This webinar will look at the impact the introduction of Voluntary Assisted Dying has had on the role of Oncology social worker supporting patients and families. We will explore the uniqueness & complexity VAD can bring to end of life care & bereavement. We will also discuss strategies that can guide social workers to tailor the support they deliver, including case examples. Hear from Nikki Ericson & Nelly Weir, social workers with the WA VAD Statewide Care Navigator Service as well as Fiona Jane, Clinical Manager, & Gabi Vrbasso, Family Support Coordinator from Albany Community Hospice in Western Australia

Presenters

Nikki Ericson

Nikki is a Social Worker and has been with the WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Care Navigator Service since its inception in May 2021. She joined the service after five years in a psychosocial role at CanTeen supporting young people 12-25 years and their parents/carers impacted by a cancer diagnosis, through end of life and grief and bereavement. She is passionate about supporting people and their loved ones in memory making and how to navigate difficult conversations at the end of life. Nikki started her career with Outcare – Aboriginal Throughcare team in the corrections rehabilitation and reintegration space.

Nelly Weir

Nelly is a Social Worker with the WA Voluntary Assisted Dying Statewide Care Navigator Service. With a background in business, and an education in Psychology and Neuroscience, and a Masters of Social Work, Nelly has previous experience in both community mental health, and geriatric care in a tertiary hospital. Nelly is passionate about choice and empowerment, and is grateful to walk beside individuals and families in this privileged space.

Fiona Jane

Fiona has been a Palliative care Nurse for 14 years, working across the public and not for profit sector in primary health, tertiary hospital based care and in regional community palliative care. She has actively participated in research in Advance Care Planning and has a passion for patient autonomy and person-centred care. In the past 5 years she has been the Clinical Manager of Albany Community Hospice, which is a not-for-profit community organisation licensed as a private hospital to provide palliative and end of life care 24/7.
During her time as manager, she has overseen the enactment and implementation of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Western Australia since 2021, a process supporting patients and their families through the VAD process, supported clinician and health care workers with education and support on this and presented in webinars on VAD both nationally and internationally. Albany Community Hospice has published articles reflecting the journey that this has been which can be found on the Albany Community Hospice website. www.albanyhospice.org.au

Gabi Vrbasso

Gabi has been a Family Support Coordinator with Albany Community Hospice for the past year, providing support to patients and families at end-of-life care. Gabi completed a Degree in Psychology in 1998 and has worked in health and community settings since this time, working across mental health, disability and hospital settings. More recently she has qualified as a Reflexology Practitioner and uses the complementary therapy within her role to support patients and family members on their palliative care journey. Gabi is instrumental to supporting the patients and families experience as end of life approaches.

This digital event will be hosted via zoom on:
Tuesday 30th July 2024
This webinar will run for 1 hour.
Webinar start times across Australia and New Zealand:

This seminar is FREE for CURRENT OSWANZ members and $25.00 AUD for nonmembers. current members will automatically have their discount applied on checkout.

You will receive the zoom webinar access details in your order confirmation email, so please make sure you check your spam emails.

Any enquiries, please contact the OSWANZ Secretary: olga.gountras@slatergordon.com.au