Location: Victoria – Heidelberg
Professional Affiliations: ANF, Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Polio Australia
Brief Bio:
Trained at The St George Hospital in Sydney, Anne worked in Emergency Nursing for 9 years before deciding upon a change of direction. In 1989 she began working in the Long Term Ventilation Unit (LTVU) at Fairfield Hospital in Melbourne. At that time there were fewer than 40 people in Victoria using mechanical ventilation in the community.
Anne was the Nurse Unit Manager of the LTVU from 1990 to 1998, moving the unit to the Austin Hospital to amalgamate with the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Austin Health in 1996 to create the Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS). The VRSS provides a state-wide service for clients who require mechanical ventilation in the community.
In 1998, with Department of Health funding, she set up the VRSS Outreach Service, a small team who manage the provision of equipment, information and support for ventilator users living in the community.
Anne operated alone in this role until 2005 when VRSS Outreach won the contract for ventilator servicing and repair and expanded its staff to manage to the additional work. The Outreach team now consists of 4 nurses, 2 biomedical engineers and a part-time secretary and it has over 900 clients under its care
Consults both with polio survivors and with other health practitioners: Yes
Consults with other health practitioners but not directly with clients/patients: No
Position Title: Victorian Respiratory Support Service - Outreach Coordinator
Workplace Name: Austin Health
Workplace Address: 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg Victoria 3084
Landline Phone: 03 9496 3688
Fax: 03 9496 5124
Website: www.austin.org.au/vrss
Mobile Phone: 0409 387 448
Email Address: [email protected]
Doctor’s Referral Required:
Days of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4.30pm
Wheelchair-Accessible Workplace: Yes
Consultation Options:
Home Visits:
After-Hours Service: No
Fees:
Any Additional Practice Information:
Worked with post-polio clients/patients, Participated in a Polio Health and Wellness Retreat, Attended a Post-Polio Conference
Any Additional Experience Details:
Neurological Conditions, Neuromuscular Conditions, Muscular/Skeletal Conditions, Chronic Health Conditions, Respiratory Health