Our 2024 conference website is now live.
Find out more about this year's event.
Your Stories
This is where we tell your stories, cover topical issues and promote meaningful initiatives.
40th CRANAplus Conference Preview
Catch up on the speakers, pre- and post-conference events, and social opportunities that you can expect at the 40th CRANAplus Conference in Cairns this October.
On 10 – 12 October, for the 40th CRANAplus Conference, the remote health workforce is heading to the Cairns Convention Centre in Gimuy/Cairns, Queensland.
This year’s theme is ‘Building on 40 Years of Strength for a Sustainable, Skilled & Safe Workforce’.
Our signature annual event gives nurses, midwives and other health professionals a chance to reconnect with the remote health community, have their say, and benefit from targeted professional development.
For our 40th, we’ll be celebrating the past 40 years, focusing on present priorities, and planning for the future.
The conference program
We are less than two months away from celebrating our 40ᵗʰ CRANAplus Conference at the Cairns Convention Centre in Gimuy/Cairns, Queensland. Those who are yet to register can secure a discounted early-bird rate until August 22.
See below for conference highlights or click to view the program.
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Alison McMillan PSM
Opening address from the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
A registered nurse for over 40 years, Prof. McMillan provides high-level strategic policy advice to the Australian Government and the Executive and staff within the Department of Health and Aged Care on nursing, midwifery, health system reform, health workforce, regulation, and education.
Hon Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care
Introduction to Day Two
Ged Kearney is the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care and the Federal Member for Cooper. Ged started her working life as a nurse and rose to become Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation. From 2010, Ged served as the president of the ACTU. Ged is an advocate for social justice, workers’ rights and universal healthcare.
Adj Prof Shelley Nowlan
National Rural & Remote Nursing Generalist Framework
Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner and Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer for Queensland Health, Shelley Nowlan will be discussing the National Rural & Remote Nursing Generalist Framework and its applications for employees, employers, and educators.
Prof Eddy Strivens
Successful ageing in rural and remote Australia
Prof Eddy Strivens is a Geriatrician and Clinical Director for Older Persons, Subacute and Rehabilitation in Cairns, Far North Queensland, a Professor with James Cook University School of Medicine and a former President of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine.
Lesley Salem
Improving health of those with chronic disease in rural and remote Australian communities
A descendant of the Wonnarua Nation in New South Wales, Lesley Salem is currently working in private practice as a generalist and chronic disease Nurse Practitioner. Her nursing is dedicated to improving the health of those with chronic disease in rural and remote Australian communities.
J’Belle Foster
Tuberculosis management in the Torres Strait
J’Belle Foster is a Nurse and PhD Scholar with a passion for translational research. In 2014, she moved to the Torres Strait to work on a Federally funded cross-border Torres Strait / Papua New Guinea (PNG) TB project and subsequently established the Torres and Cape TB Control Unit. She will discuss making research-led changes to local policy to improve patient outcomes, diagnostics, collaboration, and disease management.
Alison Weatherstone
Rural and remote midwifery care
Chief Midwife at the Australian College of Midwives, Alison has lived experience across WA, Victoria, Queensland and Kenya. She is drawn to rural and remote midwifery and has a keen interest in access to safe woman- and family-centred maternity care, midwifery leadership, breech birth, and global maternal health. Alison has played key roles in the implementation, review and sustainability of Midwifery Group Practices across Far North Queensland.
Michelle Taylor
Leadership, rural and remote retention – new ways to self care
Michelle Taylor is a healthcare insider – a former critical-care nurse turned psychologist and leadership coach. With clinical experience in intensive care, Michelle has also worked in remote communities where healthcare pressures are intense. As a corporate trainer, Michelle has run workshops at all levels of government, and has helped clinical team leaders to get the best performance from themselves and their teams.
