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VICTORIAN PERIOPERATIVE NURSES GROUP LTD

FOUNDED 1957

VPNG 63rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2019

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Notice is hereby given that the

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

of the VICTORIAN PERIOPERATIVE NURSES GROUP LTD

will be held at

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Goldfields Theatre 1 Convention Centre Place

South Wharf on

Saturday 17th August 2019 @ 10.30am AGENDA 1. Open meeting 2. Notice of meeting 3. Apologies 4. Minutes of previous Annual General Meeting held on Friday 4th August 2018 5. President’s Annual Report 6. Treasurer’s Statement and Annual Report for year ending 31st December 2018 7. ACORN Report 8. Election of Directors 9. Election of Ordinary Members of Committee (i) Nominations Received (ii) Call for Nominations from the floor 10. Other Business 11. Close of Meeting KERRY SCHRODER VPNG SECRETARY

Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Inc ABN 48 609 638 851 PO Box 106 EAST MELBOURNE VIC 8002

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MINUTES OF

62nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 4th August 2018

at

1545

At

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

1 PRESENT: Kate Howell, Lorraine Farbridge-Currie, Mary Hopkins, Anjumol Chacko, Christine Thomson, Jill Lankshear, Stephanie Gordon, Assumption Egita Rego, Melissa Garth, Hope Ramirez, Caz McLoughlin, Nina Malovic, Karen Lewis-Williams, Sharon Cronin, Donna Hartland, Kathleen Gojar, Asha Jairamdas, Alison Lawrence, Leah Gourley, Jayne Symonds, Jenny Adamthwaite, Vesna Waring, Belinda Reading, Jane Thomas, Gill Wheaton, Patricia Flood, Michelle Kirwood, Jo Jackson, Maria Ferguson, Jane Porter, Deborah Morgan-Purrer, Carole Schwarze, Lynley Anderson, Ros O’Toole, Nicole Emergy, Carissa Dcunha, Emma Cullis, Dearne Tabone, Jenny McRobert, Yuliya Yunasheva, Lesley Eckfeld, Debee Thow, Amanda Kerton, Karen Briggs, Marni Scott, Fenyu Wang, Shamna Somanathan, Jane Burgess, Teagan Johnston, Sue James, Tuan Luu, Kate Littlejohn, Ellie Roynic, Melissa Flachs, Leonie Stevenson, Sandra Nguyen, Kate Mulheron, Samara Jahnecke, Heidi Dale, Tamara McCann, Sandra Ford, Katherine Murphy, Joanna McCorrison, Mary Kovess, Jenny Hinchliffe, Dr Pat Nicholson, Elizabeth Ryke, Jacquie Spiers, Fontaine Dunstan, Rhonda Lee, Crystal Kabaha, Sandi West, Beverly Howard, Helen Parr, Loraine Robinson, Jennifer Bugbird, Kristy Pampanella, Shelley Hollingsworth, Mae Rilloraza, Diane Newman, Deb Binek, Bert Lapena, Patricia Kitney, Vise Aukusitino, Rosemary Miller, Jenny Lewis, Catherine Smith, Paula Foran, Margaret Cronin, Kathy Allars, Mary O’Bryan, Jen Coverdale, Carisssa Simon, Stephanie Gardiner, Julie Frawley, Lucy Ferris, Lucy Burling, Anne Sudholz, Elizabeth Yuen, Sabrina Price, Eva Bednarz, Lyn Hay, Olga Learoyd, Mele’ana Kaitu’u, Karen Outram, Margaret Nelson, Helen Petersen, Jessica Spaans, Stefanie Markovic, Amanda O’Brien, Liz Lightley, Michelle Gadsden, Alison Scott, John Gardiner, Luminije Kacic, Catherine Smith, Colleen Dumesny, Kay Allen, Vicki Mihaljcek, Kerry Schroder.

2 APOLOGIES: Jeanette Whyte, Chris Gillmartin, Michele Cullen, Bernadette Brennan OAM, Marilyn Schroeder, Helen Barallon, Leanne Paulet, Sandra de Rome.

