The Journal of Stomal Therapy Australia - Australian Association of ...

News updates
A new super clinic has been established in the Melton area for
outpatient/clinic services. Our congratulations and best wishes
go to Cheryl Prendergast on being the successful applicant to set
up and provide the stomal therapy services side of this venture.
She will work Monday am and Tuesdays and Fridays. Referrals
can be made by either GP or treating hospital STN – telephone
9747 7803
Annette Coombs has moved from her position as STN at
Peninsula Private to St John of God Nepean Rehab in Mornington,
and Jeanine Bark (Collard) takes up the role of STN at Peninsula
Private.
It was previously reported that we have not been able to run
a stomal therapy course at Mayfield for the last two years.
I am happy to report that, as I write, very positive talks are
proceeding with Mayfield and a new course coordinator with
a view to revising how the course is offered, making it more
affordable, and streamlining the content. Our plan is to have
it ready by October for presentation to the national education
meeting and available for registration by December, with a
March 2008 starting date. More on this in our next report!
Recently we reluctantly accepted the resignation of Liz Spencer
as an active member of the branch – Liz and Bob are joining the
‘grey train’ to travel around Aussie. Liz has been a 100% active
member of the branch since 1978; a mentor to many of us and
a rock when we have needed stabilising. Liz has travelled from
country to city, attended most of our branch meetings and nearly
every annual national get-together that I can remember since at
least 1984. She is a great friend to many of us and I am sure we
will keep Liz in the branch loop for years to come.
Congratulations to the Hobart branch on their Paediatric Study
Day held in August. Three members from Victoria attended this
very worthwhile day.
We are relieved and very happy to see that the stomal therapy
website is up and running again. I encourage all members to log
on for updates on what is happening in stomal therapy. We are
using the website as a means of letting all branch members know
what we are up too – www.stomaltherapy.com.au.
Our next meeting is on 2 October at 5.30 pm at Cabrini
Hospital, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, with a talk on fistula
management.
Our country study day is on 13 October in Sale.
Helen Nodrum
Western Australia
Following our committee meeting in May, we had a very
informative clinical update comprising two presentations. The
first was by Deborah Gordon, CEO of the Continence Advisory
Service in WA, who spoke of the mission of the service to
provide education and training, advice and information, product
advice and access, health promotion and a helpline to people
with bladder/bowel issues, their families, carers, healthcare
professionals and special needs groups. The second speaker was
Irena Nurkic, Acting Senior Physiotherapist, Women’s Health
and Continence, Royal Perth Hospital, who outlined the location
and function of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and how they
work to maintain continence and evacuation of the bowel. She
discussed PFM assessment, and exercises and physiotherapy
for bowel dysfunction, and the effects of low anterior bowel
resection on bowel function.
The Stomal Therapy Department at Royal Perth Hospital held
its annual Ostomate Seminar Day on 4 May, with forty-nine
ostomates in attendance. The selection of speakers comprised
STNs, dietician and two surgical registrars and topics covered
included parastomal hernias, reversal procedure and bowel
habit post-reversal, sexuality, the do’s and don’ts of food,
appliance selection, problem solving and the changes to the
appliance scheme. This was a great opportunity for ostomates
to discuss issues related to stoma management and to liaise
with STNs and allied health professionals. Our thanks to the
trade reps who supported the day and were available to discuss
products.
We continue to hold monthly committee meetings and are most
fortunate that our country representative Kate Reid has been
able to attend many of those.
We bid farewell to Tanya Norman who has returned to the UK
with her family. Tanya was a valuable member of our committee
and a past state representative. We wish her well in her future
– no doubt she and her two lovely children will appreciate being
surrounded by close family.
Carmel Boylan
Northern Territory
We continue to enjoy a pleasant winter with cool nights at 15 – 20
degrees Celsius and glorious days around 30 degrees – you have
to visit at this time of year to appreciate it! Our STN membership
and stoma formation remain constant.
Our main focus is the AWMA conference in 2008 and we
are hoping to see a huge attendance by our stomal therapy
counterparts. The conference will be held in the dry season
(May) with beautiful weather like that mentioned above. Since
2008 will be the first year that we do not have an AASTN
conference, we trust that this will free up a lot of STNs to attend
so that we can maintain annual networking with old and new
colleagues alike.
Hope to see you there.
Cheers
Jenni Byrnes
36 JOURNAL OF STOMAL THERAPY AUSTRALIA 2007 27(3)