I have worked in several environments and in a variety of roles since completing my nursing training in 1984. It has been a rewarding and highly satisfying journey.

My principal areas of interest lie in Oncology and Palliative Care, and Medical Nursing, as my professional work experience will show. I worked in Alpine Health from 1997 to 2021, as an ANUM. During that time I completed undertook post-graduate studies in palliative care.

In the past couple of years, I have developed an increasing passion for Death Literacy and community education around this important topic.  I hold regular Death cafes, Death over drinks, ACP workshop and Dying to Know day events, and have recently been engaged as an Advance Care Planner for Wangaratta Shire. I also serve as the current Secretary for the Natural Death Advocacy Network (NDAN) in Australia.

Recent appointments with the Community Palliative Care team at NHW, and Aged and Disability Palliative Care Liaison nurse for the East Hume Region, are realizations of a long-held dream to work in this speciality. Since then, I have thoroughly enjoyed the work of supporting and resourcing aged care and disability workers and exploring innovative and more efficient ways of delivering education and support.

I relish the role of casual nurse educator (QUT) for the PEPA national programme (Aged Care), which gives me an even greater reach in supporting and enhancing the delivery of high-quality palliative care in our residential aged care workforce.