Your Nursing Career, Your Way: A Q&A with Zoe Cooke from Talent Quarter 

Thinking about your next nursing role? Whether you’re craving more flexibility, dreaming of a rural adventure, or ready for a permanent position that offers stability, Zoe our Team Lead at Talent Quarter understands exactly what you need. 

With years of experience supporting nurses across Australia, Zoe has come to understand the pressures you face and the opportunities that can take your career to the next level. 
 
Here’s Zoe’s advice on finding work that fits your lifestyle and how our Refer a Friend program helps you and your colleagues thrive together.  

Zoe, when you speak with nurses, what are the biggest reasons they start looking for a new role? 

Most nurses I talk to want better work–life balance, fairer rosters, or the chance to grow their skills in a different clinical setting. For nurses working rural or remote, the need for variety and adventure is huge, they want to experience new communities and still make a real impact. 

When I hear that, I try to match them with opportunities that fit those goals, whether that’s flexible shifts close to home or a permanent position. At Talent Quarter we’ve built connections across Australia, so I can explore options that give nurses the flexibility or fresh experience they’re after without them having to navigate it all alone. 

What do you hear most often about what Nurses  really want, is it flexibility, culture or something else? 

1. Flexibility comes up first almost every time - nurses want to decide when and where they work so they can actually have some balance between their professional and personal lives.  
2. Culture. You want to feel respected and supported by your team and management.  
3. Career growth is another big driver, especially for anyone looking to build experience across specialties or move into leadership. 
   

Outside of those, I think there are other things that get overlooked that make a big difference like: 

• Predictable rosters so you can plan family time and life outside of work. 
• Access to mentoring and CPD to keep skills growing and careers moving forward. 
• A supportive team that has your back when a shift gets tough – we know this happens all too often.  
• Wellbeing support - from mental-health resources to managers who genuinely listen and care. 

When I’m helping someone plan their next role, those extra pieces really guide the conversation. Together we look for roles that tick the boxes on flexibility, culture, and development, but also give you a sense of belonging and the right kind of support so you can thrive in the long run. 

From your perspective, what makes a permanent role especially attractive to nurses right now? 

Security and consistency are definitely appealing. A permanent role gives you a steady income, benefits, and the chance to really feel part of a team and a community. For some nurses it also opens doors to structured professional development and clearer career pathways into senior or leadership roles. 

That said, I know permanent work isn’t for everyone! Shift and agency nursing offer incredible flexibility and variety, and those options are just as valuable. What I try to do here at TQ, is help nurses explore which path fits their goals and lifestyle, whether that’s the stability of a permanent role or the freedom of casual and contract work. It’s about finding the environment where you can grow, feel supported, and deliver the best care, whatever shape that takes for you. 

Referrals seem to play a big role in nursing recruitment. Why do they matter so much, and what would you say to a nurse who has a friend or colleague thinking about their next move?  

Referrals are huge in nursing because the profession is built on trust. When a nurse recommends TQ, it carries real weight. Many of my favourite success stories began when a nurse joined us through a friend’s recommendation and thrived in a role that truly fit. If you have a colleague thinking about a change, I’d love to chat.  

As a thank-you, we’re offering a $500 referral bonus when your friend completes a four-week placement. The bonus is a nice extra, but the real reward is helping someone you care about find a role where they’ll feel supported and valued. That sense of community is what makes nursing special, and it’s the heart of how we work at Talent Quarter, that’s what we mean by #connectionswithimpact.  

Beyond filling jobs, how do you help nurses grow their careers, and what advice would you give someone thinking about their next step?   

For me, recruitment isn’t just about the next shift - it’s about the long game. At Talent Quarter we offer support that helps nurses build a career, not just find a role, including: 

• CPD platform for career-long learning and compliance. 
• Compliance support to make credentialing smooth and stress-free. 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential mental-health and wellbeing support. 
• 24/7 workforce support so there’s always someone to turn to. 



My best advice? Be open to new opportunities and take the leap! Every time you step outside your comfort zone you gain skills, confidence, and connections that can move your career forward faster than you expect.  

Whether you’re ready for a new role yourself or know a colleague who is, I’d love to have a conversation, sometimes that first chat is all it takes to discover the next great move. 

Ready to explore current opportunities?

Discover our latest nursing vacancies here, and see where your next role could take you. 

 #connectionswithimpact in Action 

When you introduce another nurse to us at TQ, you’re not just helping them find a role that fits their life - you’re strengthening the entire nursing community. 

I’m not here just to fill shifts, I see myself as a career partner, not just a recruiter. That means I’m really invested in your journey, I’ll listen to your goals, give you honest advice, and stay in touch well beyond your placement. At TQ, I think our focus on wellbeing, professional development, and community connection is what really sets us apart. 

📩 Ready for your next role or know a great nurse who’s looking? 
Connect with Zoe today and ask about our Refer a Friend program.