2021
Our Enduring Commitment to End of Life Care: One Year On
Symposium 12 February 2021
Registrations are open for our on-line symposium Our Enduring Commitment to End of Life Care: One Year On. All CHA members are invited to attend.
Through the symposium we will explore our experience with our response to Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation in Victoria now that we have had one year of working with it. The primary document, Our Enduring Commitment to End of Life Care, frames the experience of patient and resident care, our formation and training experience for staff and, allows us a perspective through which to view future challenges and opportunities the introduction of Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation presents for Catholic health and aged care.
The symposium will have three parts. Each will commence with a reflection from presenters. This will be followed by opportunities to discuss the presentations in zoom rooms. The day will conclude with questions and responses. We commence at 11am Eastern Daylight Savings Time and conclude at 3pm. Once you have registered you will be sent the zoom link a day before the symposium.
The presenters come from a variety of CHA members and include clinical perspectives, ethics and formation perspectives and executive leadership perspectives.
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I The patient experience |
Fran Gore – Mercy Health |
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Natasha Michaels – Cabrini Health |
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Break out |
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II The formation and training experience |
Emma Patterson – Cabrini Health |
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Dan Fleming – Saint Vincent’s Health Australia |
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Breakout |
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III Future Challenges |
Aged Care CEO Sonya Smart, Villa Maria Catholic Homes |
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Health CEO Toby Hall, St Vincent’s Health Australia |
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Clinician Natasha Michaels – Cabrini |
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Ethicist Marcelle Mogg – Saint John of God Health Care |
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Plenary |
Questions from participants to our presenters. |
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Concluding remarks |
Pat Garcia, CEO Catholic Health Australia |
Victoria has one year of experience with VAD, WA is about to commence their VAD experience and in other States and Territories legislation is being considered or there are calls for the introduction of VAD. This symposium will be of interest to all CHA members.
2020
Date Claimer November 13, 2020
9:30am-4pm AEDT Online via Zoom
Tier Two Training Victoria
Overview
This is a supplementary session for our Victorian members.A number of members had to withdraw participants for the September 11 session because of the demands of response to COVID
The primaryaim of the CHA Tier Two TrainingProgramis to provide guidance and knowledge to assist Tier Two representatives from CHA member organisations to make complex and difficult decisions in situations that arise in response to Victorian ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD)’ legislation. Participants will engage in discussions of ethical principles,legal parametersof relevant legislation, and work through case studies as a group considering both the ethical and legal frameworks. The training endeavours to cover the decision making components of the clinical governance framework including:
- Management of complex cases;
- Partnerships withrelevant stakeholders;
- Management ofrisks;
- How and where toseek expert advice as required;
Upon completion of the training participants will have engaged in:
- In depth application of the Catholic ethic of care in end of life care;
- In depth analysis of the VAD legislation and its implications for our services, including in complex cases;
- Critical discussion of complex case guidance, incorporating clinician, ethical and legal advice;
For more information please contact CHA at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2019
Learning and Development
Speaker - Presentation
Oliver Craddock - Mind Tools: What is Happening in Learning Right Now?
Dr. Judy E. Boychuk Duchscher - Professional Role Transition: New Nurses Entering the Workforce
Margaret Banks - National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards
Dr Cathy Balding - Translating Strategic Goals for High Quality Care
Emma Taber and Monica Mooney - The Power of Catholic Collaboration
Rachel Resuggan - Allied Health Education
Tanya Petrovich - Engaging through the use of Virtual Environments
Claire Breeze - Laerdal RQI Pilot Resuscitation Quality Improvement
Jane Graham - Lippincott Clinical procedures national approach
Michaella Tatlah - An Education Focused Response to Reducing the Incidence of Post-Partum Haemorrhage
Rita Maguire, Deb Wild, and Oliver Craddock - Promoting a Learning Culture Using Mind Tools
Abby Falla and Louise Suttie - Supporting Our Graduates to Embrace Professional Practice
Jo Griffin - Speaking with Good Judgement
Karen Daws - What are the enablers and barriers to the escalation of care in sub-acute care, and what can be addressed by nursing education?
