A Story of Perseverance, Dedication and Hardwork

*JP lives with his partner of 9+ yrs in their home in South West Sydney (Liverpool LGA).

 
*They enjoy the blessed company of their rescue cats, Gracie (3+ yrs) & Troy (5+ months).

*JP's partner is a nurse and Union member undertaking nursing research into Aged Care. They met on the job 10 yrs ago while working in Paediatrics ICU.

John-Paul Marx is a Registered Nurse (>10 yrs) and Educator who mainly worked and specialised in:

-Paediatrics & Adult Intensive Care, 

-HDU, 

-Adult ED, and 

-Head & Neck Surgical Oncology. 

JP also worked in various other nursing specialities, including: 

-Aged Care, 

-Mental Health, 

-Surgical Orthopaedics, and

-Rehabilitation.

JP Marx holds:

-Bachelor of Nursing Science.

-Master of Nursing in Clinical Teaching (Western Sydney Univ.). 

-Graduate Certificate in Nursing Leadership & Management (ACN). 

-Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.

Soon into his career, JP realised his passion for education and its fundamental role in improving our profession on different levels.

He worked with several tertiary and vocational education & training providers in NSW, incl. the Univ. of Sydney and Australian Catholic Univ. 

For years, JP Marx taught, trained, and supervised undergraduate and post-graduate nursing students in classes, labs, and clinical settings. 

In 2018 he was chosen by AHPRA (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia) to be one of only 12 Nurses to participate in a national pilot study about improving the registration process for Internationally Qualified Nurses wanting to register to practice in Australia. 

His interest in continuous professional development did not stop there. JP also completed the Immunisation Course for Healthcare Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2021 to help with the Australian Covid-19 vaccination program and play his nursing part in fighting the Coronavirus in NSW.

JP Marx is a member of the:

-NSW Nurses & Midwives Association, 

-United Services Union, 

-Australian College of Nursing, and 

-Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (Union Aid Abroad).

JP is a strong advocate for climate justice and protecting the environment. 

He is a member of the Australian Conservation Foundation and a regular contributor to the NSW Rural Fire Services Association. 

JP got involved in the community and socio-political activism from a young age.
One of JP’s first activities was when he organised his fellow nursing & midwifery students to demand better financial support for undergraduate students undertaking extended clinical placements who could not work to support themselves during those professional experience placements. 

When he was undertaking studies in California, USA (studying history, social sciences, and political sciences), his college peers elected him as the Vice President of the local Rotaract Club. He was also invited to help establish a communal club for international students there in 2008. 

As the vice president, he helped organise multiple community service activities, such as fundraising for Christmas food baskets for underprivileged families In Brentwood city, California. His club also collaborated with other local non-governmental organisations and clinics to encourage and facilitate blood donations from students to hospitals.

John-Paul’s overseas activism expanded to participating in organising protests against a dictatorship regime. They finally mobilised over 40,000 people and marched the streets of Beirut to the Parliament House in 2011. John-Paul and his fellow activists demanded social justice, democracy, civil rights, and women's and LGBTQ+ rights. They were kicked, hosed, and dragged on the streets by those who did not agree. 

JP fought to uphold those universal values many years ago and he is still dedicated to the same today.

JP Marx currently works in the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) as a Union Organiser. 

Many of the NSW nurses and midwives know him from Branch meetings, hospital walkarounds and successful collective actions. 

JP worked with members and their local Union Branches in the following NSW local health districts:

-Murrumbidgee, 

-Western, 

-Far Western, 

-Southern NSW, 

-Albury Wodonga, and

-Hunter New England. 

He also recently started organising in Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and Affiliated Health Organisations, such as St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.

JP is currently the Vice President and Delegate of the Appointed Officers Branch of the NSWNMA (2022-present) after he was the Alternate Delegate and Steward since 2020.

The mutual respect and admiration that he shares with his work colleagues, members and local Union Branch Officials mean the world to John-Paul. He is humbled by their valuable trust in him. 

The last two years were full on, especially with the Covid19 pandemic; JP laughed and cried with the members during that tough period, and he gathered unforgettable memories that he will cherish for life.

John-Paul always says that it is the members’ hard work, dedication and sacrifices that keep him going and energised to wake up every morning wanting to fight with them for change.

JP enjoys every chant at every rally, march, and strike action with the nurses and midwives. He is humbled to have met outstanding personalities, brave Nurses and Midwives, and great professionals as part of his work. 

John-Paul is thankful for the Union members for their service to our Union movement to win better lives for nurses and midwives in NSW.