LA President reports 2023

President's report

The New South Wales Operating Theatre Association Incorporated (NSW OTA) is excited to announce that the NSW OTA 2024 Annual State Conference ‘Safe travels: A perioperative journey’ will be held at The Entertainment Grounds, Gosford, NSW on Friday 8 March and Saturday 9 March 2024.

The conference program is currently in development and incorporates a rich educational programme over the two days, with expert clinicians presenting on a range of topics related to perioperative nursing and the conference theme.  We are very close to posting the final programme on the NSW OTA website.

The official opening of the trade exhibition is planned for 10.00 am on Friday 8 March 2024 and we are anticipating many trade attendees.  All catering will be provided in the trade area so that delegates can explore all the delights available on the exhibition floor. There will also be prizes to be won – further information will be available at registration.

Superheroes is the theme for the conference dinner and trivia event, so don’t forget to plan your costume as well as your trivia answers!

Early bird sales for conference tickets will commence at 7.30 am AEST on Monday 4 December 2023 and close at 4.00 pm on Thursday 15 February 2024. Standard tickets will be available from 5.00 pm on Thursday 15 February until 4.00 pm on Thursday 22 February. Late registrations will be dependent on ticket sales.

Don’t forget to request time off work to attend this conference on 8 and 9 March 2024. Don’t miss out on applying for education leave, if your unit can accommodate. We look forward to welcoming you to the Conference and working together to make this conference a HUGE success.

To register for the conference, go to www.ota.org.au then click on Events, then Events calendar. Be organised and don’t miss out on this fantastic conference.

On behalf of the NSW OTA, I look forward to seeing you all at our state conference and thank you for your ongoing support of perioperative nursing in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

With the end of the year fast approaching, I wish you all a very safe and happy christmas and holiday season with your family and friends.

PO Box 212

Croydon

NSW 2132

T: 02 9799 9835   W: www.ota.org.au

President's report

This is a busy time of the year for everyone and we are all looking forward to the christmas break, or a bit of downtime at least!

SAPNA has recently held its state conference at the Entertainment Centre. This is the first time we have had a conference there and it seems form the feedback it was well liked.

SAPNA extends a huge thank you to our members, non-members and national guests who attended the 2023 SAPNA Conference ‘Building on the best: Power of the past and force for the future’. Our speakers were engaging and informative and we thank them for the time they gave us all. We try to make the presentations as rounded as we can to cover both the private and public sectors, but it just depends on who is available and willing to present at the time. The SAPNA Committee have taken on board all the feedback and will follow up as best we can for future events. Many questions have been addressed in the end of year newsletter, SAPNA Connect.

We are running the SAPNA Member Coaching and Mentoring Program early next year. There are only ten places, so be quick to apply for this. Forms can be found on  the SAPNA website.

As the professional body for perioperative nurses in South Australia, SAPNA is committed to the ongoing development of our profession, and the future recruitment, retention and professional development of skilled and enthusiastic nurses.

The mentoring relationship is a key area which can help address this goal. By mentoring new nurses, experienced perioperative nurses can retain them in the profession and reduce the high turnover rates often seen in nursing, by demonstrating to novice nurses that they will have support and guidance as they begin their careers. Mentors can help ease the transition from university to clinical practice.

Mentors can provide guidance on clinical skills, help with decision-making and provide emotional support during the stressful and challenging early years of nursing practice. For experienced nurses, mentoring can offer opportunities for professional growth and development, as well as a chance to give back to the nursing community. SAPNA invites you to apply to attend a series of workshops, based on SAPNA’s values of care, vision, and excellence. With facilitation by a reputable professional development and training consultant, participants will have the opportunity to build their skills as a mentor. With the support of your employer, you will have the opportunity to bring this knowledge into your workplace and may also be offered the opportunity to deliver a presentation at a SAPNA education meeting or conference. Please go to the SAPNA website to apply.

And don’t forget to look on our the website for information on grants to assist with the cost.

We are having our strategic planning meeting in December and look forward to working with you all in 2024 to bring you education and networking opportunities. Please contact us on info@sapna.org or through our social media pages if you wish to provide feedback or share ideas.

From the SAPNA committee to all our members, we wish you a very merry christmas and happy and safe new year.

