About PACCS
Jane Mahony
Director
Jane Mahony RN is the managing director and together with her team of clinical nurse consultants, offers three decades of palliative care experience across aged care, community and inpatient palliative care services. The team are skilled educators with significant experience teaching all levels of medical, nursing and allied health staff within NSW District Health Services, Universities and TAFE institutions.
Jane has been a registered nurse since 1987, has a Bachelor of Applied Science Nursing, Certificate in Midwifery and Certificate IV TAA. Jane held the position of Clinical Nurse Consultant for Palliative Care SSWAHS (Wingecarribee) from 2002 to 2010.
In June 2010 PACCS was established as a palliative care and complex pain management service, providing consultancy and education to residential aged care facilities across NSW including Warrigal, John Paul Village Heathcote, RSL Life Care, Baptist Care, The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus, The Whiddon Group, Anthem, Harbison Care, The Thompson Group, Blue Haven and LDK.
Jane is also employed as a casual tutor and lecturer at University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing and Midwifery and TAFE NSW.
Jane is a member of Palliative Care NSW Association, Palliative Aged Care Network (PACN) Aged Care Palliative Care Nurses Hub and Australian Practice Nurse Association (APNA).
The Team
PACCS clinical nurse consultants (CNCs), hold AHPRA registration, are members of key nursing and palliative care associations and have comprehensive professional indemnity and public liability insurance and workers compensation policies.
The PACCS clinical nurse consultant service does not replace the expertise within the NSW Local Health District Specialist Palliative Care service, but aims to provide a ‘proactive’, adjunct and timely intervention to optimise care for the resident.
Jane Noble
Bio >
Jane Noble joined Palliative and Aged Care Consultancy Services (PACCS) as our business manager in 2019, bringing with her a foundation in nursing and a passion and warmth for our aging population. Applying her extensive experience as a Practice Manager, Jane's role is to provide support to Jane Mahony and the PACCS team, but equally scheduling of education, communication with facilities, and the financial stability of PACCS. Jane understands that providing a high level of understanding, kindness and support will sustain and improve relationships between PACCS, the Aged Care Facilities and their clients.
While she oversees the business side of PACCS, she is also present and involved with relationships between PACCS and the facilities they service, ensuring all compliances are up to date from Nursing Registrations to Practice Insurances. Jane is a Registered Nurse and Midwife, having obtained her degree through Australian Catholic University and St Margaret's Hospital respectively. Having spent many years working in hospitals and the community, both in Australia and London, Jane has always had an attachment to Aged Care. Janes' passion, friendly nature and can do attitude makes her a wonderful addition to the already inspirational PACCS team.
Wendy Gain
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Wendy Gain is an independent consultant working as an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, Partnership Broker and Grants Writer. Wendy works with communities, service providers and healthcare organisations to achieve results through collaborations and partnerships. As a Partnership Broker, Wendy develops Collaboration Agreements to assist service providers to understand the purpose of their connection and to establish clear expectations for all involved in the collaboration.
As a Certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, Wendy uses strengths-based practice principles and participatory methods to engage people to focus on what is strong, and not on what is wrong. Wendy also holds a Bachelor of Arts with Anthropology Major; Post Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing and a Post Registration Bachelor of Nursing.
Sallie Fredricks
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Sallie Fredericks is a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant working for Palliative Aged Care Consultancy Services (PACCS) and working mostly with Warrigal Aged Care in the Illawarra.
She has worked in both specialist palliative care and now in the sub speciality of Aged Care Palliative Care for 30 years and feels incredibly privileged in the role. Working in aged care has challenged and inspired her more than she could have imagined. She has learnt so much about the unique issues that exist in aged care and the importance of specialist palliative aged care in educating and advocating for our residents.
Professionally, she feels her greatest value is her role as a mentor, supporting, guiding and inspiring our aged care staff and ensuring they feel a comfort and freedom to learn and improve and be brave, as we problem solve and care together.
Nichole Petrie
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Nichole Petrie is a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant working with the PACCS team since 2015. She has been working in several RACFs in the Southern Highlands, Macarthur, and Shire regions.
As a Palliative Care CNC she prides herself on the close working relationship she has developed with all staff members, families, local GP’s, and Allied Health. Nichole feels this team approach ensures that all Residents in her care receive quality symptom management and End of Life Care. Nichole also supports facilities by providing education and assisting with family conferences and
completing Advanced Care Directives.
Nichole first realised her passion for Palliative Care in 2003 when she began working as a Primary Health Nurse in the Macarthur region. Nichole has continued to work in the field of Palliative Care, including in the communities of Macarthur and Hoxton Park. She also spent 6 years as a Palliative Care Clinical Trials and Research Nurse in public hospitals.
