SYNOPSIS:

This comprehensive forum aims to dissect and understand the convergence of technological advances, workforce dynamics, digital transformation, and the pressing issue of environmental warming on our healthcare system today and into the future.

The conference will delve into how digital innovation is transforming patient access, care experiences, and operational efficiencies, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges these technologies present. Participants will engage with the evolving needs and expectations of the healthcare workforce, discussing strategies to address labour shortages, workload issues, and burnout.

A significant focus will be placed on the health implications of global warming, including the increase in climate-related illnesses, the disruption of food systems and water sources, and the mental health challenges posed by climate crises. The conference seeks to foster a dialogue on creating practices capable of adapting to these environmental changes and promoting sustainable healthcare practices.

Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and networking events, “Shifting Sands” aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to navigate and influence the dynamic landscape of healthcare delivery. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the external forces shaping healthcare, innovative solutions to the challenges faced, and a renewed commitment to advancing health equity and environmental stewardship within their professional practice.

CONFERENCE THEMES:

Technological Advances: The deployment of new technologies is essential for improving healthcare quality, access, and cost containment. The shift toward predictive medical data mining and value-based care models is encouraging the adoption of health-enhancing technologies, emphasizing the importance of investment in technologies that prove to be financially viable and enhance the quality of care delivered.​

Workforce Dynamics: The evolving needs and expectations of the healthcare workforce and the increasing shortage of healthcare professionals to deliver services is a major concern. There are complex issues as to why individuals leave the health professions including burnout and why individuals are not choosing to enter the professions. This will require change – not only in how health professionals are trained but also in the culture of health service delivery and the leadership required to navigate this path.

Digital Transformation and Virtual Care: Digital innovation transforms patient access, care experiences, and healthcare operations. Telehealth and digital health investments continue to grow, demonstrating the sector’s movement towards more integrated and consumer-focused care delivery models.​

Healthcare Quality and Disparities: Despite advancements, significant disparities remain in healthcare quality and access, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities. Efforts to address these disparities are ongoing, focusing on improving overall health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services​​.

Advancements in Pharmacology, including biologics and nanotechnology, have expanded the possibilities for personalized medicine and targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes across a wide range of medical conditions.

Global warming significantly impacts health worldwide, posing a complex array of challenges that affect everything from air quality and nutrition to the spread of infectious diseases and human migration patterns. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights between 2030 and 2050, it is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone, with direct damage costs to health estimated to be between US$ 2–4 billion per year by 2030.

The CDC outlines specific health impacts related to climate change, including air pollution, allergens, and pollen, diseases carried by vectors like mosquitoes and ticks, food and waterborne diarrheal diseases, food security, mental health and stress-related disorders, and the direct effects of floods, temperature extremes, and wildfires.

The broad and deep impacts of global warming on health identify the importance of immediate and sustained action to mitigate these effects and adapt to a changing climate.

The changing health consumer profile reflects several significant shifts in demographics, healthcare needs, and consumer behaviours.

Aging Population: The aging population presents unique healthcare challenges, such as a higher prevalence of chronic conditions, increased demand for long-term care services, and the need for specialized geriatric care. Healthcare systems must adapt to cater to the specific needs of older adults, including preventive care, geriatric medicine, palliative care, and support for caregivers.

Mental Health: There’s a growing awareness and recognition of mental health issues worldwide, leading to reduced stigma and increased seeking of mental health services. Factors like stress, social isolation, economic instability, and traumatic events contribute to the rising prevalence of mental health disorders. The integration of mental health services into primary care settings, teletherapy options, and the use of digital mental health platforms are emerging trends. Consumer demand for holistic approaches to mental health care, including mindfulness practices, lifestyle interventions, and alternative therapies, is increasing.

Chronic Disease Management: Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and respiratory conditions are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle factors like poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption contribute significantly to the rise in chronic diseases. Patient empowerment and engagement are emphasized, with an emphasis on shared decision-making, patient education, and support networks to improve adherence to treatment plans and overall health outcomes.

