Calvary Mater Newcastle

For horsewoman Rita Meredith (nee Browning) ‘dreams really do come true’ as Rita’s last wish “to smell and see a horse one last time” was granted on a very special day at Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Hospice on Tuesday 9 March 2021. Rita’s family, friends, Hospice staff, and NSW Mounted Police,

On 2 March 2021, the Australian National University (ANU) and Calvary Health Care formalised their partnership in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that extends their joint activities, beyond the ACT to Calvary Health Care nationally.

To round up Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Deb Smith, who is a Registered Nurse on Ward 4B and Stomal Therapist/Wound Clinical Nurse Specialist. Explain what your role entails… My role as the Stomal Therapist/Wound Clinical Nurse Specialist involves educating

This month, as part of Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Laura Healey, who is a newly qualified Nurse Practitioner, Medical Oncology. What is a Nurse Practitioner? Nurse Practitioners are registered nurses that have studied further and completed a Master’s Degree

Researchers Jennette Sakoff and Jayne Gilbert from our Medical Oncology Research (MOR) Laboratory welcomed some special Calendar Girls who recently starred on A Current Affair. Beryl Yates and Lyndal Little, otherwise known as Miss January and Miss December, are part of a group of mature aged women from Signature Gardens

Congratulations to the Hunter New England Cancer Clinical Research Network (CCRN) who was named the winner of the 2020 NSW Premier’s Award for Outstanding Clinical Trials Unit in late November. The CCRN was recognised for its tenacious efforts to connect people to important, life-changing cancer trials and rewarded for its

Celebrating and recognising achievements of our staff was carried out a little differently this year due to COVID-19. However, we were able to congratulate three exceptional staff members who were nominated by their peers for the Mary Potter Award. The purpose of the Mary Potter Award is to recognise staff

This month, as part of our celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Kate Donovan Clinical Nurse Specialist, Ward 4C Medical/Toxicology. What is a clinical nurse specialist? A clinical nurse specialist is a nurse who demonstrates an advanced level of knowledge and skills in a

Information for patients, aged care residents and visitors.

Every year Calvary Mater Newcastle celebrates the fundraising achievements of our Auxiliary members for the past financial year through the Auxiliary AGM. Sadly due to the ever-changing COVID-19 environment, we have been unable to thank our Auxiliary members and their supporters in person this year. However, we wanted our Auxiliary

The gift of blood can mean so much to so many. For Jennifer Boulton, it is a person’s decision to go one step further and become a bone marrow donor that can be a truly life changing choice and one she encourages people to make. In March 2018, 56 year-old

This month, as part of our celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Sarah Moberley, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Palliative Care. What led you to this area of nursing? I packed myself, my text books and naive enthusiasm off to Uganda within a year

Thank you for being part of Dry July 2020 Now that Dry July 2020 is complete, we wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to those who took part and supported us! With all of the unpredictability and change that 2020 has delivered, we’re so grateful that so many people chose

This month, as part of Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Catherine Johnson, Cancer Care Coordinator. What is your position and what ward/area do you work in? Four days per week I am the Gastrointestinal Cancer Care Coordinator and one day

This month, as part of our celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Ellie Gabrysiak Registered Nurse, Alcohol and Drug Clinical Services. What led you toward nursing as a career? I have always had some fascination with the medical industry. I went straight from high

Calvary Mater Newcastle has opened a new research office to further support our growing team of existing and emerging researchers. Melissa Gavenlock (pictured left) has joined the team as the new Research Governance Officer, and Kirsty Sanderson is continuing in her research support role. The new office is one of

This month, as part of our celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Milly Sneesby, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care. What is a nurse practitioner? A nurse practitioner is an experienced registered nurse who provides an advanced level of healthcare in a clinical role. The role

“It won’t help me but it might help someone else.” That’s the view of brain cancer patient Casey Miller who has made the courageous decision to donate her brain to the Hunter Brain Cancer Biobank for medical research. The Brain Cancer Biobank, which is supported by the Mark Hughes Foundation,

Painting has proved more than Les Ahoy’s gift. It has been one of the best medicines in his battle against prostate cancer, a healing and an escape from the rigours of recent chemotherapy. It has also helped bring reconciliation, for himself and for a broader community. The end result is

This month, as part of Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Louise Walpole, Clinical Nurse Specialist. What is your position and what area do you work in? I am a clinical nurse specialist in the Emergency Department (ED). I have worked

As part of Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we meet Carolyn Barwik, New Grad, Perioperative Services. What does it mean to be a new grad? Being a new grad is somewhat equal parts exciting and nerve wracking. After three long years studying,

As part of Calvary Mater Newcastle’s celebration of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we play Hard Quiz with Sandra McKendry, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Surgery, Melanoma Unit. What does it mean to be a Clinical Nurse Consultant? A Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) is an advanced practice registered nurse

During a hectic weekend in late March, the Radiation Oncology department took possession of their new multi-million dollar Varian TrueBeam Edge linear accelerator. The TrueBeam Edge is a replacement for the old C-series accelerator in the Zeus bunker. Michael Barnes, Department of Radiation Oncology Senior Medical Physics Specialist, said, “The

Calvary Mater Newcastle has started a three-month trial of a new model to upskill our senior medical students and give them the ongoing training, support and experience they need to contribute to care during this pandemic period and meet their requirements for graduation. The Embedded Senior Medical Student pilot program

‘Game On Mole’ is a call to action for everyone to be aware of changes to their skin, especially moles. As part of the Melanoma Foundation campaign, the team in Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Melanoma Unit are dedicated to educating everyone on the importance of sun protection and early detection. Cheryl