3 NOTICE OF MEETING

Kerry Schroder, Honorary Secretary 4 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON FRIDAY 4TH

AUGUST 2017 Included in the AGM Report and on the Website Passed: Karen Briggs Seconded: Dr Patricia Nicholson

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5 PRESIDENT REPORT 2017 – 2018

2017 State Conference At the 2017 State Conference the Annual General Meeting was held and new Directors were elected. Jane Thomas was elected President, Tarryn Armour as Vice President, Kerry Schroder as Secretary with Gill Wheaton and Rebecca East continuing as Treasurer and ACORN Director, respectively. At the same time we said farewell to Patricia Nicholson, Mary Kovess, Mary Hopkins, Judy Zach, Gaye Jack and Paula Glenton and thanked them for their time and commitment.

VPNG Directors

President Jane Thomas

Vice President Tarryn Armour

Secretary Kerry Schroder

Treasurer Gill Wheaton

ACORN Director Rebecca East (from Nov 2016- May 2018) Patricia Flood (from May 2018)

Conference Committee Jane Thomas (Chair)

Tarryn Armour

Gill Wheaton

Rebecca Donald

Patricia Kitney (Resigned November 2017)

Education Committee DeeLahn‐Opie (Chair)

Kerry Schroder

Mele’ana’ Kaitu’u

Patricia Flood

Jane Thomas (Ex Officio)

Communication Committee

DebeeThow (Chair)

Helen Parr

Lacey Watts (Resigned March 2018)

Rachel Short (Resigned April 2018)

Tarryn Armour (Ex Officio)

Administration Officer Raechel Richards

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Dr Patricia Nicholson was awarded Honorary Membership for her outstanding contribution to the perioperative nursing profession with 16 years on the VPNG committee, time as Victorian ACORN director and five years as VPNG President. Pat was integral in the development of the new VPNG Incorporated and continues to maintain a passion for promoting and developing perioperative nurses. Mary Kovess and Judy Zach were awarded an Award of Merit for their time and commitment to VPNG. Committee Six new committee members were nominated at the 2017 AGM with Patricia Kitney, Lacey Watts, Rachel Short, Mele’ana’ Kaitu’u, Patricia Flood and Rebecca Donald elected to the VPNG Committee. Due to family commitments, moving interstate and overseas Patricia, Lacey and Rachel have since resigned. In May 2018 we welcomed Patricia Flood into the role of ACORN Director which was vacated by Rebecca East. Rebecca has spent her time on the VPNG committee as ACORN representative and ACORN Director and I would really like to thank Rebecca for her amazing contribution and passion for perioperative nursing. Rebecca was inducted as an ACORN Fellow at the ACORN conference and has also been elected for the role of 2018-2020 ACORN President which is a fantastic achievement. Congratulations Rebecca! It is with great sadness that we farewell Debee Thow from the committee after the Study Day. Debee has been a committee member for 4 years and has been instrumental in the promotion and maintenance of our social media platform in particular our Facebook sites. Thank you Debee for your contribution over the years and we will miss you. Monthly Committee meetings (except June 2018) were held online via the ACORN Board Room, with a face to face Strategic Planning meeting held in October 2017 and a face to face Committee meeting held in June 2018. Conference Committee meetings were held monthly (alternate fortnight to the General Meeting) and Communication Committee meetings were held quarterly. The agenda, minutes and committee reports were submitted a week prior to each Committee meeting to facilitate discussion. Strategic Plan 2017-2019

Members of the VPNG Committee attended a face to face Strategic Planning Meeting in October. With a new President, a change in the Board of Directors and new committee members we reviewed the 2017-2019 strategic plan and finetuned our objectives under each of our four main priorities of : 1. Membership engagement / services 2. Education and Training 3. Advocacy / Standards / Alliances 4. Marketing and Communication Over the past 12 months the VPNG Committee has been very busy coordinating two Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Courses, a Country Conference, a Study Day, marketing for hospital representatives, committee members and VPNG members in general, planning a management seminar, awarding education scholarships and producing the quarterly Snippets production. In June 2018 the VPNG committee also met face to face to review the strategic plan and see what has already been achieved and where the focus needs to be for the next 6 months.