CONFERENCE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Explore the convergence of technological advances, workforce dynamics, digital transformation, and the pressing issue of environmental warming on our healthcare system today and into the future
• Investigate how digital innovation is transforming patient access, care experiences, and operational efficiencies, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges these technologies present
• Review the evolving needs and expectations of the healthcare workforce
• Understand the health implications of global warming, including the increase in climate-related illnesses, the disruption of food systems and water sources, and the mental health challenges posed by climate crises the importance of addressing public health in the context of climate change

YOU WILL ALSO LEARN:

• The needs and expectations of today’s healthcare workers
• Why it is so hard to provide mental health services in the current environment and what the future might look like
• adapting to climate-related health challenges, building resilient healthcare systems
• Why Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessments (QMRA) are utilised to guide water and wastewater system design
• Despite Australia’s robust healthcare system, several disparities in quality and access persist, affecting various population groups
• Why the consumer health profile is undergoing significant changes due to a combination of demographic shifts, advancements in technology, evolving lifestyle choices, and increased awareness about health and wellness.
• Why advances in vaccine technology are crucial to limit and prevent infectious diseases around the world
• Why vaccines also have the potential to be used to treat diseases, rather than prevent them
• The 5 Cs (Context, Consistency, Clarity, Congruence and Categories of Concern) and the 5 Fs of the limbic system (Flight, Flight, Faint, Fawn and Freeze) in relation to professional boundaries
• The emergence of new terms such as ‘eco-anxiety’ and ‘solastalgia’
• The intersectionality of climate change and mental health, the repercussions on vulnerable populations while also proposing strategies for mitigation.
• The ‘experience of care’ – care which is kind, respectful, dignified? Is this arm of care an ‘optional extra’ or an intricate component of quality maternity care?
• the impact, effectiveness, and challenges of digital transformation in the healthcare sector.
• a range of physiological changes as individuals age, which have an impact on the pharmacological properties of medicines
• the possibilities for personalized medicine and targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes across a wide range of medical conditions
• the critical issue of suicide within the Australian context
• Why drivers such as climate shifts, globalisation, land exploitation and wildlife trade have directly affected the re emergence of viral zoonotic disease
• The uncertainty and ferocity of global warming is affecting the way the water industry adapts to protect human and environmental health
• The concept of “Brief Interventions” and their potential to enhance patient outcomes.
• Trauma Informed Approach to health care
• The importance of postcodes to assess the risk of Adverse Childhood Events (ACE’s) and the link between childhood trauma and poor life expectancy.
• the multifaceted challenges posed by an aging population and the strategies required to address them
• an intervention that didn’t just reduce your risk of the leading killers, but also arthritis, osteoporosis, sensory impairments.

CPD hours: 24

PRESENTERS:

Gail Aylmer

Gail has worked for the last 10 years as a Public Health Nurse within the Communicable Disease team of a Queensland Public Health Unit. Gail has a diverse employment history working primarily in Australia plus also spent 18mths working as an Agency Nurse in England.

Over the last 3 decades, she has held positions as a Nurse Academic, Nurse Educator, Infection Control CNC, Surgical Unit Clinical Nurse and Clinical Nurse at Tuberculosis Control Units both in Brisbane and London. During her career, Gail worked in nursing administration as an (acting) Nursing Director for a period in excess of one year. Gail holds a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, a Master of Nursing Degree (Advanced Practice) and a Master of Mental Health Nursing Degree. Gail is an authorised Immunisation Program Nurse and has a Certificate in Training and Assessment.

Gail has travelled extensively over the last 4 decades and in 2016 developed and led a Nurses for Nurses Study Tour to India. This tour was bursting with fabulous experiences and attendees ‘saw the real India’ encountering some of the more interesting and important public health issues within India.

Gail’s other special interests include immunisation across the lifespan, communicable and infectious diseases. She feels strongly about supporting and advocating for the nursing profession, in particular, frontline nurses believing they are the absolute heroes of healthcare.

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Dr Jenni Judd, Professorial Research Fellow, Central Queensland University

Jenni holds a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc -Deakin), a Master of Public Health (MPH -JCU), a Master of Education (Deakin) and a 4-year Diploma of Health and Physical Education (Wollongong).

