The National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers has appointed a team lead by Queensland University of Technology along with the collaboration of expert organisations to undertake this project.
The Project Team comprises representatives from participating organisations who are experienced educators, researchers and gynaecological cancer clinicians. Team members include:
Professor Patsy Yates (Project Chair)
Patsy is jointly appointed as Professor of Nursing at Queensland University of Technology, and Director for Queensland Health’s Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education, a statewide service that was established to enhance palliative care services in Queensland through education and research. As Director for the Centre, Patsy leads a range of programs focused on developing workforce capacity in palliative care, researching priority issues in palliative care, and strengthening the nexus between research, policy and practice.
Ms Kathryn Nattress
Kathryn Nattress is a registered nurse who holds a bachelor's degree in science (nursing), a master's degree in medical science (palliative care), and a specialist practitioner qualification in palliative care. Kathryn has worked as a cancer nurse in Scotland and Australia for more than ten years and is Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney in conjoint with her position as the cancer nurse coordinator for gynaecological cancer at the Sydney Cancer Centre. She has extensive experience in postgraduate education, policy development and research and is co-editor of "Gynaecological Cancer Care - A Guide to Practice" and a member of the editorial board of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.
Dr Ilona Juraskova
Ilona Juraskova is a Cancer Institute NSW Research Fellow, Lecturer in Health Psychology at The University of Sydney, and a clinical psychologist. Ilona has over 10 years experience in the field of Psycho-Oncology, with specific expertise in the areas of psychosexual adjustment to cancer and doctor-patient communication. Since 2004, she has been a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED) at The University of Sydney, and a consultant research psychologist with the Sydney Gynaecologic Oncology Group at the Sydney Cancer Centre. Her PhD, focusing on psychosexual adjustment of women with gynaecological cancer, has recently been published as a book: “Quality of Life / Quality of Sex”.
Ms Kim Hobbs
Kim Hobbs holds a Masters degree in Social Work. She has a long career in oncology social work, and has been working at Westmead Hospital since 1994 in the Department of Gynaecological Oncology. Kim advocates for improved psychosocial support services for people with cancer and their families through her involvement in various working parties and committees. She believes that psychosocial care should be an integral component of comprehensive cancer care for all people with cancer and their caregivers throughout the treatment trajectory. She has been involved in the development of educational resources for both clinicians and consumers.
Dr Kendra Sundquist
Kendra Sundquist has considerable expertise in sexual and reproductive health, sexuality, and psychosocial care in cancer. As an educationalist for the past 20 years, she has trained thousands of nurses, doctors, and allied health workers in Australia, New Zealand and in developing countries, such as China, Vietnam and the South Pacific. She has played a key role in educating health professionals about the need to discuss sexuality with cancer patients and their partners, through professional training workshops and conference presentations. She has also been involved in the development of information and training packages for health professionals about cancer and sexuality.
Project Team Objectives
- Actively contribute to creating a vision and commitment to the project amongst key stakeholder groups;
- Set future directions for the project; and
- Identify and implement strategies to ensure the sustainability of outcomes from the project.
Related links
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- Sydney Gynaecologic Oncology Group
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
- Westmead Hospital
- Cancer Council NSW
- Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED)