Amanda Bowden

Amanda has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology (the study of human cultures) and has worked in various roles towards addressing inequalities that indigenous peoples, as well as asylum seekers and other people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, may experience.

Amanda’s current role with Diversicare/ PICAC (Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care) means she can share her fascination with the multiple realities we humans create, through cultural competence training, as well as working with communities to improve access to aged care services in Brisbane for people from CALD backgrounds.

https://www.diversicare.com.au/ | [email protected] |  1300 348 377

Denise Donati

RN, RM, B App. Sc. Nurs., M. Nurs, CertIV Small Business Management

Denise Donati is a Registered Nurse/Midwife and has worked in assisted reproduction for more than 20 years. In 2006 Denise was invited to Vietnam to assist establish a local Fertility Nurse Training Program.  Denise has also presented extensively in the UK and South East Asia on topics relating to assisted reproduction. 

In 2007 Denise set up her own IVF Clinics with two doctors, Fertility Solutions Sunshine Coast and Fertility Solutions Bundaberg in Queensland. In 2017 she started offering bulk bill IVF and FET treatments at her clinics to offer people more achievable treatment models.

In 2014 Denise was invited to author a chapter in the book Organization and Management of IVF Units: A Practical Guide for Clinicians.  She wrote on Patient Management: A Nursing Perspective which was released in 2016.

In 2019 Denise established another business called Sneak Peek Ultrasounds, offering elective 2D, 3D and 4D scans so that mums and dads in waiting and their family and friends can meet and bond with the baby before it’s born.  She is expanding this business model into a diagnostic specialised Gynaecology and Pregnancy Ultrasound service called Precision Imaging for Women which will open in 2020.  

Denise works as an advanced practitioner in Assisted Reproductive Technologies with her roles include performing intra uterine inseminations, ultrasound scanning and embryo transfers. 

fertilitysolutions.com.au | [email protected] | 1300 337 845 (1300 FERTILITY) 

Diabetes Queensland

Diabetes Queensland is the peak body for people with diabetes in Queensland - providing a single, powerful and collective voice for the diabetes community - and has been since 1968.

We are a team dedicated to supporting people with diabetes. Our vision is to see a world free of diabetes and its complications. It drives everything we do - every program we deliver, every message we share, and every resource we develop. Through our programs and partnerships with industry, government and community groups, we work to ensure diabetes care is always improving and evolving.

Diabetes Queensland helps people at risk of diabetes and those affected by the condition by providing trusted information and guidance on how to minimize their risk of complications. The organisation is responsible for the delivery of the National Diabetes Service Scheme in Queensland. The scheme provides products and information to approximately 190,000 registered Queenslanders.

We deliver a range of diabetes education and support services to improve knowledge and self management behaviour, including youth camps, peer support programs, group self management programs and specific programs and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally Diverse groups.

Diabetes Queensland strives to ensure people diagnosed with diabetes receive the best possible care, by providing practical education and support for health practitioners. We deliver a range of health professional training programs for Pharmacy, Primary care, and Aged care.

www.diabetesqld.org.au | [email protected] | 1800 177 055

Elissa O'Keefe

Adj A/Professor Elissa O'Keefe RN, NP is a health industry pioneer, a highly-experienced clinician and educator and was the first nurse practitioner in the ACT.

She has an honorary appointment as an Associate Professor in the College of Adjuncts at the University of Canberra in the Faculty of Health. This is an integral part of the University's commitment to build closer linkages to government, industry and the community.

Elissa is the current Chair of the Australian College of Nursing Cosmetic Nursing Community of Interest. Elissa is the lead author of the first ever Australian standards and scope of practice document for cosmetic nursing has published in peer-reviewed journals both nationally and internationally and is often called on for comment in the industry.  She was a contributor to the recent "bible on skin rejuvenation" for consumers the Slow Ageing Guide to Skin Rejuvenation.