Featured abstract presentations
- Growing our own – Developing leaders in a remote hospital
John Wright - Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) model of care in action
Natasha Hegarty - Developing a nursing workforce in Tuvalu
Julie Kirk - Tools to help you support Dementia education and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Diane Cadet James - InReach Kids: qualitative eval. of an integrative health service project between an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander primary health care organisation & a tertiary hospital service
Ray Mahoney - The development of guidance for nurses and midwives working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
Saz Newbery - Sepsis management best practice in remote settings; a case for sepsis kits and cake tins
Rebecca Schultz - Improving access to allergy care
Heather Roberts - Training remote practitioners in handheld single view echocardiography
Dr Alice Mitchell
Ruby Gala Dinner
Formally concluding our 2023 Conference is our 40th Anniversary Gala evening on Thursday 12 October, hosted in the Trinity Room at the Cairns Convention Centre. The conference dinner is always a great opportunity to ‘let your hair down’ and enjoy the company of your colleagues before heading back home. This year is extra-special, as we celebrate 40 years of uniting as a workforce.
There will be mingling, drinks, and photos on the red carpet, followed by CRANAplus awards and acknowledgements before we settle into a three-course meal and socialising. Live music from Tony George Entertainment will round out the evening, with dancing and non-dancing options (including a photo booth) to interact.
Rubies are the traditional symbol for a 40-year anniversary, so this year’s event has a voluntary ‘Ruby’ theme. Embrace the theme by wearing red clothing or accessories, or even ruby sparkles if you’re feeling fancy!
Pre and post-conference opportunities
This year delegates can make the most of their trip to Far North Queensland by opting to participate in a range of optional pre- and post-conference learning opportunities and events. The events below are free for delegates to attend, but spaces are limited and bookings are essential.
Message Stick Gathering
10 October
Join the inaugural Message Stick Gathering led by CRANAplus’ Executive Director of First Peoples’ Strategies Dallas McKeown. Dallas will guide participants to craft a message on the meaning of Cultural Safety from their perspective. This message will subsequently be presented during the main program. Indigenous and Non-Indigenous delegates are welcome.
Wellbeing Workshops
10 October
Partake in a complimentary Wellbeing Reset and/or Meditation for Resilience led by members of CRANAplus’ Wellbeing team. The Wellbeing Reset provides participants with the opportunity to check in with themselves and consider steps to promote their wellbeing. The Meditation for Resilience will demonstrate a powerful tool for maintaining wellbeing as a rural and remote health worker.
Responding to Sexual Violence Training
13 October
CRANAplus Members tell us they would benefit from training in recognising and responding to sexual assault. To help meet this need we have invited the Monash University Department of Forensic Medicine (DFM) to deliver a fully-funded training session on this topic, specifically their ‘Sexual Violence: Responding to Adult Disclosure’ one-day intensive workshop. This workshop will be held at The Pullman, Cairns. Delegates can register at: dfmcourses.jobreadyplus.com/apply_to_courses/cranaplus
Wellbeing Lounge
The CRANAplus Mental Health & Wellbeing team will have the Wellbeing Lounge set up again at the 40th CRANAplus Conference. The Wellbeing Lounge is in a room adjacent to the exhibition space, and offers delegates a chance to take a break and recharge.
This year, the Wellbeing Lounge features a range of activities. Delegates can:
- Experience a head and neck massage
- Recharge phones and devices
- Sample mindfulness activities
- Browse or add to our gratitude wall
- Learn more about CRANAplus' Wellbeing workshops, resources and the Bush Support Line
- Connect, collaborate and share wellbeing strategies with others
- Meet members from CRANAplus' Mental Health and Wellbeing team
- Take home prizes and giveaways
Our sponsors
CRANAplus thanks its sponsors for their support of the 40th CRANAplus Conference, including our Major Partners, Flinders University Rural and Remote Health SA and NT and James Cook University. There’s still time to come on board as an exhibitor or sponsor and show your support for the remote health workforce. Please visit the sponsorship & exhibition page of the conference website for more information.
To register to attend or learn more, head to cranaconference.com