There have been familiar trends in the Katherine Hospital staff so far included in this series - our unsung heroes come from far and wide and they often extend their stay. 

Fatuma Osman, a nurse currently working on the Jack Roney medical and surgical ward, is no exception. 

The 27-year-old hails from Kenya, but spent most of her childhood growing up in the cosmopolitan coastal city of Adelaide.

Katherine is the first place she has truly felt accepted. 

The young nurse, who is currently studying a Bachelor of Nursing to advance her career, said it was the inclusivity which enticed her to stay put. 

"It was the acceptance from everyone that made me feel so at home here,” she said. 

"Everybody sees you on the same level, there is no hierarchy. 

"I came here to stay for six months, but six months turned into a year and then I found myself wanting to live here for longer. 

"Everyone was instantly family. It is like a small community, everyone is looking out for each other, checking on each other and being kind.”

Ms Osman began her career at Katherine Hospital as a casual in November 2016, quickly securing a full time position. 

Nursing was not always on the cards, she said. It was not until her mother became sick and needed medical attention to treat deep vein thrombosis. 

"I was exposed to the way nurses and the medical staff were treating my mum and I was inspired by that, the way she was looked after,” Ms Osman said. 

"It took them a long time to figure out what the issue was, so I spent quite a while at the hospital. 

"I was still in high school, and it was the time that we were starting to think about what we wanted to do in the future.

"I was like 'wow, this is amazing', everyone was kind and respectful towards my mum, and what they were doing was interesting for me. I didn't know anything about the medical side and it was a good thing to be exposed to it because it has turned into a career.”

She jumped straight from studying in Adelaide to working as a nurse in the Top End, leaving behind her parents, three sisters and seven brothers. 

"I had no idea what I was walking into before I got here. 

"I told my my mum and she asked me if Katherine was a place or a person. I told her 'no mum, it is a place and I am going to go and explore’.

"They didn't think I would last here, but it has been two years now, and I believe I will stay here longer."

Every day on the ward is different and interesting, though not without its challenges. 

With a mix of morning, afternoon and night shifts, Ms Osman will look after about four patients depending on how busy the ward is. 

"The biggest challenge at first was learning about how to work with a different culture,” she said. 

"There is a fantastic mixture of different communities in Katherine, and I had never been exposed to the Indigenous side of Australia. 

"I was unsure if I was saying the right things, but I set out to learn a couple of words in Kriol, which helps the language barrier. 

"When you speak in someone's language you can see their whole facial expression change, you can see they feel more comfortable. 

"It really does help the relationship with the patient,” she said. 

With parents from Somalia, strong ties to Kenya and Adelaide, and again a completely new experience in the Northern Territory, Ms Osman said her cross cultural awareness has helped her significantly in her work and life. 

"I grew up in Kenya, both cultures are amazing but you take and leave what you want. The food, the people, everything is different.

“When I came to Australia I could not speak a word of English, and in that, coming from a different culture has helped me with my work here a lot.

“From what my mum tells me, the way some Indigenous communities live is similar to how my grandparents lived. There is a connection there. 

"Sometimes when I look at it, I can see that we did the same as well, but on a different continent.”

At the end of the day, however, Ms Osman said assisting "someone who is not feeling well and needs that help when they are at their lowest, is the most important thing."

"I come to work and look forward to seeing my patient improving their health, seeing them get better by the day. I feel like I have achieved something if I feel like I have done something to make their day better,” Ms Osman said. 

In the Spotlight will be back in 2019. 

The series highlights local unsung heroes in the community like Fatuma Osman. 

Previously we have also visited the hospital to record the journey of Intern doctor Judith Keith who has big dreams to tackle mental health issues in rural remote areas. 

She is set on becoming a rural GP, a profession which requires a depth of skills in supporting the often complex needs of rural communities. 

We have also brought you the story of Katherine Hospital executive administration officer Amber Cadell who  juggles more than the never-ending staff requests, paper work and myriad other things keeping the hospital afloat. 

When she leaves the hospital grounds, she steps into her other full time role as a mother to three boys under the age of 14. 

It doesn’t stop there, assignments and study await. She recently finished a certificate four in business.

If you have a story you think fits the bill contact roxanne.fitzgerald@fairfaxmedia.com.au

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