our expert panel
Amanda has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology (the study of human cultures) and has worked in various roles towards addressing inequalities that indigenous peoples, as well as asylum seekers and other people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, may experience.
Anne Evans-Murray
Anne has a passion for teaching which she does in an unpretentious way that ensures you will not only understand and retain what she presents but will enjoy this learning experience. She has extensive experience of over 26 years lecturing for Gold Coast Health District and Griffith University.
Chaminda Konara
Dr Chaminda Konara received her Doctorate in Biotechnology
from University of
Queensland and her bachelor’s degree in biomedical
engineering from the National
University of Singapore as an ISO 13485 and ISO 9001
accredited auditor. Dr
Konara has strong experience in implementing systems for
quality improvement and
change control.
Colleen Reid
Most of my professional nursing career was spent in adult mental health in public and private mental health hospitals and community settings. I managed a mental health special care unit for many years. The last five years of my professional life was spent teaching in the Diploma of Nursing TAFE.
David Ruzicka
David is a nurse practitioner with over 14 years of clinical experience in palliative care. David has worked in both the acute and community sector within various Queensland health facilities throughout the state. He has proven ability as a palliative care clinician and researcher, as well as with mentoring and motivating staff.
Gail Aylmer
R.N., B.N., M.N. (Advanced Practice), M.N. (Mental Health Nursing)
Gail has worked for the last 8 years as a Public Health Nurse within the Communicable Disease team of a Queensland Public Health Unit. Gail has a diverse employment history working primarily in Australia plus also spent 18mths working as an Agency Nurse in England.
Jules Aitken
MSc (Nurse Practitioner), RN, CDE
Jules Aitken is an Endorsed Nurse Practitioner specialising in Diabetes, Chronic Disease and Weight Management. She attained her Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Dr Julie Martyn
PhD
Julie Martyn is a senior lecturer who commenced in USC's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine in February 2016. Her academic career commenced at the Fraser Coast campus in 2005.
She is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years' experience in acute medical and surgical nursing.
Lilliana Levada
RN, MSN - Perioperative Nursing Education Consultant
Lilliana Levada is an experienced clinician with over 35 years of clinical experience in perioperative nursing (instrument, circulatory, anaesthetic, PACU, educator, consultant and manager nursing roles), intensive care nursing, patient flow management, after-hours hospital management and patient safety management.
Louise Webber
Masters Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner), BA (Hons), RN
Louise has over 20 years experience in wound management and established her own Private Practice (Wound Therapies) following completion of her Nurse Practitioner in 2014. She has worked across several public hospitals and Community Nurse Settings both in Australia and overseas.
Maria Clemente
BScN, RN, JD, GradDip, Solicitor
Maria Clemente is a registered nurse and solicitor. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (honours) at Brock University in Canada. She worked in rural Ontario in the areas of Emergency and Aged Care.
Mary has a long history working in aged care, with 25 years’ experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs in various roles addressing the complex health and support needs of the Veteran community.
Dr Michael Sinnott is a senior clinician and innovator with strong management, research and education skills. Dr Sinnott was involved in clinical medicine for over 35 years before retiring in 2018; the majority of that time was in the Emergency Department.
National Asthma Council (NAC)
As the trusted authority leading the attack against asthma, we set and disseminate the standards of care through our responsive and evidence-based asthma guidelines, practice tools and resources and renowned education program.
Nelle Francis
Nelle Frances is an Autism Consultant and Trainer and mum to a 28-year-old autistic son, daughter to an ASD father, and a Special Needs Educator with over 2 decades of experience. Nelle believes all behaviour is sensorily driven, and that sensory sensitivity is the most misunderstood characteristic of the Spectrum.
Dr Pammie Ellem
RN MN PhD
Dr Pammie Ellem is an experienced Registered Nurse and Specialist Breast Care Nurse who has always been passionate about oncology care/cancer nursing in regional, rural and remote areas. Having grown up in rural QLD, Pammie understands firsthand issues and strengths created by the tyranny of distance experienced by those living in rural and remote areas.
Dr Pam Savage
R.N., Dip N (Lon), BA, MHPEd, Dip Law, EdDoc, MACN
Pam has an extensive background in clinical Nursing, education, and remote area Nursing both in Australia and overseas. As a Lawyer and Clinician, this background is brought to her role as adjunct Lecturer to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as Aboriginal Health Workers.
Robyn Wortel is the Clinical Education Specialist for AVANOS Medical and has been in that role since 2017. Robyn has worked for the company for over 20 years and transitioned to the commercial medical industry too many years ago to admit to after graduating as a registered nurse and working in Operating Theatres in Melbourne.
Sandra Illet
RN RM BaHlthSc (Child Health) Grad Cert (Continence)
Sandra Ilett is a Registered Nurse and Midwife and for the past 20 years has worked as a Continence Nurse. She also has a Bachelor of Health (Child Health) and a Graduate Certificate (Continence). Sandra works in private practice as a sole provider in a home visit service within a 100km radius of where she lives near Childers.
With more than 10 years experience in supporting people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds in a variety of contexts, Silvia has joined ECCQ as the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) training officer.
Sue is the director and co-founder of the Nurses for Nurses
Network. Sue is a key contributor to the online education platform Nursing CPD – a Continuing
Professional Development platform to assist Nurses in meeting their annual CPD
requirements.
Dr Wendy McIntosh
RGN, RMHN, Grad. Dip MH, MN, Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training, Group Leadership Cert, MRCNA, MANZCMHN, AANZPA
Wendy has over 30 years as a health professional (clinical, education and research), twenty-five of those years in mental health. Areas of specific interest and passion for Wendy include professional supervision, professional boundaries, professional identity, links between childhood trauma and mental illness and workplace bullying.
Wendy Newton
RN, RN, Cert IV Grad Cert (Perioperative)
Wendy is an experienced Registered Nurse with over 30 years of post-graduate experience. During the last 20 years. Wendy has worked in the perioperative environment, primarily as an anaesthetic Nurse.
