INTERVIEW WITH WHITNEY LUXFORD
When did you attend PLC Sydney? I started at PLC Sydney in 1979 in Year 6 and graduated Year 12 in 1985. My time at school was fun, and I have very fond memories. I remember being in the old pool doing lifesaving, fully clothed and swimming from one end to the other. The Gym was in the science block. Of course, the school was not how it is now—the buildings and the choice of subjects and co-curricular activities are the most noticeable changes! What was your plan after leaving school? If I could go back in time, especially during my school days, my life would have been so different. I didn’t know what I wanted to do—I wasn’t a great student. I thought maybe something around nursing, however all my friends were doing accounting and going off to University, but I went straight to work and started working for a dentist. He instilled some excellent business practices in me, so I benefited hugely from working for a small business owner. Whilst working (and all my friends were studying accounting), I thought I should try my hand at what they were doing, so I signed up for an accounting course with TAFE. After a year, I left the dental practice and worked for an accounting firm in the city, but it was not for me—it was horrible! I was offered a role with Cute Kids Modelling Agency—I was the youngest booker ever. I was filling in for the receptionist, but after the first day, the Principal of the Agency said “no, you are coming to work
over here.” She was a great mentor, a strong-headed businesswoman. She saw talent in me that I didn’t yet see in myself. She moulded me and built on the capabilities that I had learnt at the dentist. I married and initially had two children (Jessica and Saxon), at the time I had friends flying with Ansett Australia. I had applied to Qantas to be a stewardess when I was 21, but I was 4cm too short! It was always in the back of my mind that I would like to fly. In 1994 I started at Ansett and worked there for ten years. Following the collapse of Ansett, I worked for the Commonwealth Bank however should have learnt the earlier lesson that finance was not my forte— and it was time to reassess. What did I really love? I loved dentistry and the patients, but mostly I loved the medical side of the job. So I applied for NSW Ambulance. I started as a paramedic in January 2004 and worked there for several years, and I loved it. Shift work was hard with the kids; I had four children aged 12-0 by then. Unfortunately, due to family illness I had to leave NSW Ambulance NSW to be there for my four children. I left just three months shy of completing my Diploma in Paramedicine. Leaving short of finishing this was an error, to this day, I am still trying to fix. A little while after this, I started working for Virgin Airlines. They were setting up their international airline with a training centre in Sydney, and I was one
Whitney Luxford (Hughes, 1985)
of the first trainers there. Following a number of flight medical diversions, despite the aircraft being equipped with suitable medical equipment, I was asked to review the reason for ongoing medical diversions as I was the only one with medical knowledge on the team. My review resulted in several recommendations one was to develop an in-house medical department (like Qantas). I was privileged to develop and build an in-house medical department and was there until I joined Qantas in 2014. I loved aviation but equally loved medicine—so for me being able to bring those two together was perfect really—I was very fortunate. Whilst at Qantas, I was constantly aware of leaving NSW Ambulance without my full paramedicine certification. My role requires me to provide clinical advice and build protocols and procedures for the airline usually from my desk – so I am required to remain current clinically and to keep up with the latest medical care procedures without being in the field, which at times can be challenging. I completed a Bachelor of Paramedicine, with a Distinction. I’d work during the day, come home and take care of the kids, and then complete the lectures, tutorials and assignments at night. I finished that in 2018. Many students are interested in learning more about paramedicine what do you love about the job? The variability is excellent—some days you drive, some days you treat. You could be working with a junior or senior colleague or a student, sometimes you’ll be teaching them to treat or watching them drive—always a bit scary! It’s that unknown factor and making a difference in someone’s day that I enjoy, and for me, it is getting somewhere and ISSUE 14 / SUMMER 2021
ESU NEWS
Ex-Student Whitney Luxford (Hughes, 1985) has been instrumental in PLC Sydney’s Rapid Antigen Testing program. Her experience overseeing Qantas’ aviation health programs and leading the development and implementation of Covid-19 clinical protocols has been historic for the airline and Australia. Her career path has been forged by determination and by believing in and harnessing her natural capabilities and interests.
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