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Conference Committee

The 60th State Conference was held in August 2017 at the Grand Hyatt in August. There were 369 delegates and 41 trade partners in attendance. The speakers were enlightening and a big thank you to the VPNG committee for giving up their time to create such a successful event. In line with the Conference theme of ‘Honouring the Past, Treasuring the Present and Shaping the Future’, we honoured the amazing commitment of perioperative nurses to VPNG with length of service awards as well as honouring the Past Presidents for their time and commitment to VPNG and perioperative nursing. The service awards will continue to be recognized annually at the State Conference/Study Day.

The VPNG Country Conference in Echuca-Moama was a fabulous way to start 2018! On a beautiful summer day 160 perioperative nurses from all over Victoria headed over the border into New South Wales, to the Rich River Golf Club, for an education packed day. The program included nursing and medical presenters, educational workshops, a Trade Exhibition and a session on looking after ourselves before culminating in a happy hour at the end of the day. The Country Conference was a huge success due to the incredible hard work and fantastic program organised by Kerry Schroder.

The VPNG Conference Committee has been working hard in the lead up to the Study Day on Saturday 4th August at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. We hope you enjoy the day.

Planning is also underway for the 2019 State Conference and we are looking for the perfect venue to host our biennial event. Details will be available later in the year.

Education Committee

The Education Committee, under the leadership of Dee Lahn-Opie, does an amazing job each year processing the grants and scholarship applications so that they can be awarded at the Conference / Study Day. The Education Committee in 2018 have awarded 8 successful applicants with the Sister Mary Felix /June Allen Scholarship of $2000 for Post Graduate studies in Perioperative Nursing, a $2500 Marea Fennell Scholarship for Post Graduate studies at a Masters level majoring in management or education, a $1000 Mary Barry/Medtronic Grant for attendance at a Conference and 4 successful applicants received a $500 VPNG Grant to attend the ACORN Conference in Adelaide. The recipients will be awarded their certificates at the 2018 study day.

Education Events The committee has facilitated two ‘Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Courses’ in the last 12 months with an additional program scheduled for November 2018. This new education event promotes perioperative nursing to nurses who have limited experience or have no exposure to the perioperative environment. This program will provide nurses with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to assist with the transition to perioperative nursing.

A Perioperative Management study day is scheduled for November and a Johnson & Johnson study day planned for October. Planning is underway for the education calendar of events in 2019 with further Introduction courses and trade partnered specialty days.

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Communication Committee

The Communication Committee have been investigating how we can expand the role of the VPNG Hospital Representative, published four online editions of the Snippets Journal, boosted our social media profile through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds and have been actively promoting VPNG to increase membership and also encourage perioperative nurses to join the VPNG Committee.

Helen Parr has been instrumental in the production of the quarterly newsletter with Snippets moving to an online version in 2017. With the assistance of the graphic designer we have been able to produce a more contemporary newsletter which is a fantastic read. VPNG has a large number of followers on Facebook, thanks to Debee Thow. I encourage all members to continue to post questions or comments to initiate conversations about perioperative practice. I would like to thank Debee for her commitment to the Communication Chair role. Her ability to transform something from paper to post has been fantastic. Any posts from our Facebook group can be found under Latest News on our website.

The new VPNG website finally arrived in November! The new website contains details about the objectives of VPNG, upcoming perioperative nursing events, scholarships information, links to join VPNG via our online membership form, register to attend events, advertise career opportunities and trade advertising. Thank you to Tarryn Armour who has navigated the web world to ensure VPNG members have access to everything they require.

VPNG Office

Raechel Richards, VPNG Administration Officer, continues to run the office working two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) with additional hours available to allow her to deal with the increasing workload that has resulted from the increased membership, the introduction of the online membership system, online registration system and prior to educational events. Raechel is an integral member of the VPNG committee in achieving our objectives.

Another successful development for VPNG in 2017 included selecting a platform for online membership and event registration. This has been a fantastic achievement which has bought us into the 21st century and made a massive improvement in the registration process to join VPNG and attend events. Our online membership system was hard work for Raechel in the office initially but is now up and running successfully. Rolling memberships were introduced for November renewals last year and the May renewals this year.

I would like to thank VPNG Committee members for their time, commitment and hard work over the past year. Many of the committee are employed in perioperative roles and being a volunteer committee member does require a big commitment to ensure the ongoing success of VPNG.

