McGrath Foundation collaborates with the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute

The McGrath Foundation has recently entered into a very exciting partnership with the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) to promote the professional development of – and support opportunities for – Australia’s breast care nurse profession.

The McGrath Foundation has employed a full-time McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator, Kim Kerin-Ayres, who will be seconded to BCI for three days per week. Kim will be responsible for facilitating the BCI’s Breast Care Nurse and Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Practicums. She will also develop and implement a comprehensive professional support, networking and mentoring strategy for the 61 McGrath Breast Care Nurses employed in communities right across Australia (as at May 2011).

Through this McGrath Foundation-funded position, Kim provides McGrath Breast Care Nurses with the education and emotional support they need to guide women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families, through their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. She also delivers a mentoring program for all non-McGrath Foundation funded breast care nurses who complete the BCI’s Breast Care Nurse Practicum which is also a collaborative programme with the College of Nursing and the Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Practicums. She will further assist with the implementation of the BCI’s Multidisciplinary Clinical Education Program and acts as a technical spokesperson for the McGrath Foundation regarding breast care nurses.

“It is a privilege to help and educate breast care nurses, as they work tirelessly to support women diagnosed with breast cancer, and their families,” says Kim. “We know that breast care nurses face challenges and emotional strain each and every day. The McGrath Foundation recognises that when we support breast care nurses in their roles, they are better able to care for their patients and help women and their families through the difficulties of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.”

Both the McGrath Foundation and BCI understand the tremendous difference that a breast care nurse can make to the lives of women experiencing breast cancer, and their families. By ensuring that breast care nurses across the country have access to training and support to assist them in their roles, this innovative joint venture helps to further enhance the valuable support provided to Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.