Nurses News

Please click here to view the latest edition of the HSANZ Nurses Newsletter. Jam packed with post Blood reports and updates. 

Please consider contributing to the next edition by emailing Jackie or myself as editors. We accept most content - if it's of interest to nurses working in haematology, we'll include it. 

For those working over the Christmas holidays take some time for self care and hopefully you've planned a break early 2026. For those taking a break - stay well and travel safe. 

Happy reading. 

Tracy & Jacqui

HSANZ Nurses Newsletter Editors

Tracy King & Jacqui Jagger have produced another great edition of the HSANZ Nurses Group Newsletter including reports from conferences, workshops and nursing initiatives across Australia.

Download the August Newsletter here.

The August Newsletter includes updates from regular contributors such as an excellent Lifeblood report on the immunisation coalition and vaccination in Sydney ~ a fabulous initiative promoting and supporting vaccination. Also included is the CNSA Cancer Nursing Workforce Survey which we encourage you to complete and share with colleagues.

Blood 2025 is just around the corner 26-29 October in Perth and Gemma and her team have an excellent program on offer. Blood 2025 will provide an excellent opportunity for not only listening to excellent international and national speakers sharing their work but also meet new colleagues, develop new networks and interstate or global collaborations. We look forward to plenty of content coming from the conference in addition to content from other international events in the cellular therapies/BMT and myeloma space.

About the Role

Employment Type: This is a fulltime opportunity.

Closing Date: 29/06/2025

• Lead a new haematology service in a growing regional cancer centre serving a vibrant cross-border community.
• Shape care pathways and build strong partnerships with local providers and leading metro haematology teams.
• Enjoy genuine work-life balance in a region known for its outdoor lifestyle, food, wine and natural beauty.

The McGrath Cancer Care Nurse - Haematology will be a valued member of the Cancer Services team to optimise outcomes for haematology patients through advance clinical service, leadership, research and education. We are actively seeking candidates who meet the following requirements to apply for this exceptional opportunity.

• Establish and lead a specialist haematology nursing service within a regional cancer centre.
• Define and support care pathways aligned with Haematology and other Optimal Care Pathways.
• Build strong relationships across local services and metropolitan haematology networks.
• Deliver expert, person-centred care and support across the blood cancer journey.
• Contribute to education, service improvement, and McGrath Foundation initiatives.

For further details, please refer to the Position Description or alternatively contact Diane Davey at Diane.davey@awh.org.au for a confidential discussion.

Another informative and educational newsletter produced by Tracy King & Jacqui Jagger.

The April edition includes:

• Blood ISBT 2025 Update
• Welcome from the Editors
• Updates from Myeloma & MSAG
• And so much more!

Download the April Newsletter here!

Tracy King and Jacqui Jagger have done it again - produced an excellent informative and interesting newsletter for the Nurses Group.

It includes:

• Wrap up of Blood2024 in Brisbane and grant recipients' reflections
  
• Editors Welcome
• 21st International Myeloma Society
• Haematology education - Bloody Minded
• M-SPN Annual Seminar
• Lifeblood nursing, continued
• Celebrating Tracy King who was awarded the HSANZ Leadership in Haematology Award 2024

Download the newsletter here

A big thank you from HSANZ to those to attended Blood 2024 in Brisbane. It was a great success, with many saying that this was a very friendly and collaborative conference.

One of the most important, rewarding and positive aspects of the Society is the support we provide for our members.

A very big congratulations to this year's recipients of our Nurses awards.

Best Oral Presentation:  Ty Simpson

Best First-Time Oral Presenter:  Emily Minopoulos

Best Poster:   Robyn Western

HSANZ Nurses Travel Grants

• Victoria Milliken
• Molly Robertson
• Bianca Cirone
• Cornelia Joyce Dizon
• Andrew Scullion
• Julija Spivacus

Photo: Emily Minopoulos - Best First-Time Oral Presenter

SRN Level 7 - $150,046 pa pro rata

Permanent Part-Time

Closing Date:  4pm 28 October 2024

Highly capable and values-driven Nurse Practitioner to join our dynamic Haematology, Cancer, Imaging and Clinical Service (CICS) team working at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH). You will be a driven and innovative individual whose actions, interactions and partnerships achieve high quality patient care. You will have the opportunity to embody the NMHS Values and make a real difference by providing safe quality care through expertise and teamwork.

For details and to apply CLICK HERE

Current and former Nurses presidents, Nicole Gavin and Elise Button recently published an article on values and preferences of haematology patients near the end of life. Much of the data came from the HSANZ membership (via the mailing list and at conference - see methods section of publication).

Click here for the publication

Are you an internationally educated nurse working in cancer or palliative care setting in Australia?

Have you obtained your initial nursing qualification overseas before migrating to Australia?

We are seeking for volunteers to participate in our study.    

What is this study about?

This research aims to understand the experiences of internationally educated nurses (IEN) in the context of cancer and end-of-life care. This study explores and analyses how cultural beliefs and practices of IENs inform their delivery of nursing care. Considering the cultural diversity of Australia and its nursing workforce, understanding this phenomenon deserves attention to advance culturally sensitive care and enhance IENs' workplace experience.

Why participate?

You will contribute valuable information to advance knowledge and understanding of your experience and may inform future strategies to enhance your work experience.                                                                            

Who can participate?

• Registered nurses who obtained their initial nursing qualification overseas; and

• With work experience in cancer or palliative care setting in Australia for 12 months or greater.

What do I need to do?

• Attend a telephone interview
•  The interview may take approximately 60 minutes and will be audio-recorded. All information will be kept confidential.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Jay Balante at jay.balante@sydney.edu.au or through mobile at 0410 808 159. If you know someone who might be interested in participating, please share the study information with them.

For more information click here

This study has been approved by the Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee – Concord Repatriation General Hospital (Protocol Number: 2020/ETH02502).

HSANZ has endorsed these Guidelines and provide them for your information. Nicole Gavin, HSANZ Associate Nurse Member was one of the authors.

CNSA would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our Vascular Access Device & Infusion Therapy Specialist Practice Network (VAD&IT SPN), eviQ and all who have worked tirelessly to develop the revised CNSA Vascular Access Devices: Evidence Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. In a CNSA first, these guidelines are hosted directly on the CNSA website and detail the latest evidence and recommendations for patients with cancer with peripheral intravenous cannulas and central venous access devices.

The guidelines provide standardised, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for the safe, effective, and efficient management of vascular access devices for the patient with cancer. This knowledge base, with clinical expertise, the preferences of the individual patient, product knowledge and application, and local context of the individual healthcare environment can be integrated into comprehensive approach to vascular access management for the individual cancer patient.

They have been received enthusiastically within Australia, with endorsement coming from the Australia Vascular Access Society (AVAS), the Alliance for Vascular Access Teaching and Research (AVATAR), the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) Intravenous Nursing New Zealand (IVNNZ) and Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand (HSANZ). 

These guidelines cover Patency, Occlusion Prevention and Management and include:

• Education & Competency
• Patency Assessment
• Flushing & Locking Practices
• Needleless Connector & Patency
• Catheter Tip & PIVC Position
• Blood Specimens & Interventional Radiology
• Confounding Factors & Patency
• Occlusion Assessment & Management

You can now access these online at www.cnsa.org.au/VADguidelines. or

Vascular Access Devices: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines