Delegate biographies

There will be a number of networking activities and opportunities during the conference. Browse some of the delegate biographies below to begin making and planning connections!

If you would like to submit a biography, please send a brief paragraph (160 character limit) to education@cancervic.org.au

Delegates

Ms Judy Allen, Eastern Health

At present I work as an Occupational Therapist and facilitate VCCCP communication skills workshops with nursing, allied health and medical staff working within Cancer Services at Eastern Health and NEMICS region.

Mrs Grace Buchanan, CCWA /  PaSCE

We deliver CCCP courses to health professionals in WA, using the ALOBA model as a developing facilitator. We would like to connect with other health professionals who are teaching communication skills courses.

Dr Kwong Chan, Griffith University School of Medicine

I am a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education (Communication Skills) from Griffith University School of Medicine. I teach human skills, communication skills and history taking in the School.

Ms Pit Cheng Chan, Griffith University

I am a sessional Medical Educator (facilitator) in Communication Skills at the School of Medicine, Griffith University. Annually I facilitate in 31 different workshops on communication skills, history taking and human skills, working with simulated patients.

Mr Michael Chapman, Eastern Health

Current VCCCP facilitator and have been running the program at Eastern Health.

Dr Michael Chapman, Canberra Hospital

Michael is involved in teaching clinical and inter-professional communication skills to staff and students at Canberra Hospital and the ANU Medical School using role-play and small group work.

Ms Karen Conte, Eastern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium

Karen Conte is an endorsed palliative care nurse practitioner with over thirty years in the field of oncology and palliative care. She has been facilitating VCCCP workshops in the palliative care setting for approximately ten years.

Dr Bob Cvetkovic, Dentist

I have been a dentist for 36 years. I have studied motivational interviewing techniques to aid my patients for the last 15 years. I am a past President of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch and have been on the board for 10 years.

Ms Charlotte Denniston, Monash Univeristy

Physiotherapist and PhD candidate using narrative to explore communication skills from the perspectives of care seekers and health professionals. Working in collaboration with a local healthcare network to develop a communication skills training package.

Jacki Goode, La Trobe University

I teach dentistry in both the pre-clinical and clinical environment. I have a strong interest in inter-professional practice.

Ms Janet Hamilton, Monash University

I teach clinical communication to Master of Nursing Practice and Bachelor of Nursing students from English as an Additional Language backgrounds . This is delivered through campus-based workshops, one to one consultations, online support (oral and written) and more.

Ms Pam Harvey, Monash University

I am currently teaching undergraduate medical students, using the ALOBA facilitation method. I'd like to be in contact with others teaching in undergraduate health professional education.

Dr Barbara Hayes, Northern Health

Dr Barbara Hayes has previously worked for many years as a Palliative Care Physician. She now works at Northern Health as the Clinical Leader for Advance Care Planning. She has been involved in developing the Goals of Patient Care approach.

Mrs Amy Hiller, The University of Melbourne

I currently lecture on approaches to interacting with patients in physiotherapy. I am also nearing completion of a PhD that has explored how patients and physiotherapist interact in the private practice physiotherapy setting.

Ms Linda Humphreys, Griffith University School of Medicine

I am a lecturer in Medical Education (Communication Skills) from Griffith University School of Medicine. I facilitate small group communication skills workshops that cover 22 topics with students communicating with simulated patients.

Michelle McArthur, University of Adelaide

I am a clinical psychologist and I'm on Faculty in the School of Animal and Veterinary Science at the University of Adelaide. I teach clinical communication skills to veterinary students and veterinarians. I also conduct research in this area.

Helen Mentha, Mentha Consulting

I teach Motivational Interviewing for a wide range of helping professionals. Most of my work is one, two and three day workshops for clinicians and supervisors, as well as coaching and supervision. I'm interested the ways that MI fits with other approaches.

Mr Tan Nguyen, Australian Dental and Oral Health Therapists' Association Victorian Branch

I currently teach clinical education for oral health therapist students at the Melbourne Dental School. I would like to network with people interested in teaching professionalism.

Dr Anita Phillips, Deakin University

Teaching communication skills to medical students and medical registrars. On the working party at Deakin university to develop a clinical communication in healthcare curriculum.