Cathie Hashemi

SAPNA President

PO Box 38

Highgate

SA 5063

E: sapna@sapna.org.au

W: https://www.sapna.org.au/

President's report

This has been an active year for VPNG with the August state conference ‘Breaking Barriers’ taking centre stage – it was good to finally return to a face-to-face event, the first since the start of the pandemic. The opportunity to network and experience trade exhibitions in ‘real time’ was welcomed by delegates and, with an extensive and informative program, the feedback was very encouraging.

Tarryn Armour and the Events subcommittee organised a varied selection of presentations covering a range of topics including trauma surgery and AUSMAT response, endovascular surgery, hip replacement advances, graduate and transition-to-practice programs, perioperative leadership, sharps safety, delirium management, paediatric anaesthesia, and nursing in Tonga as well as diversity and inclusivity from our keynote speaker Tasneem Chopra. The list doesn’t end there of course with many more presentations on offer, as a glance at the conference program will attest. Even Guide Dogs Victoria added a very different element with an actual guide dog interaction. The conference concluded on a high note with entertainment from a talented performing nurse in sequined scrubs!

Feedback from the conference identified that our members expressed a strong interest in paediatric education. Plans have now commenced for a 2024 collaboration with the Royal Children’s Hospital, to provide a perioperative paediatric study day.

The VPNG two-day course, Introduction to perioperative nursing, was held at a metropolitan location (Epworth Richmond) in September and a regional location (Ballarat) in April. This course is a fabulous starting point for nurses wanting to explore the specialty and for novice practitioners. Our Education subcommittee does an amazing job to deliver this program and keep it practical, with half of it being hands-on sessions.

VPNG scholarships and grants continue to support all levels of postgraduate study and this year has seen a rise in applicants for the Lyn Saunders Professional development scholarship for enrolled nurses undertaking a bachelor’s degree.

VPNG podcasts, an innovative project commencing in 2022, are available to anyone via the website. Two discussions were aired this year on pertinent perioperative topics – human factors and The New ACORN Standards. Plans are underway for monthly topics next year.

Our newsletter, Snippets, has been a bumper source of information with both clinical and interest pieces. We are seeking a new member to fill the editor’s role as Erin Wakefield has resigned from the committee. Many thanks to Erin for the amazing work she's done in this space.

Behind the scenes the VPNG is supported and expertly marketed by the Communication subcommittee, led by Smitha Sebastian, tirelessly updating all our social media platforms with creative posts and images of all our events, courtesy of Jen Gamble.

This has been a productive year for the VPNG, as always, strongly supported by the dedication and drive of the committee members. I thank outgoing president, Elyse Coffey, for all her work. As the incoming president, I look forward to leading and learning from this group over the next two years to serve perioperative nurses in Victoria, and collaborating with the other local associations to continue to support ACORN’s mission.

Karolin King

VPNG President

Above (left to right): 

Keynote speaker, Tasneem Chopra at the VPNG Conference 2023, Thomas Edwards with Marie from Guide Dogs Victoria

PO Box 593
            East Melbourne
            VIC 8002
            T: 1300 721 169
            F: 1300 721 170
            E: enquiries@vpng.org.au
            W: www.vpng.org.au

Above (from top):

VPNG Committee at the conference August 2023

Indra Doresamy and Karolin King with historical VPNG items (2023)

VPNG Conference registration 2023

VPNG Executive Committee – President handover 2023

VPNG Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Course 2023

President's report

The ACORN WA committee is gearing up for 2024 and we look forward to engaging with all our members.

Do let us know if you would like us to visit your perioperative suite or if you would like to host a study day at your site.

We are not planning any local conferences in 2024 as the international ACORN conference will be held in Perth, in May. 

Do mark your diaries and prepare to be part of the biggest perioperative event in Perth!

This year, we thank Perth Children's Hospital, Busselton Health Campus and Armadale Health Service for hosting our study days, it was a great opportunity for everyone to meet face to face and be engaged in perioperative discussions around paediatric surgery, obstetric emergencies, safe staffing, ACORN standards and more. We will continue to deliver study days and webinars in Perth and elsewhere in the state.

Do take a moment and consider joining your local association, be an active member of ACORN WA and attend our events so you can get to know your peers around Western Australia. You can also apply for funding to attend the ACORN conference and conferences anywhere in the world. If you are interested, please contact us.