Our award-winning company was born when, during her career in cosmetic medicine practice, Elissa realised that there was a need for flexible, high quality, post-graduate continuing professional development for health professionals with regard to lasers and other light-based therapies that were evidence-based and pitched at the high level required of this complex landscape. 

Elissa lives in Canberra with her surveyor husband, two fun and interesting adult children, a crazy kelpie, a moggie and a pond full of goldfish.

www.scienceskincare.com.au

Gail Aylmer

R.N., B.N., M.N. (Advanced Practice), M.N. (Mental Health Nursing)

Gail has worked for the last 8 years as a Public Health Nurse within the Communicable Disease team of a Queensland Public Health Unit. Gail has a diverse employment history working primarily in Australia plus also spent 18mths working as an Agency Nurse in England.

Over the last 3 decades, she has held positions as a Nurse Academic, Nurse Educator, Infection Control CNC, Surgical Unit Clinical Nurse and Clinical Nurse at Tuberculosis Control Units both in Brisbane and London. During her career, Gail worked in nursing administration as an (acting) Nursing Director for a period in excess of one year. Gail holds a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, a Master of Nursing Degree (Advanced Practice) and a Master of Mental Health Nursing Degree. Gail is an authorised Immunisation Program Nurse and has a Certificate in Training and Assessment.

Gail has travelled extensively over the last 4 decades and in 2016 developed and led a Nurses for Nurses Study Tour to India. This tour was bursting with fabulous experiences and attendees ‘saw the real India’ encountering some of the more interesting and important public health issues within India.

Gail’s other special interests include immunisation across the lifespan, communicable and infectious diseases. She feels strongly about supporting and advocating for the nursing profession, in particular, frontline nurses believing they are the absolute heroes of healthcare.

Jen Sanderson

Physiotherapist and Lymphoedema Therapist

Jen is a Physiotherapist and Lymphoedema therapist and is near completion of her PhD using ultrasound to assess lymphoedema tissue composition. Jen has clinical experience in both public health and private practice and currently runs her own Physiotherapy business in Brisbane.

Jen also works as a clinical advisor and educator for Medi-Rent, which is a company that distributes medical devices including compression pumps.

Dr Julie Martyn

PhD

Julie Martyn is a senior lecturer who commenced in USC's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine in February 2016. Her academic career commenced at the Fraser Coast campus in 2005.

She is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years' experience in acute medical and surgical nursing. Julie completed her Master of Education in 1999. Her dissertation was titled 'The relevance of professional development to nursing practice: A study of professional development in a small provincial hospital'.

She went on to complete her PhD in 2015. Her doctoral research was an appreciative inquiry of medication administration and her thesis is titled ‘An appreciative inquiry into medication administration by registered nurses: The Untold Story.’

For more than 20 years, Julie has worked and lived on the Fraser Coast. During the last 15 years as a nursing academic at the Fraser Coast campus, Julie received several awards and commendations for her contributions to teaching and learning. 

Julie actively engages with health care professionals locally and abroad and is establishing her post-doctoral research program in fields of medication safety and health worker continuing education.

Most recently, Julie was funded to undertake research into the continuing education needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Practitioners in primary health care services and Personal Care Workers in residential aged care facilities. The reports from these projects gained national attention, and Julie was commissioned to extend the work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Practitioners. The success of this project is a highlight in Julie's research career to date. 

Julie is committed to nursing education and advancement of the profession through research, evidence-based practice and authentic learning experiences.

Jules Aitken

MSc (Nurse Practitioner), RN, CDE

Jules Aitken is an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner specialising in Diabetes, Chronic Disease and Weight Management. She attained her Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

She is also a registered Credentialed Diabetes Educator (CDE) registered with the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) gaining her Certificate of Diabetes Management at the University of Technology Sydney. She has worked within the diabetes, chronic disease and weight loss management field for over 15 years.

Working both independently and within specialist clinics, Jules coordinates the care of clients with complex diabetes, chronic conditions and weight loss.

She has participated in research projects involving chronic disease management, weight loss and diabetes and has presented at nursing, allied health, medical and community events at local, State and National level. She is a mentor for diabetes educators with the Australian Diabetes Educators Association and also provides education and mentorship for student nurses, EENs, RNs and other health professionals within private organisations.

Jules has worked with local, State and Federal government organizations most notably a Primary Care Network as a member of a working committee establishing health pathways for aged care, diabetes and chronic pain and also as a member of their quality improvement committee.

Lilliana Levada

RN, MSN - Perioperative Nursing Education Consultant

Lilliana Levada is an experienced clinician with over 35 years of clinical experience in perioperative nursing (instrument, circulatory, anaesthetic, PACU, educator, consultant and manager nursing roles), intensive care nursing, patient flow management, after-hours hospital management and patient safety management.

Lilliana is passionate about nursing research and patient safety and uses this to translate science into practice. In the past, this has led her to become a lead reviewer for ACORN Standards and engage in providing consultancy for healthcare management.

She firmly believes that continuous improvements in nursing practice are paramount, and loves when Nurses cause 'revolution' and evolution in healthcare practice.

She is also involved in medical missions donating her time to time and expertise to those causes.

Louise Webber

Masters Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner), BA (Hons), RN

Louise has over 20 years experience in wound management and established her own Private Practice (Wound Therapies) following completion of her Nurse Practitioner in 2014. She has worked across several public hospitals and Community Nurse Settings both in Australia and overseas.

She works collaboratively with several Aged Care Providers, private hospitals and Community Nursing Services and runs 2 specialist wound clinics for a GP Practice and Just Skin (Maroochydore) that specialise in Superficial Radiation Therapy.  

Louise was previously an Honorary Clinical Fellow for Australian Catholic University having participated in several research projects leading to publication. She is passionate about wound care and striving for best practice and has participated in several international working groups for Pressure Injuries and Leg ulcers.

She is a mum of two teenagers, loves the Sunny coast lifestyle and attempting to play golf!

www.woundtherapies.com.au

Mary Andrews

Mary has a background in Pharmacy from her native Ireland.  She migrated to ‘sunny’ QLD over 30 years ago, where she started her career in aged care with the Department Veterans’ Affairs and had 25 years’ experience liaising with a range of service providers, acute care facilities, industry professionals and government agencies in relation to the complex health needs of the veteran community.

For the past five years she’s been working with Diversicare to promote the needs of CALD communities. She initially coordinated their Community Visitor Scheme - which aimed to help reduce social isolation of CALD clients in residential facilities. Her current role is as a project officer with the PICAC (Partner’s in Culturally Appropriate Care) program - delivering cultural competence training, information and resources to support aged care providers in the provision of culturally appropriate care to CALD clients.

https://www.diversicare.com.au/ | [email protected] |  1300 348 377

Dr Michael Sinnott

MBBS, FACEM, FRACP

Dr Michael Sinnott is a senior clinician and innovator with strong management, research and education skills. Dr Sinnott was involved in clinical medicine for over 35 years before retiring in 2018; the majority of that time was in the Emergency Department. 

In the field of research, Dr Sinnott promotes an evidence-based approach to emergency medicine research and practice, and the development of a culture which generates and supports research findings. Dr Sinnott was a driving force in designing the Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation.

Dr Sinnott has contributed to over 40 publications and is a world-leader in research regarding staff safety in healthcare. His expertise lead Dr Sinnott to become involved in the development of safety guidelines and legislation in the USA, and safety standards in Australia. 

In the commercial space, Dr Sinnott is the Co-Founder of Qlicksmart Pty Ltd and Smartstream Pty Ltd, who innovate and commercialise safety medical devices. 

www.qlicksmart.com | [email protected] | 07 3844 1182

National Asthma Council

The National Asthma Council Australia exists to build the capabilities for people to breathe well and facilitate best-practice care for people with asthma and allergies. 

As the trusted authority leading the attack against asthma, we set and disseminate the standards of care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines, practice tools and resources and renowned education program.

We actively work to assess and address the impacts of asthma through advocacy and collaboration with policy makers, stakeholders and Australian and international asthma and lung health organisations. 

