Dubbo’s Insight Exchange event was an opportunity to bring healthcare referrers and Catholic Healthcare’s local team together to enjoy an evening of networking and learning with an inspirational keynote address by Maree Bernoth, Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University. Pictured above is Maree (centre) with Carmel Cusack (TAFE NSW), Alan Featon (Catholic Healthcare), Margaret Walker (Aboriginal Elder) and Kath Readford (Catholic Healthcare).
Healthcare, community and aged care representatives attended from the Western NSW Local Health District, Dubbo Base Hospital, Charles Sturt University, GPs and Catholic Healthcare’s Home and Community Services, Residential Aged Care and Healthcare.
Maree Bernoth gave a passionate presentation on Participatory Care sharing insights from her research work. The research identified the significant benefits nursing students gain from practical interactions with residents. Maree referenced the principles of Transactional Analysis and the importance of communicating in a respectful and empowering manner with older people.
A Q&A panel discussion was moderated by Julie Tremain, Aged Care Programs Manager for Home and Community Services with panellist’s including Margaret Walker, Aboriginal Elder; Carmel Cusack, Teacher of Nursing and Health at TAFE NSW; Alan Featon, Business Manager, South-West NSW for Catholic Healthcare; and Kathleen Readford, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Dementia Counsellor at Lourdes Hospital in Dubbo.
The panel discussed person-centred care, best practice teaching methods, navigating change, indigenous representation in aged care and challenges with early dementia detection.
Pictured above are Aboriginal Elders Robyn Payne, Jean Millgate and Fay Jorgensen
Pictured above are Robyn George, Nicole Bignell, Sharon Richardson, Jane Thompson (Catholic Healthcare Business Manager - Health and Wellness) and Peita Buchanan from the Western NSW Local Health District
Sharon Richardson, Intake Officer from NSW Health commented; “Maree is such a passionate and inspirational speaker – we can all learn a lot from her research and experience”.
Julie Tremain shared “The sign of a great event is when we stayed to continue networking into the evening, even as tables and chairs were being packed up around us!”
To read Maree Bernoth’s White Paper on A Participatory Approach to Working with Older People – Click Here.