Thank you for all your dedication and commitment to perioperative nursing and your patients. Keep up your great work in achieving the highest standard of care.

Grace Loh

ACORN WA President

PO Box 990

Victoria Park

WA 6979

E: enquiries@acornwa.org.au

W: www.acornwa.org.au

Perioperative Leadership Summit 2023

Speakers

PLS 2023 was held at the beautiful University of Notre Dame, in Freemantle. There were plenty of trade displays and time to engage and learn about products. Here are a few words, from one of the delegates, about some of the inspirational speakers that highlighted leadership.

Sandy Thompson emphasised how accreditation preparedness is vital for all facilities and gave insights into the requirements and responsibilities of accreditation using her many years of experience working with quality systems and assurance services. Preparedness is always working within the standards, and having systems for reporting, auditing,and improving (taking action).

Michell Taylor, a former critical care nurse researcher, told us that 29 to 91 per cent of nurses are considering leaving the profession. Michelle likened nursing to the concept of VUCA – volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, an idea introduced by the United States of America Army War College in the 1990s to describe the effects of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Cold War ending. Michelle suggested using situational awareness, with either transformational or transactional leadership styles, to create a culture and provide consistency, motivation, inspiration and a shared vision to empower teams to succeed together.

Phyllis Davis AM gave the Judith Cornell Oration, entitled ‘I am a Nurse’ and shared her career experiences from being a hospital-trained nurse to leading teams in the United Arab Emirates. Her style of leadership is engaging and personal – visiting the cleaners with a packet of biscuits, turning up where least expected, arriving on the ward to learn and engaging with people as a person not as the boss. Phyllis’s leadership uses her natural ability to put people first – listening, leading and empowering others to excel and take the team forward.

Simone Ohlin spoke about ‘the little things’.  As a multi-generational workforce, with different expectations from leaders and managers, nursing requires a style of leadership and situational awareness that is flexible and ever evolving.

As well as providing the chance to hear from these inspiring leaders, the summit was a great way to meet up with old friends and make new ones in a relaxed environment.

Julz Eather

ACORN Qld Committee Member

Leading through education

It is always hard to keep attendees engaged during the last session of the last day but, as the Fremantle weather deteriorated, this was the place to be inspired by some innovative ideas from the speakers from Notre Dame and Deakin universities.  

The Notre Dame University team have included a perioperative nursing course in their undergraduate nursing core curriculum to meet future nursing requirements in the perioperative field.  They anticipate that this will attract more nursing students to the specialty of perioperative nursing.  Exposing nursing students to the perioperative environment in their undergraduate years will provide a future-focused approach to maintaining a robust perioperative nursing workforce for the future. It will also provide our workforce of new starters with foundations and knowledge that will increase safety for surgical patients.

Tarryn Armour from Deakin University discussed the development of an educational app that exposes novice nurses to perioperative and supports their clinical learning needs. The app aims to engage novice perioperative nurses to learn and enhance their skills in a safe environment that is different to the traditional classroom. Tarryn talked about the learning curves she met and the challenges she faced developing and testing the app during the pandemic. She also acknowledged that the app is still very much a work in progress. 

PLS 2023 was an opportunity to gain insight into the personal journeys and professional improvements in perioperative nursing from some talented, highly experienced and emerging leaders from across Australia. With the cooperation and collaboration inspired by our leaders, best practice perioperative nursing care should be secure for future generations.

Angela Hand

ACORN Queensland Vice President

Trade partners

The Perioperative Leadership Summit (PLS) was a valuable and enriching experience. Trade exhibitions and partnerships are integral to conferences in various fields, including perioperative nursing.  The PLS provided a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with colleagues and industry experts. It was a time to reunite with old friends and make new professional connections which can lead to collaborations and knowledge sharing.

The presence of trade partners is crucial for showcasing the latest technologies, products and services relevant to the perioperative environment. These companies are often at the forefront of their respective fields and play a vital role in advancing health care practices. Trade partners like Lateral Medical, Care Essentials, BD, Defries, Hilrom/Baxter, Ecolab, 3M, Stirling Fildes and Multigate bring the latest advancements in technology and equipment to the attention of perioperative professionals. Staying informed about these innovations is essential for improving patient care and safety. The presence of these companies demonstrates their commitment to supporting perioperative nurses and the health care community. Their participation reflects their dedication to providing nurses with the tools and resources needed to excel in their roles. Attendees learned about new products and techniques that can enhance patient care and surgical outcomes.

