When Suzanne emigrated to Australia in 2005, she wasted no time in enrolling in a nursing degree. Her new career choice was quite a shift from the one she’d left behind in South Africa - managing luxury car dealerships.
‘I felt drawn to working in the health sector due to personal experiences with deaths in my family - particularly when my uncle died of an AIDs related illness at the height of the AIDs pandemic. I was thrust into a caring role and had to learn about palliative care as I went along. There wasn’t much information available.’
Suzanne’s nursing degree provided a great launching pad for a new career. Now a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist at HammondCare, Suzanne shares her infectious enthusiasm for her job, that keeps giving thirteen years later.
Every day brings new opportunities and challenges. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories, and walking alongside them in their unique situations.
As part of the dedicated and compassionate community palliative care team, we care deeply for individuals from the very start. We ask family members about their loved ones’ circumstances and work together as a team to provide care. These conversations can lessen grief and anxiety, and managing expectations requires understanding and empathy.
My journey started as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) at HammondCare while studying for my RN degree. I've had many opportunities for learning and advancement. Being validated in this way feels rewarding. There's room to grow within the organisation, including exploring areas like dementia, where HammondCare is internationally recognised for its research.
Currently, I'm involved in the HammondCare Palliative Care Mentorship program to improve palliative care delivery across our homes. I also educate other organisations about end-of-life care. I'm proud and grateful for any opportunity where we make a difference, making someone's day better.
I've been inspired by countless people in this job. Felicity Burns, General Manager of Health and Palliative Care, is a wonderful mentor. She's approachable, always available for a chat, and provides professional advice and support. Her resilience and calm nature make her a great leader, constantly encouraging her team to pursue new opportunities.
While at HammondCare, I was also provided with financial support to complete a Post Graduate Degree in Palliative Care. And while completing my RN degree, I was accepted in the new grad program, which enabled me to develop skills and gain experience in the palliative care wards at Neringah and Greenwich hospitals and Riverglen Older Persons Mental Health Unit.
For me, it's about sharing knowledge and empowering others. Presenting these workshops has been a career highlight!
An older patient I’ve been supporting in the community recently made me feel like I’m doing a good job. On a recent visit she said to me: ‘Suzanne, I’m too busy to die.’ I was uplifted when I heard this. The patient's positive well-being, and having her pain managed, meant she could still participate in all the things she still enjoyed doing.
Her positive outlook has taught me a lot; she’s young at heart and that’s inspiring.
HammondCare is recognised as a leader of palliative care. I’m proud to be a part of that. We want patients to get better care at all stages of their care journey – regardless of circumstances, that’s our commitment.
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