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Thank you to all the members for your continual support and commitment to perioperative nursing; to ensuring we provide the best possible care to our patients through your own professional development; and through your membership and attendance at events, the sustenance to continue VPNG far beyond the recent 60 year anniversary.

Jane Thomas VPNG President

Moved: Mary Kovess Seconded: Olga Learoyd

6 HONORARY TREASURER’S REPORT 2017 – 2018

VPNG Ltd accounts were audited for the year ended 31 December 2017 by McLaren Hunt Financial Group (attached). Independent Audit Report to the Members of the Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Ltd. Balance Sheet as of December 2017 is: Total Assets $185,886.00 Total Liabilities $2,232.00 Net Assets $183,654.00 Total Equity $183,654.00 The auditors suggest that annual leave and long service leave entitlements for the company’s one employee be included in the financial statements for this year, 2018. I again would like to thank both Raechel Richards, VPNG’s Administration Officer and Mary Bouwman, VPNG’s Book Keeper, for their continued assistance. Gill Wheaton Honorary Treasurer

Moved: Mele’ana Kaitu’u Seconded: Lucy Ferris

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7 ACORN REPORT - 2018

Please join me in farewelling Rebecca East from the VPNG (as previous ACORN director) and congratulating her on becoming both an ACORN fellow, and the ACORN president. A role which she will bring her extensive skills and leadership to, and which we can proudly support her in. Congratulations also to Dr Paula Foran for joining the ACORN board as Member Director. This role will utilise her enthusiasm and knowledge, as she chairs both the Membership and Local Associations Liaison committee, and the perioperative Nurses Week subcommittee (October 2018). I feel very honoured myself to have been warmly welcomed onto the ACORN board at the conference in May, and grateful for the opportunity to serve the VPNG in this role. VPNG continue to offer our members the full benefits of ACORN membership. We encourage you to discuss with your non-member colleagues the advantages of joining the VPNG, including understanding that the only way to become a member of ACORN is by joining your state based local association (VPNG). ACORN are focussing on collaborating with all states and territories, in acknowledgement of the mutualism of the individual local associations and the national collaboration, to strive for excellence in perioperative nursing. ACORN have continued their regular informative and accessible webinars coordinated by Dr Paula Foran. These provide an excellent source of free perioperative education that can be used as part of continuing professional development hours. The webinar library on the ACORN website also offers ongoing access to previous webinars. ACORN have also broadened their available scholarships and grants, which can be found under the education tab of the website, these are often in addition to the VPNG’s own funding opportunities. The UTAS agreement has continued to allow growing numbers of perioperative nurses, access to postgraduate perioperative nursing studies, though the HECS free percentage will be decreasing over the next few years to half funding. The Adelaide ACORN Conference in May was attended by over 1200 delegates and provided diverse and engaging education. Turia Pitt and Michael Crossland delivered deeply engaging keynote addresses, motivating and inspiring all. This also marked our first international conference with the concurrent hosting of the ASIORNA conference, affording a diverse range of attendees, networking and presentations. Thank you to all who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, it required scores of people over many years to achieve such an event. The next conference will be held in Sydney in May 2020, with a theme “vision for the future” and excitingly, next year ACORN will hold its first leadership summit (2019). The conference provides a platform to recognise and congratulate many outstanding perioperative nurses. Phylis Davis, AM (NSW) graciously received the individual Excellence in Perioperative Nursing award (EiPN), for her outstanding contribution to perioperative nursing, and both Alana Delaforce (QLD) and Hannah Smith (QLD) were recognised with the Novice Excellence in Perioperative Award. The H.E.R.O award was presented to Zhangzhi Low (Vic), Angie De Falco (NSW) and Rosemarie Rowe (QLD) for their dedicated practices. Resources released at this year’s conference included the updated ACORN standards, ensuring perioperative nurses have access to current evidence-based practices. Also proving popular were the Practice Audit Tools (PAT) for simplified workplace assessment of alignment to standards. These are supported by recorded interactive workshops, available to view from the ACORN website.