Trade partners often offer educational sessions or workshops as part of their presence at conferences. These sessions can help attendees gain a deeper understanding of the technologies and products being showcased. ACORN Queensland is fortunate to have some masterclasses being presented by our trade partners at our Minor Conference on 28 and 29 October in Brisbane.

Events like the Minor Conference provide a holistic experience that combines networking, education and exposure to cutting-edge technologies. They are an essential part of professional development for perioperative nurses and contribute to improving the quality of care in surgical settings.

We hope to see you at our Minor Conference in October. Come and learn and play.

Simone Ohlin

President ACORN Queensland

GPO Box 2518
Brisbane
QLD 4001
T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

The education 2023–2024 dates for all members are advertised on our website so members can plan their professional leave.

More education days across the regional cities are planned for 2024 and we are hoping we can do more with the local area liaisons in the future.

Local area liaison

Do you believe your unique perspective, experience and dedication would be invaluable to the committee? Do you have a commitment to excellence and passion for perioperative nursing? Do you align with ACORN Queensland’s mission, making you an ideal candidate for this important role?

The Local Area Liaison (LAL) is an ACORN Queensland initiative for supporting local members. Candidates for the role must be financial members of ACORN Queensland, interested in representing ACORN Queensland at a local level. Appointment to this committee would not only be a recognition of your expertise, but it would also provide you with a platform to network and engage with other influential professionals in the industry. Your contributions would carry weight and help shape the future of perioperative nursing. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the website. Remember, if you are interested in holding an event at your place or you are interested in us organising a small cocktail event or something bigger, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

Queensland members will have seen our new digital landing page that directs traffic to the ACORN Queensland and ACORN websites. This has drummed up a lot of conversation and we take your suggestions seriously so if you would like to have your say, email President@acornqld.org.au

The Minor Conference and AGM at St Vincent Private Hospital – Northside, next to The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) – on 28 and 29 October 2023, will offer a great mix of education, tours and entertainment. The inclusion of an exciting education platform, tours of the perioperative suite and wellness concepts indicates that attendees will have a diverse and enriching experience. Registrations opened on 1 August 2023.

It's great that the delegate price includes the conference dinner, drinks and catering on both days. This ensures that participants have ample networking opportunities and socialising while enjoying delicious meals and refreshments.

The introduction of a breakfast panel is an interesting addition to the event. It’s a new and engaging format that will provide valuable insights and lively discussions in the morning. We are delighted to confirm Professor Brigid Gillespie will be joining the panel. Professor Gillespie is the conjoint Professor of Patient Safety in Nursing at the Gold Coast University Hospital and Griffith School of Nursing and Midwifery, Gold Coast campus. Brigid’s research focuses on two important areas of patient safety: compromised skin integrity, and teamwork and communication in surgery. We have more exciting presenters for you as well, so look out for details in the September issue of The Oak. If you have any questions for our panellists, please don’t hesitate to put them forward as you register to attend. Be reminded that numbers are limited for the Minor Conference so get in quick!

Warmest regards

Simone Ohlin

President ACORN Queensland

acornqld.org.au

GPO Box 2518
Brisbane
QLD 4001
T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

Advertised on our socials and webpage are the 2023–2024 education dates for all members. This was finalised as part of the strategic plan in June 2023. This means that members can plan their professional leave.

Our Education Day in Bundaberg was an outstanding success with us ending up with a waitlist. Unfortunately, some delegates chose not to attend which meant some people missed out. This changed our thinking, so further education days will have a nominal charge to them to secure a spot. Drinks afterwards brought some interesting conversations and lots of laughter. We are hoping we can do more with the local area liaisons in the future.