Ms Dominique Saunders, Saunders Legal

Dominique is a health lawyer with wide experience in hospital health care settings, in the regulatory environment of health practitioners.

Dominique is highly regarded for her knowledge, skills and ability to engage people from diverse backgrounds.

Dr Erica Schmidt, Monash University

My background is in medicine (a US-trained family physician), linguistics and education. I currently assist medical students in the clinical years with communication and clinical reasoning issues, in addition to study support, particularly for at-risk students.

A/Prof Jenny Schwarz, University of Melbourne

I teach medical students during their 3 years of clinical placement. This includes a range of teaching scenarios including bedside tutorials, small group sessions and sessions on ethics and communication. I am also involved with curriculum development.

Dr Mark Wallace-Bell, Heart Foundation

I am a Nurse and Psychologist interested in effective communications approaches that promote and support behaviour change in primary care settings. I am a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and a Lecturer in Health Sciences.

Dr Jennifer Weil, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

I am a hospital based palliative medicine physician involved and interested in teaching, with particular interests in postgraduate teaching and communication skills training.

Ms Sharon Yahalom, Monash University

I am a lecturer working in the Student Academic Support Unit, Faculty of Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University. I provide language and clinical communication support to nursing students. I am looking forward to connecting with others.

Ms Bernadette Zappa, Eastern Health

At present I am facilitating VCCCP communication skills workshops at Eastern Health and across NEMICS health services.

The workshops are offered to medical, nursing and allied health staff who are working in Cancer Services and Palliative Care.

Dr Tim Byrne, Alfred Health

I teach a variety of ICU related topics, including difficult conversation simulations in the past. I’d like to learn about how to best go about reestablishing this for trainees in critical and junior ward staff.

Dr Nayia Cominos, University of South Australia

I am the Learning and Literacy Coordinator for Health Sciences Division at UniSA, supporting academic staff in their teaching, curriculum and program development and research outputs, associate lecturer and researcher at the University of Adelaide.

Dr Brendan Condon, Deakin University

I teach clinical skills, including communication skills to medical students, junior doctors, and nurses, via small group tutorials, bedside teaching, and simulation sessions.

I would like to network with others working in the same area.

Dr Adrian Dabscheck, Western Health

Currently facilitating Final Year Medical Students "difficult conversations at the end of life" as a four hour workshop and actor.

Dr Averil Grieve, Monash University

I am an academic skills and language advisor for students in the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) programme at Monash University. My focus is on assisting students with both their spoken and written language while they are on placement.

Ms Kathryn McKinley, St Vincent's Hospital

I teach health professionals and students how to communicate with patients with communication difficulties. I deliver workshops and in services. I am interested in introducing communication skills teaching more broadly into the healthcare setting.

Dr Elizabeth Milford, University of Melbourne

Elizabeth lectures to dental and oral health students in communication, ethics and community dentistry.

Ms Sharyn Milnes, Deakin University

Sharyn trained as a registered nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1985. She has completed postgraduate studies in critical care and adult education and higher education at Deakin and Sydney Universities.

Ms Andrea Paul, Monash University

I currently work in the Student Academic Support Unit (SASU) in the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University, providing academic and clinical communication skills support to medical students, both international and local.

Mrs Karen Quinn, Centre for Palliative Care

Karen Quinn is the coordinator of education at the Centre for Palliative Care. I have been involved in teaching communication skills for several years, primarily at postgraduate level for a range of health professionals.

Linda Ross, Monash University

Linda’s philosophy on teaching is to provide relevant and thought provoking content through engaging and innovative mediums, in order to inspire students to fully participate in their own individual learning journey. 

Dr Adam Steinberg, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

Adam is a medical registrar at St Vincent's Hospital involved in the education of medical students and junior doctors. He is a member of the staff support program and will be coordinating the internship mentor program in 2017.

Professor Stewart Dunn, Sydney Medical School Northern

I am Professor of Psychological Medicine at Sydney Medical School and Associate Dean for Admissions. I am fascinated by how we identify and encourage the essential humanity in our students and health professionals, especially through communication..

Paul Conroy, Victoria University

I am a teacher with a background in applied linguistics. I teach communication skills in a preparation course for international medical graduates (IMGs) wishing to sit the AMC Clinical Exam. I also teach a prep course for the OET (Occupational English Test).

