At Catholic Healthcare we are shining a 'light' on our people and the exceptional work they are all doing across our services. We share how team members are innovating, engaging and helping to make Catholic Healthcare a great place to work.
This week, meet Kath Readford OAM, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lourdes Hospital & Community Health Service, Dubbo
For the past 28 years Kath has supported the Orana region, providing dementia counselling, advice, support and advocacy services. Kath has been pivotal in the work achieved in Dubbo, also setting up the Home Club 20 years ago specifically for people living with dementia. Kath is retiring at the end of this week after a stellar career. Catholic Healthcare wishes her a wonderful and happy retirement.
Read Kath's story:
Dubbo wasn't always home for Kath.
Kath was brought up a city girl, living and working on Sydney’s North Shore. Her career in nursing began when she was just 18 years old when she started training and working at the Royal North Shore Hospital in St Leonards.
“I gained three years of general nursing experience, training in different areas including the children’s ward, surgical ward and also in thoracic services,” says Kath.
Seeking a ‘tree change’ Kath and her good friend Sue, travelled to Coonamble in 1974 and a year later Kath met her husband John, got married and settled in the small country town. Kath and her husband lived on a sheep farm where they grew wheat for many years and raised their young family. Kath took up a position at the Coonamble Hospital where she worked as a community nurse.
“At Coonamble Hospital, I worked in different areas including aged care, palliative care, maternity and in the emergency ward.
“It was such a broad experience at the hospital as I got to work in all different service areas. I was also exposed to nursing and aged care, which piqued my interest,” says Kath.
Deciding to make the move to Dubbo in 1993, the family relocated. By chance, Kath applied for a position as a dementia counsellor with Dementia Counselling Services and was successful. She was one of five counsellors recruited under the National Dementia Action Plan, funded by Alzheimer’s Australia.
“At the time, the government was directing more funding into dementia as an area where there were increasing case numbers and increasing interest and awareness of the condition.”
From here she worked at Lourdes Hospital in the ACAT (you can apply for an aged care assessment with My Aged Care) team and began her journey in the field of dementia and dementia counselling.
“As a counsellor, you not only deal with the clients, but their carers and you need to be able to assist both in navigating the system, between assessment, diagnosis and care,” says Kath.
“Compassion and kindnessare also essential qualities when dealing with the stresses involved with dementia diagnosis and support.”
Reflecting on her long career, Kath ponders on what has kept her working for so long in the industry and what drives her passion for her work.
“I think that advocating for best practice care and for the best quality of life possible for clients and their carers, allowing clients to retain their dignity and self-esteem is something I aim to do and is what drives me,” says Kath.
“I also just love working with all kinds of people - their experiences, their life stories, their wisdom, what they have to give to society…. we don’t experience the benefit of all that if we don’t talk to people.”
Above: (Left to right) - Jeanie, Kath and Anne pictured at the Home Club, in Dubbo
Kath has handed over the baton to Anne and Jeanie, who will job-share the role of dementia counsellor.
“New faces, new people, new ideas,” says Kath. “I wanted to make sure whoever took over had a heart and passion for the job.”
Both Anne and Jeanie are experienced former community nurses and display the passion and work ethic necessary to take over the reigns from Kath.
Kath is looking forward to spending more time with her family. Kath is a proud mother of three and grandmother of two, with her children and their families spread across different states in Australia, and also in Germany.
Kath is still passionate about continuing to educate people and raise awareness about dementia.
“Attitudes have not changed as much as I’d like. It is a continual process of educating the community so that our older people are treated with dignity.
“Society needs to understand dementia a bit better and to be more inclusive of people who are living with dementia and their carers. My advice is to always show a little kindness and patience – as one day, it may well be you or someone you love.”
From all of us at Catholic Healthcare, we say thank you Kath and wish you a wonderful retirement. You deserve it!