Jenni is an applied health promotion and public health researcher and is recognised for her research in rural, remote, and regional health, First Nations health and education, mental health, health services and emerging infectious diseases. Before joining the university in 2006, Jenni spent over 27 years in the public sector in the Departments of Health and Education in the Northern Territory.

She has been successful in over $5.9m in competitive research funding and published over 100 publications, including 4 Edited Books, 5 book chapters and more than 90 peer-reviewed publications in national/international journals. She has completed over 21 Higher-degree research students (15 PhDs, 4 Masters of Research students and 2 Graduate Certificates in Research).

She mentors and supports supervisors of Indigenous Scholars.

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Louise Scanlan

Louise is an occupational therapist and mental health clinician committed to promoting psychological recovery and resilience in communities impacted by disasters. As a regional adversity clinician, Louise collaborates with affected communities to build mental health literacy, and develop tailored interventions that prioritise psychological well-being, fostering healing and hope in the wake of trauma. She holds a Masters in Public Health, and lives in Queensland, Australia with her wife and their spoilt rescue cat, Mischief.

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Mark Wiltshire

Mark is an environmental engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the water industry. He has worked in technical, business development, project and managerial capacities in water utilities and the private sector. Over this time, he has been involved in the many different aspects of the water industry including stakeholder engagement, managing water infrastructure, delivering water
recycling schemes and other water technologies.

Mark’s work in community engagement, spans decades and he has been responsible for delivering community change programs to reduce water consumption and environmental pollution. He is an avid traveler, a lover of cruising and has a keen interest for human health through water.

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Rukhsana Aziz

Rukhsana is a Pakistani, Scottish Australian AND a Midwife who completed her Nursing and Midwifery trainings by 1987 in Scotland. In 38 years; Midwifery has taken her from Glasgow to London, USA, The Channel Island, to 3 different regions of Saudi Arabia, to Brisbane (tertiary and regional) as well as remote Northern Territory and remote Queensland. During 27 years of practice in Australia, Rukhsana completed Rural and Isolated Practice Nursing R.I.P.R.N., Sexual Health Practice, Immunisation for nurses and then took a BIG leap of faith and entered university study and has achieved a Master of Clinical Health Practice degree at Griffith University.

After 19 years with Queensland Health amongst the most treasured moments include the development of and sustained Midwifery Group Practice in Goondiwindi now running for 17 years enabling rural women to birth and receive care closer to home, achieving Midwifery Unit Manger status and experiencing the role of Director of Midwifery in FNQ. Of all the locations that Rukhsana has practiced in the last 27 years Goondiwindi, Thursday Island, Doomadgee and Borroloola will always rank in the top 5!

Rukhsana has been invited to speak at a variety of Australian College Of midwives (ACM)conferences over the years, Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club (GNMRC) and has participated in expert clinician panels for Perineal Injury during birth and Induction of labour as well as a variety of Maternity and Neonatal Guidelines with the Queensland Clinical Guidelines team.

Rukhsana is part of the LEAPP (Living Evidence for Australian Pregnancy & Postnatal Care)) team developing evidence based clinical recommendations for pregnancy and postnatal care.

As Rukhsana transitions to retirement she has mixed emotions about the discombobulated state of Maternity Services in Australia because whilst there definitely has been progress – there is rising rates or birth trauma, disrespectful maternity care and women continue to have no local services or have to travel for miles to receive maternity services.

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Dr Wendy McIntosh, RGN, RMHN, GRAD. DIP MH, MN, CERT IV WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT & TRAINING, GROUP LEADERSHIP CERT, MRCNA, MANZCMHN, AANZPA

Wendy has over 30 years of experience as a health professional (clinical, education, and research), twenty-five of those years in mental health. Areas of specific interest and passion for Wendy include professional supervision, professional boundaries, professional identity, links between childhood trauma and mental illness, and workplace bullying.

Wendy has over 20 years of experience as a psychodrama trainee – lifelong learning. She is committed to using experiential learning in the work she does with individuals and groups. Wendy maintains a full diary of workshops throughout Australia and London UK and consistently receives feedback on her passion, knowledge, and creativity as a presenter and facilitator.

