Sex, Drugs & Dying Well was held on 7 & 8 May 2015

Grampians Regional Palliative Care Conference

A Conference for health professionals wishing to expand their knowledge of Palliative Care
7 & 8 May 2015  |  Novotel Forest Resort Creswick


Watch the promotional video!


View conference videos


 

Speakers

Dr Amanda Hordern

Bayside Healthy Living, specializing in sexuality and intimacy in cancer and palliative care

With over 25 years of nursing experience in oncology and palliative care across a range of clinical and community based supportive care settings; Amanda was the Executive Director of the Cancer Council’s Cancer Information and Support Service for 4 years.

In 1997 Amanda developed the first tertiary-based Distance Education Program for Breast Care Nurses to be offered in Australia. Now there are over 1000 nurses who have become BCNs through this training.

Amanda is also considered a leading expert in sexuality and cancer care. In her teaching and research, it became evident that health professionals do not always know the way a person wants to be supported to deal with issues of sexuality and intimacy after cancer. What goes on for the health professional in these discussions is rarely discussed. Drawing on findings from her PhD research into Issues of intimacy and sexuality in cancer and palliative care, Amanda has remained passionate about the importance of communicating about patient sexuality in the face of life-limiting illness.

More recently Amanda has founded Bayside Healthy Living where she uses counselling, advanced Neuro Linguistic Programing and hypnotherapy to assist people to quit cigarettes, lose weight naturally, lower anxiety levels, remove phobias and feel more confident sexually after cancer.

 

Associate Professor Michael McDonough

Director, Addiction Medicine & Toxicology Unit, Western Health

A/Prof Michael McDonough is currently employed as Director, Addiction Medicine & Toxicology Unit at Western Health (based at Western Hospital in Footscray); at Western Health, he has been engaged in a variety of drug related committees including Pharmaceutical Utilisation, Medication Safety and he is currently chairman of the ADR Committee. The Addiction Medicine & Toxicology Unit at Western Health provides treatment for inpatients and outpatients referred because of tertiary problems related to Substance Use Disorders/Addictions with significant medical co-morbidity including patients with chronic pain and Drug Dependence problems. A/Prof. McDonough has a special interest in Quality Use of Medicines, particularly in relation to Addiction Medicine practise and authored papers (including in Australian Prescriber) on opioid related issues.  In January 2010, he was appointed as Chief Adviser in Addiction Medicine to the Department of Health (Vic).  A/Prof. McDonough is a member of the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs, the Society for the Study of Addiction (UK), American Society on Addiction Medicine, the European Society of Poisons Centres & Clinical Toxicologists, Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Association and the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists; he occasionally acts as a peer reviewer for the Medical Journal of Australia, Internal Medicine Journal, Addiction and the Drug and Alcohol Review.

 

Mike Kennedy

Palliative Care Victoria, specializing in transgender and diversity issues

Mike Kennedy has been the Projects Manager at Palliative Care Victoria since November 2013.  Prior to that he was the Executive Director at the Victorian AIDS Council, Gay Men’s Health Centre for 12 years and worked in equal employment opportunity and grievance and appeal positions in the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments.  Mike chaired the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Health and Wellbeing in 2013 and 2014.

 

Dr Yok Yin Lee

Dr Lee is currently working as the pain and palliative medicine fellow at Monash Health and sessional palliative care consultant at Alfred Health and Eastern Health. She has a background in general practice and interest in chronic disease management. During her palliative care training, she completed an elective term in addiction medicine to gain an understanding of the effects of illicit drug use to the body and to gain experience in complex pain management especially in drug dependent patients. Her current projects include looking at the views of palliative medicine specialists and pain interventionists to improve access to interventions for cancer pain management in Victoria and developing policies to improve the care of palliative patients with comorbid substance use.

 

Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh

Director of the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC) at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh is the Director of the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC) at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Her research focuses on: the translation and implementation of research evidence into practice; the ethical implications of clinical   practice; decision-making in dementia; sexuality and dementia; clinical risk in residential aged care; and the reality of person-centred care. Deirdre is also currently working on the development of a renal supportive care pathway for Victoria. Deirdre recently co-edited Older People: Issues and Innovations in Care and she is a member of several human research ethics committees.

 

Dr Paul Grinzi

Dr Paul Grinzi is a GP who has worked for over a decade in Central Victoria, combining his usual general practice work with a focus on addiction treatment. His other ‘hats’ include being a medical educator for the GP training program, Chair of the Royal Australian College of GPs Victorian Drug and Alcohol committee and Victorian opioid pharmacotherapy trainer.   Aside from his love for his wife and family, he enjoys skiing, photography, bonsai gardening and cycling.

 

 

Carole Arbuckle

Cancer Council Victoria

Carole Arbuckle is a cancer nurse with Cancer Council Victoria supporting people affected by cancer on Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 information and support line. Carole also works directly with health professionals to help keep them informed of Cancer Council’s latest programs and services.

Carole Arbuckle is a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care and has a strong understanding of the issues health care professionals face bringing up the topic of cancer and sexuality within the context of palliative care. She has presented regularly at conferences on sexuality and palliative care.

Carole provides interesting, interactive and thought-provoking presentations. These are designed to inform health care professionals and improve awareness of the high levels of distress and suffering cancer patients and partners experience. Carole is also passionate about ensuring greater awareness of the information and support available for cancer patients and their partners.

Carole is past president of the Palliative Care Nurses Special Interest Group.

Kathy Bond – Dinner Speaker

Kathy Bond is a Melbourne based private practice Occupational Therapist, as well as a sex therapist, educator and researcher. She holds a BSc in Occupational Therapy, a graduate diploma in counselling and a Masters of Health Science in Sexual Health. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney. Kathy first became interested in sexual health during her work as a private practice counsellor. When completing her sexual health course she developed a passion to assist others to reach their full sexual potential regardless of gender, sexual preference, health status or age. Kathy has been married for 20 years and she and her husband have worked through the many ‘ups and downs’ of a long term sexual relationship. She now faces her biggest challenge as a sex educator…parenting two teenagers!

 


Program