This ANZAC Day 2023, Australian Health Journal releases an interview with Group Captain Kath Stein MACN, Director of Defence Force Nursing with the Royal Australian Air Force.
She talks about many masks, aside from PPE, that leadership and all nurses need to wear. Currently there is work underway on a new capability description on what a nurse brings to every level in the nursing defence structure. The advice Group Captain Stein, imparts for new recruits and those interested in joining Defence Force Nursing is to take every opportunity that arises. This is evident in her progression through her career.
Group Captain Stein joined the Air Force in March 1991 through the Undergraduate Scheme. Following her graduation from University she consolidated her clinical training in the Graduate Program at Fremantle Hospital.
In the years that have followed she has served in health facilities including Number 3 RAAF Hospital, Health Services Flights Pearce and Tindal with operational experience on exercises and deployments. This health experience supported her health planning role in Headquarters 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing and varying policy and governance roles in Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group, Joint Health Command and Air Force Headquarters. She was privileged to Command Joint Health Unit Northern New South Wales and is the current Director of Defence Force Nursing.
Group Captain Stein’s professional development activities have included the USAF Flight Nurse Course and tertiary studies to specialise in Trauma Nursing and Emergency Management. She recently Graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served as a Director on the Board for a Not for Profit Organisation making a difference in Mental Health Services for the community. Her interests outside of work include supporting her childrens’ sporting pursuits, catching up with friends and community service. She has two teenage boys and indulges one very spoilt puppy, Alfie.
Credits:
Australian College of Nursing (National Nursing Forum 2022, Darwin),
Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, CEO ACN
-
Bridging the orthodontic knowledge gap
In recent years, the orthodontic sector has been growing rapidly due to success in B2C marketing and companies like Invisalign reaching the consumer, but there has also been a lack of knowledge sharing among general dental practitioners and specialists.
General dentists require mentorship and guidance from orthodontists to feel confident in providing orthodontic treatment to their patients, ultimately improving the quality of care in the community.
-
Generosity of spirit in teaching
The Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence is considered one of the most prestigious awards in biomedical research in Australia and is highly sought after by researchers in the field.
In 2022, Professor Matthew Kiernan was the recipient of the Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence and the associated $50,000 award.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Kiernan to hear about his journey in medicine and science to try and uncover and understand diseases and his generosity of spirit to pass on what he has learnt.
-
Sharing the same goals in value-based procurement
Value-based procurement (VBP) is a journey, not a sprint. It’s about putting the patient at the centre of quality affordable healthcare through changes in procurement practices for medical technologies. Patient outcomes drive value and sustainability, not just price. The bigger picture indicates that VBP will create system cost saving through benefitting patients, rather than trying to attain the reverse – a win-win outcome.
