In a remarkable shift from the spotlight of television to the intensity of the hospital ward, former Neighbours actress Jane Hall has reached a significant milestone in her new career as a midwife.
A Proud Announcement After Years of Study
Hall, best known for playing Rebecca Napier on the iconic Australian soap, took to social media on Sunday to announce she had successfully finished another year of her essential hospital placement. This hands-on training is a crucial part of her journey to become a fully qualified midwife.
"I was so fortunate to be mentored by many fantastic midwives, to whom I am incredibly grateful," Hall wrote in an Instagram post. She shared a photo with a colleague named Ash, noting, "This is Ash, and we helped welcome babies born in theatre."
A Dream Decades in the Making
This career transformation is not a sudden whim for Hall. Her connection to midwifery runs deep, with her first foray into training beginning back in 1997. However, life and her acting career intervened. She paused her studies three years later to return to screens, taking on the memorable role of Ann Reynolds in Foxtel's prison drama Wentworth.
In a 2020 interview with the Herald Sun, Hall reflected on her enduring passion. "I was undertaking a maternity placement at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Sandringham and felt incredibly connected to the material," she revealed. "I’ve always been interested in midwifery and it’s a long-held dream."
She offered a poignant analogy for her decision to finally pursue it: "You can’t wait for the perfect time. It’s like having a baby, you’ve just got to jump in and do it."
Embracing the Challenge of a 'World's Longest Degree'
Having been in the entertainment industry since she was 13, returning to academic life presented its own set of challenges. Hall first studied fashion at Melbourne's RMIT University in 1989, and she noted how much university had changed. "I’ve got my eyes on the prize, and it’s going to be the world’s longest degree, but I’m looking forward to getting back into it," she said in 2020.
Adapting to new technology was part of the learning curve, but Hall approached it with characteristic determination. "I’ve always had a really diverse range of interests and have been very creative, as well as enjoying academic study. I just reckon there isn’t anything I won’t have a crack at," she stated.
Now, back on her chosen path, she describes the work as profoundly rewarding. "Midwives are wonderful people, and I hope you are cared for by a few, no matter how your baby joins us!" Hall shared, calling the experience of welcoming newborns into the world "an incredible experience."
Her journey from the fictional Ramsay Street to the very real delivery theatre stands as an inspiring example of pursuing one's passions, regardless of the timeline.
