MEDI: A NURSE GIVES BACK

A NURSE GIVES BACK

Charity work is of utmost importance to Cosmetic Nurse and Clinic Owner, Bianca Lorena Saldes.

Bianca is originally from the UK but has been a Melbournian since 2015. Her nursing background started at the Acquired

Brain injury unit, where she had a big interest in working in a fast-paced and challenging environment while helping people to rehabilitate and guide families and patients through their journeys.

Bianca with husband Nico at her clinic’s annual party, where they raised $3600 for charity

Living and working in the USA, Nepal, China and Australia, Bianca has experiences from all cultures and views that she has carried with her throughout her career. In Australia, Bianca developed an interest in aesthetic nursing and loved learning about the anatomy of the face and how achievable and affordable non-invasive treatments could be for patients. She was mentored by Dr Shams Shamid, which she credits a lot of her confidence and techniques to she uses today. She is also lucky enough to call him a close friend and still works alongside him today. Bianca is a firm believer that beauty starts within.

Bianca has a passion for helping those less fortunate and raises money for charity every year. While living in Nepal she volunteered her nursing skills to women’s health and the sexual reproductive healthcare team and eduction.

This year saw her clinic’s annual party attract over 90 guests (while Bianca was 8 months pregnant!) and together they raised money for the Royal Children’s Foundation, which was enough to sponsor a bed in one of the wards. They reached $3600 and Bianca also kindly donated her salary to help achieve the goal.

Left to right: Kate from the Royal Children’s charity, Bianca’s husband Nico, and Bianca with baby daughter Chloé Sophia

Bianca has two clinics in Melbourne where she practices with her husband Nico, who is the social media manager. She also provides training to nurses and medical professionals like doctors and dentists as a clinical educator in Victoria for Fresh Clinics and EnVogue. Later in the year, she will be launching her skin and hair line BLC Skin and BLC Hair. She is also a business mentor and mentors many nurses and doctors, and has written a course for cosmetic practitioners. Bianca feels very passionate about helping others less fortunate and continues every year to support charities. We talked to her to find out more about her charity work.

Why is giving back important to you?

Giving back is so important to me because not everyone is as fortune as most of us. Something we do to help, no matter how big or small, can really impact the lives and futures of others less fortunate.

Giving back and any charity work I can do is especially important as I grew up in a working class city and area witnessing many others less fortunate. When I came to Australia almost eight years ago, I was very broke and worked as a waitress and would have never had the chance to support others in the same context I do now. Forward eight years and I own two clinics, which means I am in a much better position to help raise funds and give back to others. Another reason why giving back is so important for me is to raise awareness of the charities and what they do and the causes they support, which creates awareness and can help that charity evolve.

How can practitioners give back, even if they might not have a big business yet?

Practitioners can give back no matter how big or small their business is. For example, even when mine was very small years ago I would still try and donate a small amount, even 20 dollars, for a charity that I would see needed help. Buying a ticket for a certain event or buying some products that donate the proceeds to charity or part of sales is also another great way to help!

How do you choose which charity/cause to support?

Obviously this one is a difficult one as there are so many. I choose which ones I have a connection with and that usually need more support than a huge charity. For example, years ago I worked with a charity that supports brain injury patients as I had been working in that field in the hospital and saw the amazing work they did so felt a connection there.

Bianca in Nepal in 2013

Recently, since having a daughter, I decided I wanted my big event in January 2021 to support the Royal Children’s Foundation at the Children’s Hospital as it was close to me and I had many friends who had children that had been cared for by the incredible team at the Children’s Hospital, so this was something close to my heart.

Usually people will find that something that reaches a personal level/ connection will help them to choose a charity. Charity work is great and if anyone can do anything at all to help anyone or any charity out there, it is really fulfilling, not only for you but for the people you can help. Bianca Lorena Saldes is a Cosmetic Nurse Specialist, the Owner of BLC Aesthetics and a Clinical Trainer for Fresh Clinics.

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