A nurse who spent four decades in the profession, including more than 35 years in cancer care, has retired from Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Woolloongabba, closing a career marked by dedication to patients and staff alike.
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Monique Richter retired after 40 years in nursing, more than 35 of which were devoted to cancer care, a specialty she described as an incredibly rewarding journey shaped by constant change and advancement along the way.
Her path into nursing began in March 1986 when she completed her training at Rockhampton Base Hospital, before moving to the Gold Coast to begin her early career. By 1990 she had settled in Brisbane, where a role at Greenslopes Hospital sparked her passion for cancer nursing.
Her career also took her beyond Brisbane. Monique spent six years working in South West Queensland, further broadening her experience and impact across the state. She joined PAH’s Division of Cancer Services in 2017, and from there took on a wide range of roles including Clinical Nurse, Nurse Educator, Nurse Unit Manager and Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Most recently she served as Nurse Unit Manager of PAH Cancer Satellite Services, a role she described as one of the genuine highlights of her career. In that capacity she played a central part in establishing clinics to expand cancer care closer to patients’ homes.
She said being involved in setting up those clinics had been a source of great joy, and she took particular pride in having recruited and developed the teams that now run them. She said opening the clinics, onboarding staff, watching them flourish and seeing the positive impact on patients was something she was very proud of.
That commitment to mentorship was a consistent thread throughout her career. She spoke of the deep satisfaction that came from supporting staff in their professional development, and said that when colleagues told her she had made a positive difference to their working lives, it meant a great deal to her.
It was the people, both patients and staff, who kept her coming back every day. Delivering high quality care to cancer patients remained a source of pride throughout her career.
Read: Princess Alexandra Hospital Stroke Unit: Best in Queensland, Among the Nine Best in the Country
Now in retirement, Monique has plans to travel around Australia with her husband in their camper and to get out on the water in their boat. Most of all, she said, she is looking forward to watching her grandchildren grow, describing them simply as a delight.
The satellite clinics she helped establish are making a real difference to communities, as she noted herself. It is, by any measure, a remarkable career.
Published 8-April-2026
