About 60 people gathered in Warilla (near Port Kembla) yesterday 19th June to attend our Being Present: Spirituality, disruption and reflection in Palliative Care seminar.
Speaking to the audience were Bernadette Orange (Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant WNSWLHD), Pippa Blackburn (social worker and researcher with Australian Health Services Research Institute, University of Wollongong) and Kate Englebrecht (Director of Mission and Vice Chancellor, Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes).
Amongst a range of topics attendees heard about existential distress, connection, shared trauma, receptivity to support, spirituality and authenticity.
Attendees gathered from as far afield as Brisbane and Western NSW, and diversely from palliative care, pastoral care, mental health, aged care, older persons support and volunteering.
Some of the feedback from participants included:
“I loved the presenters, all so relevant with palliative care, learnt heaps, networking great opportunities.”
“It really helps me to understand that everyone deals with death, dying and grieving differently.”
“I was grateful that all presenters kept it very real, it has been refreshing listening to their lived experiences.”
“The professional and personal stories presenters have shared highlighted to me that we all need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.”
Thank you to Bernadette, Pippa and Kate, and to everyone who attended. And a big thanks to managers of palliative care volunteers Cynzia Dei-Cont (Port Kembla) and Elanne Thompson (Berry) for their role in bringing the event to Warilla.
Kate Englebrecht will be speaking again on Spirituality and Reflective Practice in Broken Hill on the 23rd of August 2018. Click here for more information.
Pic: (From L) Kate Englebrecht, Bernadette Orange & Pippa Blackburn.