Wendy is continually integrating learning and insights she gains from the work she does within professional boundaries. She has developed internet training tools and education packages for individuals/organisations and delivers webinars for organisations.

With the assistance of six podcast episodes titled ‘Professional Boundaries’, Wendy is exploring and guiding listeners on their own personal and reflective journey through boundaries. Further podcasts are currently in production.

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Sue Walker, RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC, MACN, Specialist Nurse Educator

Sue is the director and co-founder of the Nurses for Nurses Network. Sue is a key contributor to the online education platform Nursing CPD – a Continuing Professional Development platform to assist Nurses in meeting their annual CPD requirements.

As a Registered Nurse, Sue holds Degrees in both Nursing and Health Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Health, as well as a number of certificate courses in Psychiatry of Ageing, Gerontology, Chemotherapy Administration, and Training and Assessment. She is also an Accredited Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Mindfulness Practitioner, and Clinical Supervisor.

Sue has extensive experience as a clinician, educator, and senior manager. She has presented at local and international conferences on many topics including, key issues in healthcare, such as the psychological impact of the work that Nurses do and how the work requirements to deliver healthcare impact the health of the clinician. Other topics presented comprise of Nursing
Leadership, Emergency Management, Mental health, Aged Care, Advanced Life Support, Assertiveness, Grief and Loss, and Workplace Bullying.

Sue is passionate about making a difference in how the community and Nurses experience the healthcare system. “Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and work in difficult environments that can take advantage of their commitment to ensuring the best possible care is delivered. To continue to meet professional and community expectations Nurses and Midwives need to acknowledge their unique contribution to health care delivery and assert their collective strength to safeguard the community and ensure their ongoing professional needs are recognised and met.

Healthcare should be delivered by competent, knowledgeable individuals to ensure the best possible experience for the recipient of that care. Nursing is a fabulous profession. The knowledge and skill of the individual Nurse will have the greatest influence on the happiness and health outcomes of each and every client”.

Wendy Newton, RN, Grad Cert (Peri-op) PhD (currently Pending)
Wendy completed her nursing training in Bundaberg in 1988. Since then, she has completed a Cert IV in behavioural dog training, a Grad Cert in Acute Care Nursing (Perri-op) and a PhD. She has worked in various Public and Private Hospitals in Queensland and NSW.

Her experience includes medical, surgical, alcohol and other drugs and various other specialties. Her primary work interest is perioperative nursing, and she currently works at Bundaberg Hospital in the post-operative recovery room (PACU). Over the last 20 years, she has been a CN, working in diverse areas such as anaesthetics, PACU, ENT, endoscopy and as a laser safety officer. Although she has had some management experience, she prefers to work with patients in clinical areas, mainly anaesthetics and PACU.

Since commencing her PhD in 2019, Wendy has been a student mentor within her university and to international students from
other institutions. She also works as a research assistant and casual academic and has assisted in supervising an Honors
candidate at Central Queensland University. Wendy completed her PhD in 2024. Her thesis was titled “Animals in Australian
Residential Aged Care Facilities: Provision, Policy and Practice.” Her thesis examines how we manage the provision of animal
contact in Residential Aged Care Facilities and the possible impacts on the residents and the animals.

The Cruise Ship: MSC Preziosa

The classic design of beautifully crafted MSC Preziosa includes spectacular features such as a real stone piazza ,sweeping Swarovski crystal staircases and a magical ‘infinity’ pool.  There’s all this and more to discover at your own pace on board, enjoying every moment to the full as you voyage to some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.

Get ready to dive into one of their pools, let your hair down at the themed parties, treat yourself to something delicious in one of their amazing restaurants, and much more!

The award-winning MSC Aurea Spa is a haven of peace and pampering on board, offering beauty and wellness treatments to melt the tension away. The solarium provides an open-air alternative, for complete relaxation while you soak up the sun.

Disclaimer: Sessions are correct at time of publication. Sessions are subject to change without notice due to circumstances beyond the control of the organisers and EAS & NFNN reserves the right to alter charges, cancel, postpone, change or withdraw the product or service at any time.