Through our Sensitive Choice program, we provide the public with essential information about asthma and allergy management and empower consumers to identify asthma and allergy-aware products and services. 

nationalasthma.org.au  | [email protected] 

Nelle Francis

Nelle Frances is an Autism Consultant and Trainer and mum to a 28-year-old autistic son, daughter to an ASD father, and a Special Needs Educator with over 2 decades of experience.

Nelle believes all behaviour is sensorily driven, and that sensory sensitivity is the most misunderstood characteristic of the Spectrum. She believes that if we look to the senses we can decode all behaviours displayed by those on the Autism Spectrum.

She works with Autistic individuals of all ages teaching them to recognise their body signals in relation to sensory input, which increases their ability to self-regulate. This has a beneficial flow on effect to all areas of their lives – communication, social ability, relationships and employment. 

Nicole Blackley

R.N., M of HP., SRHNA

Nicole Blackley is a clinical nurse at the Wide Bay Sexual Health Service. She works as a community educator, working with health care professionals, schools and their nurses, community agencies and young people. 

Nicole has been a registered nurse for 22 years, completing a Bachelor of Nursing in 1998, Master of Health Promotion in 2013 and Sexual Health Nurse Authorisation in 2020.

After graduation, Nicole has worked in a range of clinical settings including hospitals, correctional centres, drug treatment before moving into sexual health specialty in 2017. 

Dr Pam Savage

R.N., Dip N (Lon), BA, MHPEd, Dip Law, EdDoc, MACN

Pam has an extensive background in clinical Nursing, education, and remote area Nursing both in Australia and overseas.

As a Lawyer and Clinician, this background is brought to her role as adjunct Lecturer to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as Aboriginal Health Workers.

Pam is a Barrister at Bar (NSW) and a published author and her book “Law for Student Nurses: applied principles” is now in its third edition.

A major focus of her current work has been designing undergraduate and postgraduate law courses for Nurses and community health workers. As a regular contributor to the Nursing CPD Institute, her blogs and webinars address issues of professional and legal governance that have relevance to Nurses working in many environments.

Dr Pammie Ellem

RN MN PhD CCN MACN

Dr Pammie Ellem is an experienced Registered Nurse and Specialist Breast Care Nurse who has always been passionate about oncology care/cancer nursing in regional, rural and remote areas. Having grown up in rural QLD, Pammie understands firsthand issues and strengths created by the tyranny of distance experienced by those living in rural and remote areas. Additionally, Pammie has experience in rural family support and telehealth which compliment service delivery to isolated communities of which she is a strong advocate.

Another key interest of Pammie’ s is engaging clinicians in research, enabling fellow clinicians to become involved in research and higher education, not only for their own benefit but for the benefit of the patients in their care. The nursing profession needs more researchers at the bedside.

As Industry Liaison Educator Academic and Lecturer, Pammie is able to combine her interests of regional, rural and remote care within her role to assist in providing an enriched pathway for tomorrow’s nurses and today's clinicians.

Sandra Ilett

RN RM BaHlthSc (Child Health) Grad Cert (Continence)

Sandra Ilett is a Registered Nurse and Midwife and for the past 20 years has worked as a Continence Nurse. She also has a Bachelor of Health (Child Health) and a Graduate Certificate (Continence).

Sandra works in private practice as a sole provider in a home visit service within a 100km radius of where she lives near Childers. This continence care is provided to clients of any age through the lifespan.

Sandra also works one day per week as a Practice Nurse for Childers Family Medicine.

Silvia Borges

With more than 10 years experience in supporting people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in a variety of contexts, Silvia has joined Diversicare in September 2011 as the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) training officer. She has since been researching, developing and delivering training modules focused in culturally appropriate care for older Australians.

https://www.diversicare.com.au/ | [email protected] |  1300 348 377

Sue Walker

RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC (PALCARE), MACN

Sue Walker is a Director and co-founder of the Nurses for Nurses Network and the Nursing CPD Institute. As a Nurse Education Consultant Sue is a member of the Education Governance Committee of the Institute as well as a key contributor to the online education platform Continuing Professional Development library.

As a Registered Nurse Sue holds Degrees in Nursing and Health Administration, a Master’s Degree in Primary Health Care majoring in Palliative Care, as well as a number of certificate courses in Psychiatry of Ageing, Gerontology, Chemotherapy Administration, Training and Assessment, and is also an Accredited Mental Health First Aid Trainer.

Sue has extensive experience both as a clinician, educator, and senior manager in the acute, aged care, community, and palliative care settings. Sue is passionate about making a difference to the way in which people experience the health care system.

“Healthcare should be delivered by competent, knowledgeable individuals to ensure the best possible experience for the recipient of that care. Nursing is a fabulous profession – the backbone of the healthcare system, it is the knowledge and skill of the individual Nurse that will have the greatest influence on the happiness and health outcomes of each and every client.”

www.ncpdi.com.au | [email protected] | 07 4151 3884

Vicki Evans

Vice President, WFNN

Vicki Evans is Vice President of the World Federation of Neuroscience Nurses. She has been involved in Neuroscience nursing in a variety of positions, both public and private, in Australia and the USA. She has completed tertiary studies in Management and Neuroscience and is employed as the Clinical Nurse Consultant: Neuroscience at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney.

As the WFNN Vice President, she has also been the Scientific Chair for the WFNN Quadrennial Congress – Sydney 2001, Canada 2009, Japan 2013, Croatia 2017 and soon to be Darwin 2021. She was Editor of the Australasian Journal of Neuroscience for seven years; was awarded Life Membership of the Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association and is author of the board game - Cerebral Tap ©.

Vicki is well published and her professional interests and research involves traumatic brain injury and concussion.

Dr Wendy McIntosh

RGN, RMHN, Grad. Dip MH, MN, Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training, Group Leadership Cert, MRCNA, MANZCMHN, AANZPA

Wendy has over 30 years as a health professional (clinical, education and research), twenty-five of those years in mental health. Areas of specific interest and passion for Wendy include professional supervision, professional boundaries, professional identity, links between childhood trauma and mental illness and workplace bullying. Wendy has over 20 years as a psychodrama trainee – a lifelong learning. She is committed to using experiential learning in the work she does with individuals and groups.

Wendy maintains a full diary of workshops throughout Australia and London UK and consistently receives feedback on her passion, knowledge and creativity as a presenter and facilitator.

Wendy is continually integrating learning and insights she gains from the work she does in professional boundaries. Wendy has developed internet training tools and education packages for individuals/organisations and delivers webinars for organisations.

With the assistance of six podcast episodes titled ‘Professional Boundaries’, Wendy is exploring and guiding listeners on their own personal and reflective journey through boundaries. Further podcasts are currently in production.

Testimonials:

"Wendy was such an incredible host/teacher and she held space so beautifully that everyone felt safe” - Captains Starlight Professional Boundaries Workshop 2019

"Everyone needs a pocket Wendy! The compassion, understanding, knowledge and tenderness is exactly what I need in my practice” - Georgina Lewis, Professional Boundaries Workshop 2019

www.daavar.com.au | [email protected] | 0411 385 573

Wendy Newton

RN, RN, Cert IV Grad Cert (Perioperative)

Wendy is an experienced Registered Nurse with over 30 years of post-graduate experience. During the last 20 years. Wendy has worked in the perioperative environment, primarily as an anaesthetic Nurse.

Although she has also worked in other areas of the perioperative environment, including endoscopy and as Clinical Nurse in Anaesthetics, relieving the Theatre Manager for periods of leave.

During this time Wendy contributed to ACORNS Standard for the reprocessing of reusable medical devices. More recently she has been working in a Post Anaesthetic Care Unit.

Currently, she works in Alcohol and Other Drugs as a methadone Nurse while she is working toward a PhD examining the policies concerning animals in Aged Care and how these policies might affect both residents and animals.