Do you believe your unique perspective, experience and dedication would be invaluable to the committee? Do you have a commitment to excellence and passion for perioperative nursing? Do you align with ACORN Queensland’s mission, making you an ideal candidate for this important role? The Local Area Liaison (LAL) is an ACORN Queensland initiative for supporting local members. They must be financial members of ACORN Queensland, interested in representing ACORN Queensland at a local level. Appointment to this committee would not only be a recognition of your expertise, but it would also provide you with a platform to network and engage with other influential professionals in the industry. Your contributions would carry weight and help shape the future of perioperative nursing. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the website. Remember, if you are interested in holding an event at your place or you are interested in us organising a small cocktail event or something bigger, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

Queensland members will have seen our new digital landing page that directs traffic to the ACORN Queensland and ACORN websites. This has drummed up a lot of conversation and we take your suggestions seriously so if you would like to have your say, email President@acornqld.org.au

The ACORN Queensland state conference (18 and 19 October 2023) and AGM at St Vincent Private Hospital – Northside, next to The Prince Charles Hospital, will offer a great mix of education, tours and entertainment. The inclusion of an exciting education platform, tours of the perioperative suite and wellness concepts indicates that attendees will have a diverse and enriching experience.

It's great that the delegate price includes the conference dinner, drinks and catering on the day. This ensures that participants have ample networking opportunities and socialising while enjoying delicious meals and refreshments.

The introduction of a breakfast panel is an interesting addition to the event. It’s a new and engaging format that will provide valuable insights and lively discussions in the morning.

If anyone is interested in attending, it's important to note that registrations for the conference start on 1 August 2023. This information allows potential attendees to mark their calendars and ensure they don't miss out on the opportunity to participate in the event.

Warmest regards

Simone Ohlin

RN, MEd, Grad Cert Periop, GCTAE, BN, MACN, MACORN

President ACORN Queensland 2023

GPO Box 2518

Brisbane

QLD 4001

T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
W: www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

The Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group (VPNG) is looking forward to reconnecting face to face with members and delegates at the VPNG State Conference ‘Breaking Barriers’ on 18 and 19 August at the Pullman Hotel, Albert. Registrations for this event are now open.

After the state conference, VPNG are excited to be offering the Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Course on 8 and 9 September. This event is being held at Epworth Hospital. Thank you to our generous sponsors and volunteer committee who work hard to deliver this event. More information about this event can be found on our website.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to a VPNG event in the near future.

Stay safe, stay well

Elyse Coffey

VPNG President

PO Box 593
            East Melbourne
            VIC 8002
            T: 1300 721 169
            F: 1300 721 170
            E: enquiries@vpng.org.au
            W: www.vpng.org.au

President's report

Can you believe we are already nearly halfway through the year?

Acorn Qld welcomes the new CEO Diane Harapin, and we hope to continue and strengthen our ties with the college. The Queensland committee has had the first part of the 2023-2024 strategic planning day with the finalization of the strategic plan due 4th June 2023. This should bring some education and minor conference dates for the year and into 2024 for planning professional development leave for our members.

Do you believe that your unique perspective, experience, and dedication would be invaluable to the committee's work? Do you have a commitment to excellence and passion for perioperative nursing? Do you align with Acorn Qld’s mission, making you an ideal candidate for this important role? The Local Area liaison (Lal) is an Acorn Qld initiative for supporting local members. They must be financial members of Acorn Qld, interested in representing Acorn Queensland at a local level. Appointment to this committee would not only be a recognition of your expertise, but it would also provide you with a platform to network and engage with other influential professionals in the industry. Your contributions would carry weight and help shape the future of perioperative nursing. Nomination forms are downloaded from the website. Remember if you are interested in holding an event at your place, or you are interested in us organising a small cocktail event or something bigger please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

Queensland members will see our new digital landing page that directs traffic to the ACORNQLD and ACORN websites. The committee has worked hard behind the scenes to make sure we have due diligence with members regarding access to the website and fiscal management. With that in mind, members should be seeing the education events on the site and through our socials. We have an education day planned for the 17th of June in Bundaberg at the Friendly Society Private Hospital. So if you are close to Bundaberg come and say hello. Please see the events page for registration.

We are also promoting our Minor Conference and AGM at the end of October. This event will be held at St Vincent Private Hospital – Northside (next to TPCH). We shall have an exciting education platform some tours of the perioperative suite and some entertaining wellness concepts for you. Included in the delegate price is the conference dinner and drinks as well as catering on the day as well. We are really excited about the Breakfast Panel which will be new for us but loads of fun. Registrations for this start as of August 1st. So, save the date!