Coronary Care staff and the wider Calvary Mater Newcastle family have mourned the death of trailblazing heart specialist Angela Worthington. Hundreds of family members, friends, colleagues and patients gathered at her funeral service earlier this month to celebrate an extraordinary woman whose life was cut tragically short by Motor Neurone

At a February Whole of Hospital Grand Rounds the Calvary Mater Newcastle Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards winner was announced, with congratulations going to Dr Susan Miles, Staff Specialist Department of General Medicine, taking out the accolade. Associate Professor Tim Walker, Clinical Dean, Calvary Mater Newcastle, said, “Susan is a

Patients visiting Calvary Mater Newcastle’s Day Treatment Centre for chemotherapy are now able to receive their treatment in relative comfort thanks to the generosity of our Auxiliary. Six new chemotherapy chairs, complete with multimedia outlets, were purchased for the Day Treatment Centre from funding received by the Wests Group as

2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Each month Calvary Mater Newcastle will be celebrating and acknowledging the wonderful work they do day in, day out. This month we celebrate Kyra Antcliff, Registered Nurse. Here is a snapshot of why Kyra chose nursing as her profession and

Conjoint Professor Jim Denham might have ‘retired’ as a Senior Staff Specialist in Radiation Oncology at Calvary Mater Newcastle but he is a long way from retiring from his passionate interest in prostate cancer research and its potential to provide help and hope for those affected. Much of his time

The CANcierge App provides easily accessible, relevant and reliable information. Designed by patients, carers and the cancer care team with the support of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary, CANcierge is available free from Apple and Android stores.

Calvary Mater Newcastle staff and volunteers got their boot scoots on to take up an end-of-year Git Up dance challenge – a chance, for some at least, to let their hair down after a busy year and a fun way to see in the holiday season.

Calvary is proud to celebrate National Perioperative Nurses Week this week 6-12 October, in recognition of the valuable role our perioperative nurses play in delivering quality care. Perioperative nurses care for patients before, during and after surgery or interventional procedure and perform a range of specialised roles including, but not

Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary again provide significant donation Members of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’ once again proved their ongoing commitment and loyalty to fundraising for Calvary Mater Newcastle by presenting a cheque to the hospital totaling $326,276.13 at their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 1 August. With

On 19 June the ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (‘VAD’) comes into effect in Victoria. Since the Act’s passing in 2017, Catholic Health and Aged Care services in Victoria have been working together to ensure that we have a clear and consistent response to the Act. Our services are committed

The award, launched by the Hon. Greg Hunt Minister for Health in conjunction with the Australian College of Nursing, is bestowed upon a nurse who has demonstrated leadership to bring new thinking to a wide range of health care challenges. Nikki, a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner based at Calvary’s Clare

A new report commissioned by Catholic Health Australia (CHA) calls for the provision of more home-based palliative care services to relieve pressure on hospitals and save valuable health system dollars. CHA, the peak body for Catholic health and aged care service providers in Australia, launched the report today at Calvary

Local charity Hope4Cure Foundation and public hospital Calvary Mater Newcastle have joined forces to support women and their families experiencing ovarian and gynaecological cancer in the Hunter region. Following a $40,000 donation from Hope4Cure Foundation, Calvary Mater Newcastle launched a special research grant for its researchers to help bolster research

This World Cancer Day, 4 February 2019, Calvary Mater Newcastle unveils new cancer App, CANcierge.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women of the Newcastle and Hunter region now have an Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer to support them when visiting public hospital Calvary Mater Newcastle. Margaret Whitson, a Kamilaroi woman whose family originally comes from Moree Western New South Wales, has been appointed as

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Calvary Mater Newcastle has just completed the installation of a dedicated clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner for radiotherapy treatment planning, referred to as an MRI-simulator. With the future firmly in-mind, Calvary Mater Newcastle has taken the lead in replacing one of its two

Members of the Hunter and Newcastle community are invited to attend a Calvary Mater Newcastle Research Information Session being held at the hospital on Friday 2 November, aiming to bring further awareness regarding the types of research carried out at the Mater. This FREE community event open to all will

Greg Flint, Chief Executive Officer at Calvary Mater Newcastle, will retire from his position at the end of August 2018. Greg has had a distinguished career in the health care industry spanning approximately 46 years, of which seven of those have been at Calvary Mater Newcastle.  Greg Flint, said, “Deciding

As part of celebrations for Glad Dent’s 100th birthday, the dedicated Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’ member was surrounded by Auxiliary friends at a morning tea held at the hospital. The Elermore Vale resident born 14 August 1918, is a proud mother of five, grandmother to 11 and great-grandmother

Medical physics research set to benefit from collaboration The University of Newcastle and Calvary Mater Newcastle welcomed nine delegates from the prestigious Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand, in celebration of a medical physics research memorandum of understanding (MOU) being signed by the Princess Chulabhorn Royal Academy and the University of

Members of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’ once again proved their ongoing commitment and loyalty to fundraising for Calvary Mater Newcastle by presenting a cheque to the hospital totaling $327,162.43 at their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 2 August. With 26 members ranging in age from 57 to

Implementing and testing new methods of supporting people with dementia.

The men of the Newcastle and Hunter region now have two Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses to support them on their cancer journey. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), Tracy Scott and Nancy Consoli have been awarded two-year positions as the regions Prostate Cancer Nurse

Twenty-four people from the Hunter, Newcastle and Port Stephens area have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List including Cathy Tate, Chairperson of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Community Advisory Council. Cathy has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of

Thanks to 2017 Dry July funding, the Occupational Therapy Department at Calvary Mater Newcastle was able to purchase a large range of assistive aids for the hospital’s Oncology Equipment Loan Pool. The Oncology Equipment Loan Pool is a comprehensive service that is provided free of charge to any Calvary Mater