Nursing and Midwifery
Speaker - Presentation
Catherine (Kate) Birrell – The Role of Leadership in Patient Experience
Liza Edwards – Update from the Department of Health
Mari Botti – Patient Experience at the Point of Care
Patient Experience: Jane’s Story
Shark Tank
Claire Breeze/Meegan Murray - Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program
Paula Melville/Rachael Kirkbride - Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Registered Nurse Transition to Professional Practice Program, Supportive Transition: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Renee Muirhead/Amanda Merchant - Developmental Care Rounds at NICU
Loren Madsen/Jane Cleveland - National Graduate Nurse Transition Program
Joanne Griffin/Rachel Brimelow - The role of nursing and midwifery leadership in fostering psychological safety in teams: A modified e-Delphi study
An online program on ethics in the Catholic health and aged care sectors is being offered to enable professional development and staff formation in the Code of Ethical Standards for Catholic Health and Aged Care Services in Australia (2001).
The course is jointly operated by Catholic Health Australia and BBI- The Australian Institute of Theological Education and commences on July 16 2019.
Online registration: www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/Ethics
or contact: Belinda Srour, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Phone: (02) 9847 0030
Program & Registration Brochure (PDF) CLICK HERE
Tuesday 2 July 2019 - 9.30 am to 4pm
Apollo Room, Hellenic Club
Matilda St Woden ACT 2606
Registration Template Aged Care Forum 2019 (PDF) | Aged Care Forum Agenda (PDF)
On Tuesday March 12 Catholic Health Australia (CHA) celebrated the launch of the CHA report ‘Palliative Care in the Catholic Sector’ highlighting the extensive and excellent work Catholic Health providers are undertaking in the Palliative Care (PC) space. The aim of this report is to contribute to the quality and quantity of information that PC organisations including CHA, policy makers and decision makers have available. It also explores innovative opportunities that will enable us as a nation, to embrace and resource PC as an integral part of health care that affects everyone in society. To access this report please click here (PDF).
Learnings from the International Perspective – Dr Carol Taylor
The Australian Perspective – Dr Dan Fleming
Clinical Governance Working Group and Canadian Delegation – Mark Hall
Legal Working Group – Donna Filippich
Palliative Care in the Catholic Sector – Ellen Marks
Living End of Life Experiences Video Project – Stephen Lyons
Staff Survey, Perceptions of VAD – Kathy Bowlen
2018
CHA Nursing & Midwifery Symposium 2018
Symposium Program (PDF)
CLICK HERE
Note: Please right click on the forms and save all on your computer
and then open them in Adobe Acrobat Reader
Digital Innovation in Health Award
Nomination Form
Nomination Form (PDF)
CLICK HERE
Please note that nominations close 3 August 2018
CHA Research Symposium 2018: From Benchtop to Bedside
Speaker Presentations
Session 1: Dr. Carrie Hillyard | Ms. Anne Spence and Dr. Emma Baker | Ms. Linda Brown | A/Prof Allison Pettet | Dr. Tu’uheebaha Kaitu’u-Lino | Dr. Carrie Lethoborg
Session 2: Prof Ross Crawford | Prof Bruce Brew | Prof Nick Graves*
Session 3: Dr. David Abbott | Prof Janet Hardy | Dr. Chidozie Anyaegbu
*This presentation uses prezi software that can only be viewed in PC.
2017
24 November 2017 – CHA Nursing and Midwifery Symposium 2017, Melbourne
CHA Nursing and Midwifery Symposium 2017: Innovations in Nursing and Midwifery
Ashley Fell presentation, McCrindle (PDF)
McCrindle research resources
Naked Ambition presentation (PDF)
Daniel Pocock presentation (PDF)
10 November 2017 - CHA Pastoral Care Forum, Melbourne
Meet others involved in pastoral care in Catholic organisation and facilities, and listen to inspiring speakers about working with patients and families. Hear about the latest developments in research and policy development affecting pastoral care in hospitals, and aged care.
Speaker Presentations:
Rosalind Bradley – Session 1 presentation: Food for the Soul: Perspectives on Death and Dying (PDF)
Rosalind Bradley – Session 2 presentation: A World of Prayer: praying with people from other faith traditions (PDF)
Ilsa Hampton – Introduction to Meaningful Ageing Australia: Resources to support pastoral practitioners working with older people (PDF)
28-30 August 2017 - Catholic Health Australia's National Conference, Grand Chancellor, Hobart
Catholic Health Australia represents health and aged care providers from right across the country. It is a fantastic opportunity for all involved to come together and discuss important issues facing all Australians now and into the future. The Conference opens with a Welcome Reception on the evening of 28 August, followed by two full days of conferencing on 29 & 30 August.