Mrs Lucy Whelan, Monash Health

I currently coordinate AHA students at Monash health as part of the larger role of AHA and Support Workforce Advisor. I am looking forward to networking with colleagues interested in teching communication skills to health career students and new health graduates.

Dr Conor Gilligan, University of Newcastle

Teaching communication skills; patient centred care and the skills for being a person-centred clinician (medical students). Also the principles of health promotion, health behaviour change and public health issues.

Dr Michael Rasmussen, Mercy Public Hospitals Inc
Clinical Director of a large, 2 site, ObGyn Paediatric Service. Co-Deputy Exam Co-ordinator for FRANZCOG Oral exam.

Dr Sanaz Khanlari, University of Wollongong, Graduate School of Medicine
I am a Lecturer in Clinical Skills, Graduate Medicine at the University of Wollongong. In this capacity I develop and teach communication skills tutorials to first year medical students with the use of Simulated Patients.

Professor Sandra Carr, The University of Western Australia

I am the Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning and the Director of Postgraduate Courses in Health Professions Education at the University of Western Australia. I have over 20 years experience in health professions education and work to support others in curriculum development, course design and educational research.

Ms Cecilia Liddle, Australian Catholic University

I coordinate a twelve month, pre-degree tertiary preparation course for international health professional students as well as Occupational English Test preparation courses. I am hoping to network with other health professionals to discuss areas which are of most concern in the workplace and how these concerns could be addressed.

Mr Justin Moir, Monash University

Teaching communication skills to 3rd Medicine students and wanting to extend this to 4th year students next year. Teach in small groups of 4 to 6 students at a time.

Ms Kate D'Orazio, Australian Catholic University

Currently teaching on the Tertiary Preparation Program which includes Introduction to Healthcare, Communication Skills and English for Academic Purposes for international students intending to study and work in Healthcare. I am also involved with Occupational English Test preparation workshops and courses. I am hoping to learn about current practices and strategies used in healthcare communication and to meet up with other educators and clinician-educators.

Associate Professor Robert Bryce, Flinders University

MD Directorate and Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Flinders University. Head of Clinical Skills Teaching Review, Flinders MD Program. Member, Education and Assessment Committee, RANZCOG

Dr Fleur Llewelyn, The Royal Women's Hospital

I manage the Clinical Education Program at the Royal Women's Hospital. I have a strong interest in the patient experience, radical redesign, organisational behaviour and the importance of connecting and communicating at all levels of the organisation.

Dr Rosie Crone, Deakin University

I am a geriatrician and primarily a clinician with an interest in communication skills training and education. I am working at Deakin University with 2nd and 3rd year students in teaching clinical communication and am involved in the iValidate programme at Barwon Health. Hoping to do some research next year in supporting communication skills training for students with self reflection on videos with patients.

Kate Holmes, Centre for Palliative Care

I am currently working as Nurse Educator at the Centre for Palliative Care, we are involved in communication skills training at postgraduate level. I am also a Palliative Care CNC at the Northern Hospital where I hope to co-facilitate communication education with a colleague.

Tracy Sheldrick, Bendigo Health

I am a Senior Speech Pathologist. I provide communication skills training to healthcare workers and Speech Pathology students and am involved in research looking at the prevalence of patients in hospital that require support to participate in healthcare conversations. I have post graduate training in health professional education. I am interested to learn more about ways to apply communication skills training more broadly in healthcare.

Mr James Watt, Northern Health

I'm a Clinical Nurse Consultant with the Hospital-Based Palliative Care Consultancy Team. I undertook training as a VCCCP facilitator two years ago with the Cancer Council and am involved in facilitating communication workshops and education to a range students and staff at the hospital.

Dr Joe McCaffrey

Joe is a recently qualified intensivist working in the University Hospital of Geelong ICU, a mixed medical, surgical and paediatric unit. His special interests include extracorporeal life support, paediatrics, and communication with patients and families relating to critical care illness.

Associate Professor Kerry Thoirs

I am Associate Head of School (academic) at the School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. Over the last twelve months I have been leading a project to build flexible learning resources that can be used by multiple health disciplines to teach clinical communication skills. In this project we have used the Health Care Professions Core Curriculum developed by tEACH to guide the project.

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