While many are unwrapping presents and tucking into Christmas lunch, a dedicated group of Australians are clocking on for duty. For them, 25 December is just another working day, a chance to provide essential services or give back to their community.
The Night Shift in the Emergency Department
For Lindsay Dinmore, an emergency nurse at St Vincent's Hospital, working Christmas night is a regular part of her roster. She has worked almost every Christmas for the past five years, opting for the night shift to secure time off over New Year's and see her family on Christmas Eve morning.
Her shift begins at 9pm with a team of around 19 staff, all dressed in festive scrubs. After handovers, the pace differs from a typical day. "It's not the usual hustle and bustle," Dinmore notes, explaining that while staff move with purpose, the frantic energy is often absent.
However, the atmosphere doesn't mean the work is less critical. The types of cases change, with an increase in alcohol-related injuries, cooking burns, and musculoskeletal issues from people overexerting themselves. Mental health crises and profound loneliness also bring many people through the doors during what can be an intensely emotional period.
To combat the solemnity, the team fosters a strong sense of camaraderie, sharing snacks, cracking jokes, and taking an annual staff Christmas photo amidst the department's decorations. By the time they finish at 7am, exhaustion is setting in, but a thorough handover ensures everything is safe before they head home to sleep, ready to do it all again on Christmas night.
High-Flying Festivities and Zoo Enclosures
In the skies above, pilot Deborah Lawrie prepares for a marathon day. A pilot since 1980 and now with Virgin Australia, she estimates she's worked 30-40% of Christmas Days throughout her career. This year, her duty runs from 7.30am to 5.50pm, encompassing four flights between Sydney, Melbourne, and Launceston.
The mood in the air is noticeably lighter. Passengers are in holiday spirits, often visiting family, and the crew responds in kind with Christmas hats and decorations. Greetings are exchanged with air traffic control, and special treats are often available on board. For Lawrie, whose family is in Melbourne, the day ends with a quiet evening at home in Sydney after a pre-Christmas celebration with her loved ones.
Back on the ground at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, zookeeper Darcie Monks starts her day at 6.30am with the ungulates—hoofed mammals like giraffes. For her, working Christmas is a tradition she enjoys. The animals' routines are maintained, but with a festive twist, such as offering a wreath of branches spelling 'Ho ho ho!' for the giraffes.
The middle of the day involves public talks and encounters, spreading cheer to visiting families. A highlight is the big Taronga team Christmas lunch, a chance to socialise with colleagues from across the zoo. After a final feed for the animals and finishing at 2.50pm, Monks heads home to share her animal stories over Christmas dinner with her eager family.
Community Spirit: From Chapel to Beach Patrol
For Marcus Annett, Christmas is about service. A volunteer at Sydney's Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross since 2018, he and his partner John will work two shifts this Christmas Day. They begin by welcoming people to the 10am service before switching to waiting tables for the mammoth community lunch.
Approximately 800 three-course meals are served, a significant logistical operation. Annett describes the role as a beautiful way to connect with the community, delivering food with smiles, high-fives, and hugs. Having grown up in a Jehovah's Witness household that didn't celebrate Christmas, he finds the authentic, inclusive spirit at Wayside deeply meaningful. By 2pm or 3pm, he heads home, exhausted but fulfilled.
Meanwhile, on Bungan Beach, 15-year-old surf lifesaver Beth starts her family patrol by 8am. With her father and two brothers also involved, it's become a cherished Christmas tradition. After setting up the flags and rescue equipment, the family often enjoys a breakfast provided by a thankful local.
The beach sees a morning swim crowd, empties at lunchtime, and gets busy again with 50-70 people around 3pm. The work is typically preventative—ensuring swimmers stay between the flags and away from rips. By 5pm, the flags are down, and Beth heads home, feeling good about spending the day helping her community and upholding a unique family tradition.
These five stories offer a powerful glimpse into the diverse ways Australians spend their Christmas Day on duty, highlighting the essential services, community bonds, and personal sacrifices that continue unabated during the festive season.
