For Katrina Ly, swapping Sydney for the small Central West community of Tottenham might seem like a big change but life in rural and remote NSW isn’t entirely unfamiliar territory for her.

Katrina recently made the move to Tottenham to take up a position as a paramedic, bringing with her valuable experience from an earlier career as a registered nurse.
When she first began nursing, Katrina deliberately sought out the opportunity to work in western NSW, starting her career in Wilcannia and Broken Hill.

“When I first started, I started in Wilcannia and Broken Hill,” Katrina said.

While her move to Tottenham came about differently this time, she was posted to the community, her previous experience means she already understands some of the realities, and rewards, of working in a smaller and more remote town.

There is, however, one very noticeable difference after living and working in Sydney, and that is the pace.

“There’s definitely a change of pace from big towns or metro to more remote rural towns,” Katrina said.

And when asked how she felt about the opportunity to slow down for a while, her response was simple: “I love it.”

For now, Katrina is settling into Tottenham on her own, with her partner Andrew set to join her next month.

Already, she is beginning to make connections within the community. Fellow colleagues have introduced her to locals, with invitations to join dinners and regular walks, exactly the kinds of connections that can make all the difference when arriving somewhere new.

Katrina is also keen to explore more of the Central West. A lover of hiking and trail running, she is already looking at nearby national parks and places she can explore on her days off.
Andrew is a keen touch football and Oztag player and has already started investigating sporting opportunities in the area, so it sounds as though both will have plenty to keep them busy as they settle into their new home.

Through The Welcome Experience, we’ll continue helping Katrina and Andrew make those local connections, from finding work for Andrew when he arrives to activities, walking trails to introducing them to people and opportunities across the wider Lachlan Shire.

Welcome to Tottenham, Katrina. We’re so pleased to have you here, and we look forward to welcoming Andrew very soon too.

Learn more about The Welcome Experience Central West.