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Staff Profile – Introducing Irene Murphy
I have been appointed to the position of Regional
Nurse Practitioner Mentor by the GRPCC. I have been
been in palliative care practice for sixteen years in the
sub-acute and community settings. I am grateful for the
professional opportunities given to me by my former
workplace (Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care)
to develop my skills base, knowledge and expertise
that resulted in Nurse Practitioner – Palliative Care
Endorsement by the NBV in 2005. I am committed to
excellence in clinical practice and have a strong interest
in the formation, training and education of palliative
care clinicians as well as the acquisition of effective
clinical leadership.
I am delighted to be working for the Consortium to
assist, participate and collaborate to effect its vision and
strategic planning to strengthen palliative care delivery
in the region. I want to express my thanks to the GRPCC
team for making me feel so welcome.
Staff Profile – Introducing Carol Barbeler
I am delighted to be taking up the role of Palliative
Aged Care Resource Nurse for Gippsland with the
GRPCC. After nearly ten years of teaching nursing
and aged care in the TAFE sector, I look forward to
supporting residential aged care facilities in their
palliative approach to care.
I am a registered nurse and have recently completed
my Master of Applied Gerontology at Flinders University.
I have a special interest in older people and their
experiences, and value the contributions that they
have made through their lives. Ensuring that the last
months and weeks of people’s lives are as comfortable
as possible and lead to a peaceful death is an important
and core component of residential aged care.
Even in my early weeks in this role, I am excited and
invigorated by the enthusiasm and support offered by
all of the GRPCC team. We are currently planning the
pilot implementation of palliative approach training for
Gippsland, and I look forward to keeping you up to date
with our progress.
On the Couch with Dr Scott King
1. What do you do for a living?
I am a palliative medicine specialist
working at Calvary Health Care
Bethlehem, Cabrini Health and Alfred
Health. I have a background in general
practice although I have not worked in
that area for 18 months.
2. What did you want to be when you
grew up?
I often said I wanted to be a doctor,
although I said a lot of other professions
as well. I grew up on a farm in Western
Victoria, but I never said I was going to
be a farmer.
3. What’s your favourite holiday
destination?
I’ve been quite fortunate to have
travelled to many parts of the world and
lived in the UK for almost four years. So
many places come to mind for so many
different reasons. Port Fairy is right up
there as it is lovely and was where we
always had our summer holidays as a
kid. Abroad, the Rasa Ria Resort Saba
- great facilities, great kids club. I’m at
that stage of life where kids clubs are
VERY important.
4. What will be written on your
headstone?
I never gave it a lot of thought. Maybe I
wouldn’t have one.
5. What music will be played at your
funeral?
Again not something that I have given
much thought. It would be something
uplifting though, not sombre.
6. What would your last outfit be?
What I am most comfortable in: tee
shirt, jeans and either bare-footed or in
my bright red Nikes.
7. Buried, cremated or snap-frozen?
Whatever the cheaper option is for the
family, funerals are so expensive. The
cheapest option is probably “dumped in
bushland” which would not be so bad.
Doubt I would care much.
8. What are you reading now?
I’m reading “Cloud Atlas” (soon to be
a major motion picture starring Tom
Hanks) when I can find it again. It’s
gone missing in the house somewhere. I
blame the kids. I have just finished “The
Hydrogen Sonata” by Ian M Banks.
9. What would youhave for your last
meal?
I would like to be able to cook my last
meal. I have great fun making a dinner,
with a good bottle (or two) of wine
for the cook, of course. Probably do
something Moroccan.
10. Which famous person would you like
to invite to dinner?
J.R.R. Tolkien, I am such a fan of
his incredible work. I have a million
questions.
11. If you were an animal what would it
be?
I was born in the year of the dog, and
I have a lot of dog-like characteristics.
Draw your own conclusions.
12. What lessons has your work life
taught you?
There have been many lessons. The
main one would be that you will not
achieve your goals if you don’t put in
the effort needed. It sounds straight
forward, but once I realised that
the excuses I made to myself for not
achieving goals, were really reasons and
that I could change or overcome these,
things changed. The effort required does
not have to be much, but appropriate.
The GRPCC is an alliance of 14
member agencies that provide inpatient
and/or community palliative care for
the residents of Gippsland. The GRPCC’s
vision is that Gippslanders with a lifethreatening
illness and their families and
carers will have access to a high quality
service system which is innovative and
provides evidence based co-ordinated
care and support that is responsive to
their individual needs.
The opinions expressed in “Life and
Death Matters” are those of contributors
and not necessarily shared by the GRPCC
or its individual member health services.
The Department of Health provides
GRPCC with core operational funding.
“Life and Death Matters” is produced
quarterly and distributed free of charge.
To subscribe, email your contact details
to grpcc@gha.net.au
The “Life and Death Matters” editorial
group is Vicki Doherty (Manager, GRPCC),
Steve Kirkbright (Design & Production);
with regular contributors Anny Byrne,
Mary Ross-Heazlewood, Karen Raabe,
Carol Barbeler, Irene Murphy, Maria
Garrett, member health services and
friends of GRPCC.
Letters to the editor are welcome.
Please email these to: grpcc@gha.net.au
or send to: The Editor “Life and Death
Matters” c/- West Gippsland Healthcare
Group 41 Landsborough St Warragul
3820 Victoria Australia. Phone (03)
5623 0684
GIPPSLAND REGION PALLIATIVE CARE CONSORTIUM NEWSLETTER NO.22 SUMMER 2012