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The updated Surgical Hand Antisepsis, Gowning and Gloving DVD was also available and strengthens effective teaching of such a fundamental skill. The conference also provided the opportunity for members of the research committee to meet budding perioperative researchers. This is part of their commitment to encouraging perioperative research at all levels, and desire to improve access to research. The Journal of Perioperative Nursing has transitioned over its electronic platform to BePress providing a simple and clean layout to view the journal electronically. Our journal ranking has continued to grow in recognition as a highly regarded quality journal internationally. The journal team are working on resources to guide authors in presenting their work for publication. Let me take this opportunity to highlight that as a member of VPNG and thereby ACORN, we provide access to the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN), allowing Australian nurses a voice and to be represented on an international level. ACORN have also partnered with Guild Insurance to offer cost effective professional indemnity insurance, allowing VPNG members the opportunity to consider a quote if interested. I would also like to take this moment to echo the sentiments of Bec East in her last report, in encouraging members to consider joining the VPNG committee. It is inspiring to collaborate with such amazing nurses as those who are currently on committee and it is an honour to be involved in contributing to developing perioperative nursing in Victoria and beyond.

Patricia Flood ACORN Director Moved: Mele’ana Kaitu’u Second: Di Newman

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8 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

President Jane Thomas Vice President Tarryn Armour Secretary Kerry Schroder Treasurer Gill Wheaton ACORN Director Patricia Flood

9 ELECTION OF ORDINARY MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE

(i) Nominations for the Committee. There is a process involved which includes referee checks. The Conference Committee meets on the second Tuesday of the month. The General Committee meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Nominations received: 4

(ii) Call for Nominations from the floor.

10 OTHER BUSINESS Close of Meeting 3.58pm

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2019 AGM

DIRECTOR REPORTS

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Director Reports 2018 - 2019

VPNG Directors

President Jane Thomas

Vice President Tarryn Armour

Secretary Kerry Schroder

Treasurer Gill Wheaton

ACORN Director Patricia Flood (from May 2018- current)

Conference Subcommittee Jane Thomas- Director

Tarryn Armour

Gill Wheaton

Rebecca Donald

Eva Burton

Raechel Richards

Education Subcommittee Kerry Schroder- Co-Director

Patricia Flood- Co-Director

Dee Lahn Opie (resigned November 2018)

Mele’ana’ Kaitu’u (resigned April 2019)

Elyse Coffey

Naomi Mahon

Susan Campigli (resigned July 2019)

Communication Subcommittee Tarryn Armour- Director

Helen Parr

Lacey Watts (April 2019- current)

Jennifer Gamble

Lizzie Goldsworthy (January 2019- current)

Mauricio Yanez (resigned June 2019)

Administration Officer Raechel Richards

Presidents Report 2018-2019 On Saturday 4th August, VPNG hosted the 2018 Study Day at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was a huge success with over 260 delegates giving up their time on a Saturday to invest in their personal and professional development as perioperative nurses. During our award ceremony our VPNG scholarship recipients received their certificates and we honoured the amazing commitment of perioperative nurses to VPNG with length of service awards. These awards will continue to be presented at our biennial events and will recognise every 5 years of service.

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At the Study Day we held the 2018 Annual General Meeting and said farewell to Debee Thow from the Committee after four years. We welcomed five new Committee Members; Jennifer Gamble, Naomi Mahon, Eva Burton, Mauricio Yanez and Susan Campigli to the VPNG Committee. The VPNG Committee continues to consist of a mix of regional and metropolitan Melbourne perioperative nurses from as far west as Warrnambool and Stawell, to Echuca in the North and Sale out East. This provides the Committee with valuable knowledge of the varied perioperative educational requirements across Victoria. During the year we said farewell to Dee Lahn-Opie, Mele’ana’ Kaitu’u and Mauricio Yanez, Susan Campigli from the Committee and re-welcomed Lacey Watts after her time overseas. Monthly Committee meetings (except July 2019) were held online via the ACORN Board Room, with a face to face Strategic Planning meeting held in October 2018 and a face to face Committee meeting held in July 2019. The agenda, minutes and committee reports are submitted a week prior to each Committee meeting to facilitate discussion. Conference Subcommittee meetings were held monthly (alternate fortnight to the General Meeting) and Communication Subcommittee and Education Subcommittee meetings were held quarterly. Over the past 12 months the VPNG Committee has been very busy coordinating two Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Courses; a Regional Study Day in Traralgon; Metro Study Day; Management seminar; awarded education scholarships and grants and producing the quarterly SnippetsMagazine.