Warmest regards

Simone Ohlin

RN, MEd, Grad Cert Periop, GCTAE, BN, MACN, MACORN

President ACORN QLD 2023

GPO Box 2518

Brisbane

QLD 4001

T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
W: www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

The NTPNA committee have been busy planning our coming conference to be held on the 13th and 14th October 2023, with the theme ‘’Wellness and Transition to the Future (WTF)’’. Start making your travel plans and get your abstract submissions in.

We hope to welcome back many previous attendees and bring lots of new friends to Darwin.

Kind regards

Wendy Rogers

President NTPNA

PO Box 43203

Casuarina 

Northern Territory 0810

E: president@ntpna.org.au
W: www.acorn.org.au/ntpna

President's report

The Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group is looking forward to reconnecting face to face with members and delegates at the VPNG State Conference ‘Breaking Barriers’, 18th & 19th August, Pullman Hotel, Albert Park. Registrations for this event are now open.

Register now

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our Keynote speakers for the event:

Tasneem Chopra is an experienced Cross-Cultural Consultant and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) trainer helping business, not-for-profits and government understand and navigate diversity and inclusion using an intersectional lens. She helps workforce and leadership become progressive in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusivity, so they can communicate, work and lead across different cultures for better innovation and profitability.

In 2018 the Australian Human Rights Commission named her an Anti-Racism Champion. In 2020, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her work in championing diversity. Tasneem has a background in Psychology and Sociology from Swinburne University, and a master’s in international development from La Trobe University.

Mr David J Read CSC, MBBS FRACS completed his undergraduate training at the University of Adelaide in 1992, then went on to train in General Surgery in Adelaide and the United Kingdom receiving his FRACS in 1999. He completed post fellowship training in Upper GI surgery, thoracics, breast cancer surgery, rural surgery, paediatric surgery and burns. He has an interest in disaster response surgery and was involved in the surgical responses to both Bali Bombings, East Timor, and Ashmore Reef. He is pioneered the development of the surgical capability of Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) and responded to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. His other research interests include the effect on remoteness on trauma and cancer, generalist in surgery, and Indigenous health.

David teaches trauma, disaster and burns related courses and a frequent speaker at National and International conferences. He has been an active member of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trauma Committee, an advocate for road safety and Indigenous health.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to this event.

Stay safe, stay well.

Elyse Coffey
VPNG President

PO Box 593
East Melbourne
VIC 8002
T: 1300 721 169
F: 1300 721 170
E: enquiries@vpng.org.au
W: www.vpng.org.au

President's report

Welcome to 2023 I apologise this is the first report for us this year! We are just coming out of the COVID challenges although ‘mad March’ has seen cases increase we are all generally getting on with life now.

This has enabled us to continue promoting development and education within perioperative nursing and there are so many new and innovative areas within Perioerative Nursing that we are keen to explore.

Our first Saturday morning Education session in March was held at Calvary North Adelaide and the title Emergency V’s Risk, Different or the same? Building an Emergency alphabet. This elicited great responses from A to Z and covered a whole white board with many different responses to work on. Dr Alex Bull presented on Communication in the OR, very entertaining and a good look at communication from all angles. It was a well attended morning and Julie from Clean Life Medical shared some of their SA made plastic free cleaning products which Im sure will make their way into our theatres soon.

SAPNA is sponsoring a Mentoring program for 10 members which will lbe delivered by PDT (Professional Development Training). Applications are up now for all 3 dates in April, June and July from 9 to 11am. This is a great opportunity and if you are interested in Mentoring other staff in your unit go onto our website to find applications.

We are currently very busy finalising  the program for this years SAPNA Conference which will be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The theme is Building on the Best - Power of the Past / Force for the future. Keep the dates free and request the time off to attend on Friday September 22nd and Saturday 23rd, where the day is divided up into streams. Our newsletters also give regular updates and snippets for members including our next Saturday Eduction session soon to be announced.

We wish all members a Happy and Safe Easter!!

