed sheets, pillows and nappies as the hospital has limited supplies.

In the ward setting, Nurses often had to prepare their own sterile sets, whereas in Sydney, these arrive pre-packaged from a sterile processing facility. Medication vials and ampoules were reused until empty, unlike in Australia, where they are single-use only. The nurse-to-patient ratio was also significantly higher, requiring nurses to manage multiple patients at once. In the theatre setting, almost all medical equipment was sterilised and cleaned for reuse. 

Interactions between nurses, patients, and families were noticeably different. Many parents had limited health literacy and were not always provided with detailed explanations about why certain procedures, such as blood tests or casting, were being performed. Due to the high patient load, nurses and doctors often needed to prioritise delivering timely care over in-depth discussions, which influenced the level of communication with families.

Accessibility was another major contrast; many families travelled for several hours, sometimes half a day, to reach Kandy for their child’s medical care. These differences highlighted both the challenges faced by healthcare workers in resource-limited settings and the resilience and dedication they demonstrate in providing care despite these obstacles.

One experience that will stay with me forever was the village week, where I had the opportunity to visit an Ayurvedic hospital while staying with a local host family in Nildandahinna. An area close to tea plantations in Sri Lanka. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful, unlike the busy hospital environment in Kandy. It was fascinating to learn about Ayurveda, the ancient system of traditional medicine that has existed in Sri Lanka long before the introduction of Western medicine.

We observed how traditional medicines were prepared, some with ingredient lists of up to 50 components, including one 200-year-old recipe preserved on an ancient coconut-husk manuscript. The practitioners explained that Ayurveda is believed to treat around 85% of all medical conditions, with the remainder requiring Western medical intervention. We also learned that Ayurveda is a way of life, with a lot of the patients being prescribed lifestyle and dietary changes alongside herbal medicine.

Most of the patients were local villagers who were farmers and labourers presenting with conditions such as muscle weakness, joint pain, and fractures. In the clinic, they were treated with herbal oils and pastes, and many reported noticeable improvement. Our homestay family was incredibly kind and welcoming; we spent our afternoons with them as they shared stories and prepared authentic Sri Lankan village cuisine. This experience gave me a deeper appreciation for holistic and traditional approaches to healthcare and the importance of cultural diversity in healthcare practice. 

Overall, my experience in Sri Lanka was unforgettable. Work the World gave me the chance to connect my culture with my nursing skills, making the journey deeply meaningful. Experiencing healthcare in a different setting reminded me of the importance of compassion, adaptability, and teamwork. Returning to Australia, I am grateful for the resources we have and inspired to bring a more thoughtful, culturally aware approach to my nursing practice every day.

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