Ahead of International Nurses Day on 12 May we’re celebrating the important contribution Uniting AgeWell nurses make to the health and wellbeing of people living independently in the community and at our residential aged care homes.

The day marks the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

Four of our nurses have shared their journeys to highlight the many career pathways into nursing and that it’s what is in your heart that truly makes a difference in the lives of older people.

• Community Endorsed Enrolled Nurse Sharon Paull enjoys providing holistic care to clients in the Hume area, like Kevin, who is as mad-keen on woodwork as she is!

• Savitha Thommana nursed in India and Rome and found her niche as a Registered Nurse at Queenborough Rise Community in Hobart.

• In three short years, Philippine-born Novie Taguicana has re-directed her career from being a Food Services Assistant to a Personal Care Worker and is now an enrolled nurse who will be studying her Bachelor of Nursing part time while working at Hawthorn Community.

• Nabina Prajapati who was born in Nepal has steadily developed from a “nervous” new nursing graduate to an extremely confident RN whose career is flourishing at Queenborough Rise Community.

Expanding on the success of the rollout in 2023, the Nurse Development Program 2024 is underway. The first series of workshops for the Victorian program started on April 22 while the Tasmanian program begins on May 9.

Joane Sinio, a Registered Nurse Educator is part of the Learning and Development team presenting the 2024 Nurse Development Program.  Designed to empower nurses and bring out the BEST in them, the program  aims to support nurses' professional growth and ensure they make a difference in everything they do.  Joane was delighted with the turnout of 45 nurses at the recent workshop

The workshops cover:

• Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards  and the new Aged Care Act 2024 Governance on the ground. A bespoke course on training nurses to strengthen their clinical governance and leadership.

• Understanding changed behaviour. A bespoke course on managing and understanding changes in behaviour for people living with dementia

• Customer service and experience, going back to the heart of what Uniting AgeWell stands for with the customer the heart and centre of all that we do.

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