Message from our new CEO
Changing attitudes, living life well to the very end, equity, access and quality and supporting palliative care specialists, health professionals, volunteers and carers. These are just some of the goals that make me proud to be the new CEO of Palliative Care NSW.
I recently attended the Oceanic Palliative Care Conference (virtually) where it was great to see the optimism for the future of palliative care. I have since reflected on the challenges that were discussed, but more importantly the opportunities. The opportunity we all can play in driving health and care reform, the opportunity for greater collaboration, connection to and understanding of palliative care across all health disciplines, the focus on ensuring care is culturally safe, and the importance of personal well-being for all those working in palliative care, just to name a few. I look forward to working with the management committee, the team, all members and the government to seize these and other opportunities and to continue to grow and enhance the great work Palliative Care NSW has been doing for over 40 years.
I am a firm believer in the outcomes and value Associations can deliver for their members and the sector. Being part of a member-based Association enables connection to your peers, networking and knowledge sharing, and the opportunity to be inspired by thought leadership and the achievements of those in and outside of the sector. Our current strategic plan has a key goal of ensuring we are member-centric and we will be working hard to deliver on that goal, starting with a refresh of the member portal, making member only information and resources more relevant and accessible. If you would like to share a story, some research, an achievement or an idea for the portal or our newsletter, please do get in touch.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the previous CEO, Linda Hansen and the incredible contribution she made to Palliative Care NSW. I would also like to thank Deputy CEO, Megan Asbury who has been Acting CEO for the last few months and who I am looking forward to working closely with. Palliative Care NSW is lucky to be supported by a dedicated management committee and a small but impactful team. I encourage you to find out more about them at https://palliativecarensw.org.au/about/pcnsw-our-people/
I look forward to connecting with our members and stakeholders over the coming months and I encourage you to reach out to me at any time.
Kirsty Blades
Call me: 02 8076 5601
Email me: kirsty@palliativecarensw.org.au
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-blades/