Two decades later the hospital’s CEO David Crowe has worked his way from the wards to the boardroom and will soon take on the chief executive role at the new Wollongong Private Hospital.

It’s a pretty good run for a young man who can’t remember what led him to apply for nursing at Wollongong university, but upon acceptance, thought he’d just stick with it until he ‘’found a real job’’.

Turns out though that nursing and Mr Crowe were a perfect fit.

‘’I never had this ambition to be a nurse, I kind of just fell into it but pretty soon after I started I realised what a cool job it really was,’’ he said.

‘’It’s just so rewarding being able to help people when they are vulnerable and knowing what a difference you can make to their situation by just doing the smallest things.’’

His passion for his job, and helping others, quickly saw him move through the ranks. From a registered nurse, to a clinical nurse specialist, to nurse unit manager.

Then, after completing an MBA (master of business administration) in 2003, he became director of clinical services at Figtree hospital, before promotion to CEO six years ago.

But while he’s spent his work days in hospital wards, he’s never had an operation or spent a night in a hospital bed.

He was of course present when his wife Kylie gave birth to their two sons – Declan, now 14, and Jarlath, 11 – both at Figtree Private.

He was born at Wollongong Hospital himself – sharing the occasion with fraternal twin Michael. He’s one of nine children of Nancy and Bill Crowe, deceased, who moved from Ireland to Wollongong half a century ago.

A St Pius X Catholic Primary schoolboy who then attended Edmund Rice college, as well as a love of nursing he shares a passion for music with his family. 

He still indulges his creative side with the band he and his brother created in their uni days, The Mustard, performing gigs in his downtime.

As he celebrates his 20^th work anniversary, he’s keen to take the helm of the new Crown Street private hospital, opening January.

‘’The additional capacity at Wollongong makes it a great opportunity to grow the business and expand services – and I’m looking forward to the challenge,’’ he said.