In this week’s Get to know: Q&A with…we chat to Elijah Armour, HR Advisor at Northern Health.

What is your coffee order?

Soy cappuccino or green tea with honey.

Tell us about your Northern Health journey?

I started at Northern Health in September 2016. I came across a HR Administrator role that was fixed term for six months and thought I would give it a crack. I had some experience in a HR capacity in a team leader role and luckily I got the gig! Six months later, I was made permanent with the HR Department at Northern Health.

I then worked in a role that was a mix between a HR Recruitment Coordinator and a generalist role. Towards the end of last year, my role developed into a HR generalist role, where I am required to utilise my generalist knowledge across Human Resources to deliver the best service to all staff members.

I am now joining the Medical Workforce Unit as a DiT Coordinator/Lead – Recruitment, Operations & Rostering, which is a new and exciting step forward in my career.

What do you like most about your role?

I like the day-to-day challenges as I am often required to think outside the box and solve problems. I also used to manage work visa applications for staff members that worked at Northern Hospital. I always found it rewarding to get a visa for a staff member.

Can you tell us a bit about your career before starting at Northern?

I was working as an activation team leader. Essentially, I would set up and install interactive inflatables, like a 10 metre tall inflatable snow globe, and even used to work on the ground team with hot air balloons. That was very fun, but not exactly what I was looking for in terms of a career.

What is your greatest achievement or favourite memory since working here?

One of my greatest achievements happened while I was working in the Recruitment Team. I am proud to have successfully managed the immigration/work visas portfolio for Northern Health. This happened between April 2017 to March 2018, a time which has been referred to as one of the biggest immigration reforms in Australia since the John Howard government.

What are some things people don’t know about you?

I play guitar and sing, I will take the odd gig from time to time. I also love singing at weddings.

I am mad about travelling; doesn’t help that my partner is from Norway! I even lived in Norway for about three months. So far I have travelled 12 countries across four continents and I am only getting started.

What do you like to do after work?

I have many hobbies, for example, I “try” to go to the gym regularly and I also play futsal.

I’m a Roman Catholic, so I regularly attend mass and support St Luke’s Parish in Lalor. I just recently arrived back from my trip to Panama, which was a gathering for Catholic youth around the world to attend a mass with Pope Francis – it is called World Youth Day. I spent a night in an enormous field with about 1 million other people attending a vigil with the pope. I have done this two times before, in Poland and Spain.

How would you describe Northern Health in one sentence?

A passionate organisation that fundamentally cares for all their staff and genuinely tries to provide the northern suburbs with the best service possible.

Who would you nominate next for a staff profile and why?

I would like to nominate John Cozzolino,  the team leader of the HR Operations Team (soon to be payroll team). I would like to nominate him so people know who plays a major role in making sure everybody is paid correctly and on time and how much work that can be!