Strategic Plan 2017-2019

With new Committee members it was an opportunity to review the current strategic plan and align our objectives with the goals of the Subcommittees. Our four main priorities remain:

1. Membership engagement / services 2. Education and Training 3. Advocacy / Standards / Alliances 4. Marketing and Communication

Conference Subcommittee On Saturday 4th August VPNG hosted the 2018 Study day at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was a huge success with over 260 delegates giving up their time on a Saturday to invest in their personal and professional development as perioperative nurses. Medtronic started the day with an education breakfast session for 100 delegates. This was a fantastic start to the day and we thank Medtronic for their support and partnership.

On the 16th March we had 100 delegates join us in Traralgon at the 2019 Regional Study Day. It was a fantastic day with a diverse range of topics and local speakers. All the topics presented were chosen by nurses in the local area to meet the education needs of the region.

The VPNG Conference Subcommittee has been working hard in the lead up to the 2019 State Conference on Friday 16th and Saturday 17thAugust at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. We hope you enjoy the Conference.

Planning is also underway for the 2020 Country Conference in Torquay. Details will be available later in the year.

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Education Subcommittee

In October 2018 J&J and VPNG co hosted the first of our Trade Partner education events with aNurse Excellence Application Training (NEAT) course in Mulgrave. With limited places available it filled up quickly.

A VPNG Management Seminar was held in November 2018 at the Nurses Memorial. With 50 nurses in attendance it was a fantastic day. It was great to see Managers given the opportunity for their own professional development too.

The Education Subcommittee has hosted two Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Courses in the last 12 months. In February, VPNG held the first Regional Introduction to Perioperative Nursing Course. This two day event was held at Northeast Health, Wangaratta. These courses provide nurses with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to assist with the transition to perioperative nursing. They have been very popular with brand new and novice perioperative nurses and planning is underway for another course in September 2019. In May 2019 Matrix Surgical and VPNG hosted a Bariatric Surgery Education Day. Thank you to the team from Matrix Surgical who ran workshops during the day and also to the VPNG Committee for their help in coordinating a great education event. With the proceeds from the event, Matrix Surgical provided five VPNG Conference Grants to attend the 2019 VPNG State Conference in August as well as two $1,000 scholarships to attend the ACORN Leadership Summit in Canberra in September. In 2019, the Education Subcommittee awarded fifteen Sister Mary Felix & June Allen Scholarships for Postgraduate studies in Perioperative Nursing; two Mary Barry/Medtronic Education Grants for projects or conference attendance and five Matrix Surgical VPNG Conference Grants.

The provision of scholarships and grants demonstrate the objectives of VPNG to provide education and professional development opportunities to perioperative nurses in Victoria. All successful recipients will be awarded their certificates at the 2019 VPNG State Conference in August.

Communication Subcommittee The Communication Subcommittee have been investigating how we can expand the role of the VPNG Hospital Representative, published four online editions of the Snippets newsletter, boosted our social media profile through Facebook, and have been actively promoting VPNG to increase membership and also encourage perioperative nurses to join the VPNG Committee. VPNG has a large number of followers on Facebook and I encourage all members to continue to post questions or comments to initiate conversations about perioperative practice. Our website contains details about the objectives of VPNG, upcoming perioperative nursing events, scholarships information, links to join VPNG via our online membership form, register to attend events, advertise career opportunities and trade advertising. Thank you to Tarryn Armour who has navigated the web world to ensure VPNG members have access to everything they require.