Cathie Hashemi

SAPNA President

PO Box 38

Highgate

SA 5063

E: sapna@sapna.org.au

W: https://www.sapna.org.au/

President's report

The first months of the year have the new Queensland committee dedicated to planning and organising existing processes as well as recognising gaps in our processes that need to be rectified. While a lot is happening in the background we are eagerly looking forward to the commencement of the new CEO when appointed and the Standards that will be released on Saturday 18 March 2023. I hope all Qld members have read the previous Oak and have registered for the event. We have some education workshops we are working in collaboration with other perioperative sites in Queensland coming. Remember if you are interested in holding an event at your place, or you are interested in us organising a small cocktail event or something bigger please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

Warmest regards

Simone Ohlin

RN, MEd, Grad Cert Periop, GCTAE, BN, MACN, MACORN

President ACORN QLD 2023

GPO Box 2518

Brisbane

QLD 4001

T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
W: www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

Happy new year! I do hope that you had the opportunity for a break over the Christmas/New Year period with the chance to regenerate after a very busy 2022. Where does the summer go, it seems to be over in a blink of an eye. I sincerely hope 2023 is a year everyone can enjoy and find some balance.

On reflection of 2022 with the reduction in COVID-19 social restrictions VPNG was back in full operational swing with return of all our face-to-face events. Not only did we embrace online education opportunities, but we also enjoyed seeing everyone in the flesh. As a profession you all continued to show your commitment and adaptability as clinicians by rising to all challenges that have come our way every single day.

I am sure on your own reflection of 2022 you will have some achievement you are proud of. No doubt 2023 will bring different challenges and changes, but I believe we are well-prepared for whatever may eventuate.

This year VPNG is committed to providing Victorian perioperative nurses with educational opportunities, connecting with you via social media and our Snippets newsletter as well as providing Scholarships and Grants.

VPNG offer a number of Scholarships and Grants for postgraduate education and continuing professional development. Applications are now open. Make sure you apply prior to the closing date 31st March. Please apply via our website for more information https://www.vpng.org.au/scholarships/

Our first Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Course was held 17th and 18th of February in collaboration with Bendigo Health. Congratulations to the VPNG committee members for another successful event.

The VPNG State Conference ‘Breaking Barriers’, Fri 18th & Sat 19th August, Pullman Hotel, Albert Park is fast approaching. We are now accepting abstracts for presentation.

Please go to the VPNG website for the latest information at https://www.vpng.org.au/events/

You can also keep up to date with current via our Facebook Page. Just search for Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group.

We are very much looking forward to another big year of educational opportunities, scholarships and grants and engaging with you all during 2023.

I wish everyone all the very best for the year to come.

Kind Regards

Elyse Coffey
VPNG President

PO Box 593
East Melbourne
VIC 8002
T: 1300 721 169
F: 1300 721 170
E: enquiries@vpng.org.au
W: www.vpng.org.au

President's report

The NSW Operating Theatres Association (NSW OTA) is excited to announce the annual conference ‘Everything Counts'. It is being held at Penrith Panthers Leagues Club Events Centre on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th March 2023. ‘Everything Counts’ is the theme of the conference wherein all aspects of perioperative nursing & operating theatres count. NSW OTA invites you to attend and obtain your CPD by listening to presenters as they bring to you their topic of interest. Get your tickets now to benefit from the amazing line up of topics. Here’s a sneak peak . . .

Ever wondered what it is like to be a perioperative agency nurse? Working in different areas around Australia has been one of Breeanna Beitz’s (RN/BP) most challenging and exhilarating times of her career. Breeanna speaks about her experiences in her presentation Remote Vs Rural Vs Metro.

‘Flourishing’ a presentation brought to you by Professor Brendan McCormack, a nursing academic and internationally renowned nursing leader.  He is passionate about person-centredness, focusing on the development of person-centred cultures, practices, and processes.

On behalf of NSW Health, Lilian Blair (CNC) is providing updates on how the NSW Health Policy Directive PD2013_054 Management of Instruments, Accountable Items and Other Items used for Surgery or Procedures has been updated and replaced by PD2023_002 Accountable Items used in Surgery and Other Procedures.  

Dr Merrin Thanopouloos is the Emergency Care Coordinator at the Mater Hospital North Sydney. She will discuss coroner’s cases and escalating care in PACU. Kris Louis will discuss ‘Enhanced Recovery After Surgery.’  Rachael Barton (RN/RM) will share her experiences in ‘A Day in the Life of a Royal Flying Doctors Service Retrieval Nurse.’

‘Everything Counts’ conference will bring you a variety of speakers with a diverse range of topics. These include ‘The Dino-op Program: An integrated approach to reducing children’s perioperative anxiety.’ This study aimed to evaluate whether the Dino Op program reduces perioperative anxiety and distress for paediatric surgical patients and the time taken to manage anxiety and distress.  

