Celebrating Nurses and Midwives

To mark International Nurses Day and International Day of the Midwife, we invite you to join us on campus!  Connect with nursing and midwifery students and network with local industry professionals while gaining valuable insights into the field.

We’re thrilled to welcome to Mildura Dr Melissa Deacon-Crouch. Known well to locals, as she grew up in the region, Dr Deacon-Crouch is an Associate Professor of Rural Nursing in La Trobe University’s Rural Health School, based in Bendigo. She brings extensive expertise in co‑leading curriculum development, particularly in preparing undergraduate and postgraduate programs for professional accreditation, ensuring they meet high educational standards and respond to the evolving needs of rural healthcare practice.

In her keynote, Melissa will reflect on her non‑traditional pathway into nursing and midwifery academia and share insights from her recent research, including work exploring how shift work affects circadian rhythms and melatonin levels in breast milk, alongside research into nurse rostering practices and fatigue management.

Following the keynote, Dr Sandy Connor, La Trobe Mildura Head of Campus, will facilitate a panel discussion.

Panel:

• Emma Bath - Cardiac Liaison Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mildura Base Public Hospital
• Bianca Sellens - Infection Prevention and Control Officer, Sunraysia Community Health Services and Nursing Academic, La Trobe University
• Jonathan Boseley - Mental Health Clinician - Older Adult Recovery and Wellbeing Service, Mildura Base Public Hospital

🎉 Bonus for students! Attend on the day for a chance to win a stethoscope!

☕ Lunch following provided by Verdict Catering.