Academic leadership recognised
WA’s largest community care provider receives its third academic appointment.
Above: Stephen Carmody, General Manager, Health – Silver Chain WA
By Keryn Curtis
Western Australia’s largest community care provider, Silver Chain has been recognised for its contribution to research, teaching and leadership in health and aged services with two recent appointments for its staff.
Mr Stephen Carmody, Silver Chain’s General Manager of Health, was recently awarded the honour of Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Health Sciences by Curtin University in recognition of his ‘outstanding leadership’ and contribution to healthcare delivery and development in Western Australia.
Mr Carmody is Silver Chain’s third academic appointment. Professor Gill Lewin, research director at Silver Chain and current president of the Australian Association of Gerontology, is Curtin University’s Professor of Ageing while wound management expert, Dr Keryln Carville, is Associate Professor of Domiciliary Nursing at Silver Chain.
Mr Carmody said he felt his appointment reflected a long history of collaborative research and education between Silver Chain and Curtin University.
“I feel I am riding on the coat tails of those before me. We do a lot of research together – in partnership where we might be able to provide some evidence for effectiveness in practice and in turn get the benefit of that research. It’s a symbiotic relationship,” said Mr Carmody.
Mr Carmody said his role in education and training with Silver Chain and Curtin University was more at the strategic and guidance level.
“My role is around making sure the right relationships are in place and that training is appropriate. Universities often have hundreds of students looking for clinical placements.
“Hospitals have probably done the best they can do and they’re overwhelmed. Largely because the whole primary care infrastructure has been eroded over time. Now we need to rebuild the primary care networks so care can take place there.
“We need more doctors, nurses and allied health working together in the community in an integrated model that can look after very sick people outside the hospitals. We are open to the idea of getting clinicians industry ready and it works for us because we understand it will be a big struggle to find the workforce in the future,” Mr Carmody said.
Mr Chris McGowan, Silver Chain’s Chief Executive Officer, said Mr Carmody’s nursing career is exceptional.
“He has held a number of prominent positions in the health arena including Chief Executive Officer/Director of Nursing at St John of God Hospital. His hospital was awarded the Australian Public Health Association Award for Excellence and a WorkSafe Gold Award.”
“The conferring of title is recognition of the significant leadership role that Steve has played in healthcare delivery and development, and highlights the important work undertaken every day by all our clinical teams in the delivery of Silver Chain’s services,” said Mr McGowan.
Advisory Panel
Above: Professor Gill Lewin.
Silver Chain has also announced the appointment of Research Director, Professor Gill Lewin, to the Commonwealth Government’s Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians.
The Advisory Panel, which reports to Treasurer Wayne Swan, is chaired by Mr Everald Compton and also includes former Deputy Prime Minister in the Hawke Government, Professor Brian Howe.
The Panel is tasked with ensuring the potential of older members of our community is considered in a range of contemporary policy debates such as the opportunities created by the National Broadband Network for senior Australians. It will also examine how businesses and policy makers can assist senior Australians in their transition from the workforce into other valuable endeavours, such as supporting their families, mentoring, volunteering and community work.
The first report of the Advisory Panel was released by Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan and the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler on 26 August 2011.
