Photo: A group photo of the Tasmania Region Chair Nancy Arnold FACN (right), Deputy Chair Sue Hughes FACN (far left) and Communications Coordinator Jane Springall MACN (far right) with Adjunct Professor Francine Douce MACN (left) and Brent Foreman MACN (middle). Supplied
Last Thursday as part of International Nurses Day, Tasmanian nurses gathered in Hobart to discuss the future of nursing and give back to their local community.
The event gave nurses the chance to hear about the future of the profession from Tasmania Chief Nurse Adjunct Professor Francine Douce MACN and Tasmania Health Services South Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Brent Foreman MACN. The conversation was extended to the attendees, who took advantage of the opportunity to discuss how our nurses can lead the repair of the health care systems in Australia.
Photo: Tasmania Chief Nurse Adjunct Professor Francine Douce MACN with Brent Foreman MACN. Supplied
Australian College of Nursing Tasmania Region Chair Nancy Arnold FACN, who was part of the event organising team, highlighted how the region loved getting an opportunity to celebrate with the community.
“People who did not know each other before they got there were leaving as best friends,” she said of the event.
“It was great to be able to meet and network with other nurses in a light-hearted way while continuing to support the community.”
The event also saw nurses give back to those in need, with 40 Fill a Bag for a Friend bags raised for Orange Sky Australia, a community-led not-for-profit that provides access to hygiene maintenance such as washing machines and dryers to people who are homeless. Poor hygiene is one of the most preventable health risks and services like Orange Sky help provide access where it may be impossible otherwise.
Photo: Tasmania Region Chair Nancy Arnold FACN hands over the donated bags to Orange Sky Australia on Saturday. Supplied
“[Orange Sky] was so happy to receive the bags,” said Nancy, after handing the donations over on Saturday.
“They loved the idea of the reusable wash bags and that they can fold up small and put back in their bags when not in use.”
The event was one of more than 700 National Nurses Breakfasts held by nurses across Australia to commemorate International Nurses Day. You can learn more about the initiative here.