For more information regarding any aspects of the conference please contact Deborah Reynolds at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
30 June 2017 - CHA Research Symposium, Sydney
The Research Symposium brings together CHA researchers from across Australia to encourage networking, learning, to celebrate achievements and ongoing initiatives in research, and - importantly - to showcase the essential work being done by all of you, within the Catholic health and aged care sector.
This year's Symposium, the second of its kind, is packed with valuable content, delivered by distinguished researchers and academics including Prof Christine Bennett, Prof Margaret Somerville, and a number of accomplished clinical researchers representing CHA's member health services.
SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS
Session One: Prof Christine Bennett AO | Prof Liz Lobb | Prof Jane Phillips | Dr Tamika Heiden
Session Two: Dr David Allen (Mercy Health) | Dr Anne Spence (Cabrini) | Prof Jo-anne Brien (St Vincent's Sydney) | Dr Johanna Barclay (Mater) | Dr Susan Mathers (Calvary) | Dr Tam Nguyen (St Vincent's Melbourne)
Session Three: Prof Margaret Somerville AM | Prof Jennifer Philip | Prof Suresh Sundram
2016
Aged Care Forum: Facing the Future with Home Care
Senior executives and managers of Catholic aged care services attended a forum in Sydney on 1 September 2016 to discuss how best to meet and navigate the challenges and opportunities stemming from the reforms of home care and home support scheduled for 2017 and 2018. The purpose of the reforms is to increase consumer choice and control in accessing home care and home support services.
As well as receiving a briefing from the Department of Health on the reforms, the forum participants heard from, and engaged with, speakers on matters such as how best to operate in a more market-driven and competitive environment; how best to measure the consumer experience in order to ensure responsive services; how to effectively manage and lead the organisational transformation that will be required; and utilizing technology platforms to maximize organisational effectiveness and efficiency. The forum also heard about self-directed services, an innovation in service delivery designed to increase consumer control by allowing the consumer to employ their carer, as well as choose the services they prefer and when they are delivered.
As well as the Department, speakers were drawn from Catholic and other services currently preparing their organisations for the reforms, as well as marketing and change management professionals.
Presentations from the Forum include:
DoH Catholic Health Australia presentation
CHA Aged Care Forum Roadmap pdf
Please note: Two Presenters wer unabel to make thier presentations available.
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Catholic Health Australia's first Medical Research Symposium was held last Thursday, 5 May 2016 in Melbourne. Keynotes Sir Gustav Nossal and Prof Chris Baggoley were joined by St Vincent’s Prof Mark Cook, Cabrini’s Prof Rachelle Buchbinder, St John of God’s Prof Steve Webb, and Mercy Health’s Prof Susan Walker amongst others to present on their systems’ significant research initiatives.
Congratulations to the winners of the Rising Stars in Medical Research Awards: Dr Sue Harkness from Calvary Healthcare and Dr S. Liong from Mercy Health.
CHA thanks Alan Tuxford, representing major sponsor HPS Pharmacies, as well as Catholic Super for their generous support of the Medical Research Symposium. CHA also extends its thanks for the support of the sector's clinical researchers from right across Australia who helped to make the day such a meaningful learning experience.
CHA Online Ethics Course - Decoding the Code -The inaugural CHA Online Ethics Course was launched with a face-to-face session on 22 April 2015 in Melbourne. The Mater Hospital Brisbance hosted a second cohort which commenced on 18 May 2015. A total of 112 participants have registered for the course from city and country locations and a range of organisations, comfirming the value of the online mode. The course was developed for executives, mission leaders, clinicians and pastoral practitioners with the aim being to enhance knowledge and practice of the principles of Catholic ethics.
2015
CHA Mission; Ethics Education and Pastoral Care Forums – 5, 6 and 7 May 2015
Three CHA forums - Mission, Ethics Education and Pastoral Care Forums were held in Sydney in early May 2015 with extremely positive feedback. Members indicated: how important it is to get together and network; how useful the content was, how affordable the days were and how valuable it would be to have some aspects available as webcasts.
The Mission Leaders Forum on 5 May workshopped new Pathways resources: Mission Reporting Framework, Formation Expectations Framework and a paper on the role of mission leaders in health and aged care. The Ethics Education Seminar on 6 May focused on emerging ethical issues in aged care including advance care planning and end of life issues. The Pastoral Care Forum on 7 May was a first for CHA and extremely well attended. The day focused on fostering pastoral care research and concluded with an inspiring presentation on a theology of pastoral care by Professor Maryanne Confoy.