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VPNG Office Raechel Richards, VPNG Administration Officer, continues to run the office working two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) with additional hours available to allow her to deal with the increasing workload that has resulted from the increased membership, the introduction of the online membership system, online registration system and prior to educational events. Raechel is an integral member of the VPNG Committee in achieving our objectives. This is my last AGM report as President. I will hand over to Tarryn Armour, who has been the Vice President for the last two years, at the AGM during the 2019 State Conference. We will be also saying good bye and a very big thank you to Gill Wheaton who finishes as Treasurer after the Conference. Rebecca Donald will step into the Treasurer role after a year as Assistant Treasurer. I will be remaining on the VPNG General Committee. I would like to thank VPNG Committee members for their time, commitment and hard work over the past year. Many of the Committee are employed in perioperative roles and an additional role as a volunteer Committee Member does require a big commitment to ensure the ongoing success of VPNG.None of the successes in the last 12 months could be achieved without the tireless efforts of the fourteen voluntary perioperative nurses and Administration Officer who make up the VPNG Committee. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you all this year. Thank you to all the members for your continual support and commitment to perioperative nursing; to ensuring we provide the best possible care to our patients through your own professional development; and through your membership and attendance at events, the sustenance to continue VPNG long into the future.

Jane Thomas VPNG President

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2018 - 2019 HONORARY TREASURER’S ANNUAL REPORT VPNG Ltd accounts were audited for the year ended 31 December 2018 by the McLaren Hunt Financial Group. The Independent Audit Report Declaration under Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 to the Members of the Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group Ltd is noted. Balance Sheet as of December 2018 was: Total Assets $205,210.00 Total Liabilities $ 1,348.00 Net Assets $183,654.00 Total Equity $203,862.00 I would like to thank both Raechel Richards, VPNG’s Administration Officer and Mary Bouwman, VPNG’s Bookkeeper, for their continued assistance. Gill Wheaton Honorary Treasurer

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2019 ACORN DIRECTOR REPORT The last year has allowed me to humbly sit alongside fellow ACORN Board members, Sophie Ehrlich (NT), Donna Stevens (QLD), Karen Hay (NSW), Garry Stratton (TAS), Trent Batchelor (SA), Grace Loh (WA) and our own Paula Foran (as Member director) with fellow Victorian Rebecca East providing her leadership as ACORN Board President. The ACORN Board values the close ties to each of the states and territories, and we have travelled together to interact with members and the local associations, gaining local insight and perspectives from the perioperative communities. Using an excellent external facilitator, and seeking input from a wide variety of people to represent a wider stakeholder group, The Board has entered into next few years of strategic planning. The Member director has also been able to provide a platform for the presidents of each local association (such as VPNG) to regularly meet virtually for collaboration. One of the major benefits of this was the ability as a VPNG member to attend interstate educational events at member prices. Other member benefits that are offered include access to a number of Grants, Awards and Scholarship (in addition to the VPNG’s own). Over the last year Volunteer and Education grants have been awarded along with the Bravura Laser Safety Officer scholarship, the next round of which opens in September 2019. Around the same time the next round of Research grant applications to encourage and support research into perioperative nursing practice will open. For nurse practitioners the Heather May Herrick Scholarship was established and awarded, in conjunction with the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP). The Board have also been working to deliver the 1st Leadership Summit to be held in Canberra in September 2019, a great event bringing together leaders and aspiring leaders of perioperative nursing. The next major event will be the 2020 ACORN conference, to be held on the 28th – 30th May in Sydney. It will have the theme “vision for the future” and will launch the next edition of the ACORN standards (16th ed). There is even a letter template available from the ACORN website to assist you in gaining leave for this event. The entire Practice Audit Tool (PAT) kit has been released within this last year, with many healthcare environments describing benefits since implementing their use. Webinars continue to be a popular education option both live streamed and recorded, available in the members section of the website. Recently these have ranged from operating theatre efficiency to Surgical Site infection prevention and have included a series from the Research committee to demystify the world of research and how it can be used in practice. The research committee has also supported a number of surveys, on topics including the surgical conscience, workplace bullying, resilience and burnout, and to gain an understanding of our members view on new research priorities. ACORN has also celebrated the honour bestowed upon fellow Phyllis Davis (NSW), being awarded the Order of Australia (General Division- AM), for her significant service to nursing through clinical, administrative and international advisory roles and to nurse education. She demonstrates dedication and commitment to perioperative nursing and serves as a role model for us all.

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ACORN is also still inviting all members with an interest in photography to take pictures demonstrating best practice within their environment and show their pride in our unique world. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on the VPNG committee, together their hard work, passion and drive to provide for our Victorian Members is truly inspiring and I would highly encourage anyone who may be interested to join the committee and experience this for themselves.

Patricia Flood ACORN Director