Meet Debbie Shannon

Debbie Shannon grew up in the Western District of country Victoria and saw first-hand the acute need for more healthcare for regional and remote communities across Australia.  

She has spent her career improving outcomes for patients in metro and regional areas and is now excited to welcome a new chapter as Site Manager at Icon Cancer Centre Maroochydore. Read on to learn more about Debbie’s career in cancer care.  

Regional care

After high school work experience at her auntie’s radiology clinic, Debbie started to consider pursuing a career in the field, realising she was after a profession that involved building trust and caring for others.   

“I was fascinated by the variety of tasks you got to perform as a radiation therapist and the ultimate selling point was having the opportunity to build rapport with a patient over their course of their treatment,” said Debbie.  

Debbie went on to graduate from RMIT University and after gaining a few years clinical experience she moved to London to live the ex-pat work and travel life.  

“A two-year stint soon extended to four years where I met some incredible radiation therapists who have become lifelong friends,” said Debbie.  

“Working overseas was such an incredible experience, and one I would recommend to anyone starting out in their career.” 

Debbie returned to Melbourne and was after the next step in her career. In 2009 she made the move to Queensland having secured the position of Charge Radiation Therapist at what is now the Icon Cancer Centre in Toowoomba.  

“From South Yarra to Toowoomba an unlikely relocation direction, thankfully my country upbringing in Ararat had prepared me,” she said.  

“It was rewarding to be part of a new organisation bringing care to regional communities.”  

Connection at Heart 

In 2013, she stepped into the Site Manager role at the Toowoomba centre before becoming a mother. Her journey to motherhood and transitioning to part-time work coincided with the centre undergoing a rebrand and becoming part of Icon Group. During this time, she stepped away as Site Manager and transitioned to an education and training role.

“The responsibilities I’ve had during my part-time tenure involved the amalgamation of companies we were bringing together, training, education, new-site onboarding, document development, international protocols, the list was literally endless,” she said. 

“Fast forward a few years the landscape has changed dramatically, from a time when I was a team of one to an established team providing training and education to our global centres,” she shares. 

With her kids growing up, Debbie felt it was the right time to get back to full-time work and dust off her Site Manager hat on the Sunshine Coast.  

“Having been so career driven in my early years, shifting this focus when I became a mother, certainly had it’s mental challenges,” she said.  

“Navigating part-time employment also had its challenges, but on reflection, I have no regret for taking the time to focus on being present for my children and feel very fortunate I was in a position to do so. 

“I know there are more challenges ahead, we now have to find our groove as a family with me working full-time and on-site, but – challenge accepted.”  

Care for patients  

Debbie is motivated by the positive impact she and her team make to people, families and communities every day.  

“The most rewarding part of my job is the gratification you receive from patients, knowing you are positively contributing to someone’s life is extremely important and humbling.”  

In her new role as Site Manager, she hopes to empower and support the local team so they have fulfilment and satisfaction in the work they do.  

“One of the achievements I want to strive for is to make Icon Maroochydore the best place to work,” she says.