Introducing Brendan and Rosie (Co-Convenors) and Olivia and Aaron (co-secretaries) of the new PCSWA NSW/ACT Network

Hello everyone! We all very pleased to take on leadership roles with the NSW/ACT PCSWA Network. We hope that the network will be a place for peer support, networking, sharing expertise, mentoring, professional development and research. One positive outcome of COVID is an increase in our knowledge of how to connect virtually, so we will be using MS Teams to communicate and host meetings, and our aim is to be as inclusive as possible of social workers in end of life across NSW and the ACT, wherever you are.

A little about Brendan…

I have been practicing as a social worker since 2003, and most of this time has been spent in Palliative Care. I was lucky enough to have a student placement in a palliative care unit with an amazing supervisor, Sue Hearn. My placement gave me a passion for palliative care and learning from Sue was the best start I could hope for in my career. I spent 8 years working at St Joseph’s Hospital in Western Sydney in an inpatient palliative care unit with an excellent supervisor, and from there moved to my current role in community palliative care at Concord Hospital. Through my career I have been so lucky to benefit from education, support and mentoring from some incredible social workers and my hope is that I can share some of this as well.

I love my clinical work in Palliative care, our work is so interesting. Social workers have such an important role in palliative care helping our patients and their families to navigate complex systems and the many practical challenges of end of life care, while providing counselling and supporting families in their grief.

I have an interest in trying to start work on a research project relating to the intersection of palliative care and the aged care system – and hope I might find some willing co-researchers in this group.

Outside of work I love to relax and switch off by reading, baking, spending time with my family – and on the odd occasion when I can convince myself that it’s good for me, going to the gym.

I look forward to connecting with you all and seeing what this group can become!

A little about Rosie…

I currently work at Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney in Community Palliative Care, Grief and Bereavement. I have been a social worker for 6 years mostly working in the area of Oncology and Palliative Care. Like Brendan, my first experience of Palliative Care was as a student, where I was able to learn and be inspired by the skills of my supervisors. Since then it was always an area which interested me, so I suppose it’s no surprise my career has led me where I am today.

I find palliative care and bereavement such meaningful and rewarding work – our willingness to ‘be with’ patients and their families through challenging times is truly valuable.

One day I hope to do my Masters in Narrative Therapy. Outside of work I unwind by playing Netball, doing Pilates, socialising with friends and seeing live music.

I look forward to meeting with like-minded Social Workers across NSW and ACT, to share ideas and expertise. As part of the leadership team I really hope we can create a network of social workers who feel engaged and supported.

I look forward to meeting with you at our information session in March!

A little about Olivia…

 

I have been a social worker since 2007 and have based myself in the health system over this time. I have been practicing as a social worker and bereavement counsellor in the ACT for the past 6 years. I have been privileged to work with individuals in the homes, the hospice and the hospital. My love of palliative care developed from working with individuals with chronic neurological conditions, especially Motor Neurone Disease. I facilitated the territory’s first multidisciplinary MND clinic which had a palliative rehabilitation focus and this strengthened my interest in palliative care and I moved into palliative care 6 years ago.

I believe it is a privilege to be invited into people’s lives during this time and being allowed the opportunity to hold space for them in their grief and support needs. I enjoy working creatively with people and their networks with a shared goal of enhancing their palliative care experiences and outcomes.

Outside of work I am predominantly wrestling with my two boys and thinking about which noodle dish to cook next.

A little about Aaron…


Hello, my name is Aaron and I have been living in Wagga Wagga NSW for the past 13 years, previously moved from Sydney. I have been practicing as a social worker since 2012 in the fields of child protection and mental health. More recently I have been practicing in a private hospital inpatient setting based in a specialist palliative care unit.

Palliative Care is one of those areas that can be challenging but also rewarding at the same time. Social workers have a vital role to play in this area and I am especially passionate about not only supporting families/patients through grief and loss, but also with end of life planning.

I joined PCSWA to connect with others working in palliative care, share experiences and learn from others. I really look forward to meeting everyone and seeing what we can achieve through the PCSWA network.

THE NEXT STEPS…

Over the next few weeks we will be reaching out across our networks in health and palliative care social work. We’re keen to connect with as many social workers in end of life care as possible and invite you to join us for an initial information sharing meeting shortly. The meeting will be hosted on MS Teams. We’d love to hear from you all about what you would like from the NSW/ACT network, and what we can create together.

If you would like to join the NSW/ACT PCSWA Network, please email Brendan Myhill, Rosie Whitford, Olivia Tough or Aaron Morison express your interest. Or you can register for our upcoming information session on Wednesday 10th March via Eventbrite at:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/palliative-care-social-work-australian-pcswa-nswact-network-launch-tickets-136227438937

Brendan Myhill (co-convenor) Brendan.myhill@health.nsw.gov.au

Rosie Whitford (co-convenor) Rosalie.Whitford@health.nsw.gov.au

Olivia Tough (co-secretary) Olivia.M.Tough@act.gov.au

Aaron Morison (co-secretary) Aaron.Morison@calvarycare.org.au