19 March 2015 - Aged Care Forum
Leader Formation for Catholic Ministries: An Afternoon with Dr Larry O'Connell
On Tuesday, 20 January Dr Larry O'Connell, President and CEO of the Ministry Leadership Centre (MLC), offered valuable insights into the principles and process of forming leaders for the ministries of the Church. Almost forty representatives of CHA member Boards and Trustees, as well as key people from religious congregations and other Church agencies participated in a sample piece of the formation content and process developed by the MLC.
Click here to download MLC Overview presentation
Click here to download MLC The Vocational Dignity of the Worker presentation
Nursing & Midwifery Symposium 2015
This year's CHA Nursing & Midwifery Symposium, held at St Kilda, Melbourne, was a tremendous success. Catholic sector nurses and midwives from right across Australia gathered to meet, learn, share their knowledge and pitch impressive ideas for future innovation in Catholic health and aged care.
CHA's Chief Executive Officer, Suzanne Greenwood opened the day's proceedings with a rousing call to arms for all Catholic sector nurses and midwives. The message for the day: Our nurses and midwives are on the frontlines each day and night in our hospitals - they understand the difficulties that face the ongoing provision of exceptional Catholic care, yet overcome them and bring to the table great innovation and a proactive and steadfast spirit in their leadership.
Janine Loader, Chair of CHA's Directors of Nursing & Midwifery Committee was MC for the day. Her message: innovation in health, even on the smallest scale, is something that Catholic sector nurses can be proud of; the strong reputation of Catholic healthcare relies on nurses standing up, sharing their experience, and being counted.
Keynote speakers Margaret Banks and Cheryle Royle took many questions after the day's first session on the Revised National Standards. They shared practical insights into what works and what doesn't in the drive to improve safety and quality and the real drivers that dictate positive outcomes.
Tim Kirkman from RogenSi encouraged NUMs to 'lead from the front' and inspire greatness from their nurses. Acknowledging the difficult job all NUMs face in a busy hospital, Tim explained the importance of identifying priorities and tackling the most important things first and in the right way.
Approximately one hundred nurses from various hospitals and aged care facilities, spanning the length and breadth of the nation, brought their thoughts to the table, offering insights, challenging common practice or understandings and delivering practical, thought-provoking ideas for innovation in health.
'Shark Tank' session results: Chloe Martinich and her partner, Rebecca Morris, from St Vincent's Melbourne won $2000 for their Anaesthetic Emergency Resources concept, winning the Patient Safety & Quality category. Nicky Cummins from Cabrini won another $2000 in the Technical Innovation category for her innovation, Just in Time Training - Basic and Advanced Life Support and Karin Laws, who came all the way from the Mater Hospital, Townsville, won the Cost Effectiveness category with her innovation, EN transition into Cath Lab, securing another prize of $2000. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all contestants - the quality of competition and variety of ideas was impressive and made deciding a winner a difficult task for our judges panel.
CHA would like to thank all involved in this year's Nursing & Midwifery Symposium. Thanks to Susan Biggar (Health Issues Centre Victoria), Lisa Ramshaw (APHA), Margaret Banks and Cheryle Royle, Tim Kirkman, our three 'Shark Tank' judges (pictured above from left to right), Phillip Black (RogenSi), Prof Michelle Campbell (ACU), and Russell Duncan (Telstra Health). Special thanks goes to Janine Loader and CHA's Directors of Nursing & Midwifery Committee, whose support and dedication made the this year's Nursing & Midwifery Symposium such a success.
2014
Nurse Symposium November 2014
Over 130 nursing and midwifery leaders from Catholic health facilities across Austalia attended CHA's 2nd Nursing and Midwifery Symposium which was held in Melbourne on 24 November 2014. The symposuim, which was ably chaired byAustralian College of Nursing CEO, Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms, heard a range of speakers who covered subjects as diverse as howto use social media to better engage clinical staff-especially younger people; how to provide positive feedback; and how to more effectively involve consumers in decisions about their care.
Delegates also had the opportunity to hear from the winners of the CHA Nursing Awards, who spoke in some detail about their inspiring work-often undertaken with little fanfare-which makes such a positive didderence to the lives of those they care for.
CHA would like to thank Hesta for their generous support of the event and the Catholic sector.
Proudly sponsored by HESTA