Topics on Post Trauma Debrief, Post Op Delirium, Surviving Re-development: Why everyone and everything counts; Organ Donation; Anaphylaxis; Surgical site marking after skin prepping and draping project-everything counts; New Grads - Start healthy, stay healthy; Special Committee investigating deaths under Anaesthesia; ‘A perioperative Nurse in the Navy’ plus many more speakers with interesting presentations across the 2-day conference.

Come along, explore 20 + Trade Exhibits and join in at the M*A*S*H themed event on Friday 3rd March. This is your opportunity to network while enjoying the outrageously fun dinner and trivia night. Over 140 delegates from NSW and the ACT have already registered for this event. Registration to the conference will be closed by the time this report is published.

On Saturday 18th March Zone 1 [Central Coast/Hunter Region] will be presenting a half day education session, the journey of a DIEP Breast Reconstruction. Registrations for this event will close on Friday 3rd March.

On Saturday 1st April Zone 2 [Central West] will be hosting a Professional Education Day at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base in Dubbo. The venue has a maximum seating capacity of 50, so get in early to ensure you get a seat.

Information about these days and registration details can be found on the NSW OTA website.

Thank you

Angela Coleman

President NSW OTA

Justine Roberts

Editor Suite-Talk NSW OTA

PO Box 212

Croydon

NSW 2132

T: 02 9799 9835   W: www.ota.org.au

President's report

Welcome to the new year. To say the last few years have been tumultuous is probably an understatement. Here’s hoping that things move forward for a happy 2023. I am the new ACORN QLD president. I first joined ACORN (or the OTA) in 1992. I have been a member ever since, having spent time in NSW, NT, Overseas and now QLD. I have worked both Public and Private and have been off and on the committee over the years. Most commonly in the education role. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution that previous committees have made. It’s a thankless task some days to volunteer for the association but things are moving forward and here’s hoping we will create some great new processes and clear the pathway for the future of ACORN QLD and ACORN.

It is professionally rewarding to serve on the committee and witness the changes and challenges of the association over time. But most significantly seeing a stronger focus on patient safety, perioperative clinical governance, multidisciplinary communication, mentorship and leadership. This year as stated in October 2022 is the 50th Jubilee of ACORN QLD formally PNAQ and this year until the AGM we shall continue to celebrate past and ongoing achievements of ACORN and ACORN QLD. The Past President Joy Jensen and Caroline Williams will continue to comb through records to bring a commemorative journal showcasing the work of members throughout Queensland.

I would like to welcome the committee for 2023 as nominated at the AGM in October 2022:

President – Simone Ohlin

Vice President – Angela Hand

Secretary – Kathy Herrick

Treasurer – Ann- Maree Layton

Past President – Joy Jensen

General Committee Members – Julianne Eather & Maritza Harvey

ACORN Qld Director – Justine Vost

Once we have the strategic plan from ACORN, we shall develop our state plan to compliment the national plan. We look forward to the coming chance of alignment and to enter into the future focusing on our patients, members and Perioperative Nursing.

Warmest wishes

Simone Ohlin

RN, MEd, Grad Cert Periop, GCTAE, BN, MACN, MACORN

President ACORN Qld 2023

GPO Box 2518

Brisbane

QLD 4001

T: 0409 876 363
F: 07 3314 7062
www.acorn.org.au/acorn-qld

President's report

The NTPNA conference is back. After missing the 2020 conference due to COVID the committee are busy planning this year’s conference to be held on the 13th – 14th October. We will be calling for abstracts in the near future so get your papers ready.

Sadly our secretary, Mary Haydon has returned to Western Australia. Mary did a wonderful job in this role and is certainly missed. The position will remain vacant until next month’s AGM.

Two of the NT’s previous committee members and ACORN board members have recently retired from the workplace and will now have time to enjoy their other passions. Lesley Stewart and Rose Bradley worked tirelessly for our organisations. They will be missed in the workplace and I wish them all the best in this chapter of their lives.

Wendy Rogers

NTPNA President

PO Box 43203

Casuarina 

Northern Territory 0810

E: president@ntpna.org.au
https://www.acorn.org.au/ntpna