Antonella Vergis
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Antonella Vergis is a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant. working for PACCS to provide Palliative Care consultations to residents in aged care facilities in Illawarra and Southern highlands. Antonella prides herself on supporting staff, providing education, completing Advance Care Directives so the end of life wishes of the residents is achieved. Family case conferences and difficult conversations regarding resident’s goals of care is what is done daily. This is achieved in close collaboration with their chosen GP. PACCS also works closely with the Palliative Care Local Health districts. Antonella believes that supporting and providing ongoing Palliative care education to clinical staff is what achieves best outcome for the residents.
Antonella has been working in Palliative Care for 25 years. She has worked in multiple Palliative care wards in Sydney and Illawarra and spent the last 10 years working as a CNC and Manager. One of her biggest achievements was to help establish Community Palliative Care Service delivery to 8 LHDs in NSW.
Antonella has a Bachelor of Nursing from University of Sydney and a Master’s degree in Palliative care from Flinders University. Antonella has also completed Leadership certificate through Impact-Silver Chain. Antonella’s last hooray in her nursing career is to aid and promote positive changes in aged care that will be sustainable for generations to come.
Jo Kennewell
Jo-anne Kennewell commenced Nursing 40years ago and has had experience in most areas of Medical and Surgical Nursing. For the past 10years,
Jo-anne has specialised in Aged Care Medicine and has completed a Master of Science, specialising in Gerontology and Rehabilitation. She has worked exclusively in the Public Health System until recently, when she joined the PACCS Team where she continues to work as an Aged Care Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Some of Jo-anne's achievements include winning the Southwestern Local Area Health Network's Innovation Award for introducing a Post- discharge telephone follow-up call for all Aged Care presentations to the Emergency Department(ED); Introducing an Aged Care Service to the Emergency Department to provide acute assessment of all Aged Care presentations to ED and to support ED Staff in caring for the Elderly; and developing a Private-Public Partnership between the local Hospital and a local Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) to upskill their Nurses by having them placed for six-weeks on the local Hospital's Medical/Surgical Wards and ED. Jo-anne's enduring goal is to ensure the provision of quality clinical care to the Elderly in a holistic manner with a focus on independence, dignity, and self-determination.
Bio >
Susie Lunt
Bio >
Susie Lunt joined the PACCS team, as a Palliative Nurse Consultant, in November 2019, having previously worked as a Palliative Care CNC.
Susie has been a registered nurse for over 30 years, training in England and working in Canada before immigrating to Australia, and the Southern Highlands, in 1996.
For the last twenty-four years Susie has focused on community nursing and aged care. Her passion for palliative care was sparked whilst working under a dynamic manager who valued a palliative approach to care and recognised the importance of advance care planning. Susie continues to promote advance care planning to enable residents to live their best lives whilst having their wishes known for a time of declining health. She enjoys working in partnership with the health care team, supporting them to provide quality and equitable palliative care to all residents living with a life-limiting illness.
Susie has undertaken post-graduate studies in palliative care and completed Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is committed to providing high quality resident care through fostering a culture of learning. She is a member of Palliative Care Nurses Australia.
Bron Heron
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Bron Heron's initial passion for palliative care nursing began in 1984, when she was training to become an Enrolled Nurse. Bron went onto qualify as a Registered Nurse in 1989 and since 1992 has worked in a variety of palliative care clinical roles, in acute hospital, primary health and Palliative Care inpatient settings. She continues to be committed to ensuring the provision of a consistently high standard of palliative and end of life care for all in her care.
Prior to joining the PACCS team in 2020, Bron spent almost 10 years working as a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant for an Aged Care Organisation. The role had a strong model of clinical consultancy and education across residential care, retirement living and community care. In this role, she was also involved in setting the organisational direction and clinical standards for the provision of Palliative and End of Life Care.
Bron was a founding member and Inaugural Chair of Palliative Aged Care Nurses, NSW (PACN) and continues to be a committed member of this network. She is also a member of Palliative Care NSW and Palliative Care Nurses Australia.
Bron has completed Postgraduate studies in Palliative Care and is currently undertaking a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience of palliative care and aged care nursing and increasing understanding and access to palliative care.
Pauline Davis
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Pauline Davis is Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner with experience across community, specialist Palliative Care Units, hospital, and Residential Aged Care Facilities. She holds an Oncology Nursing Certificate, a Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Palliative Care) and a Master of Primary Health Care (Palliative Care). As part of the PACCS team, Pauline enjoys working with residents, families, and colleagues to manage symptoms and promote the best possible quality of life for people living with life-limiting conditions.
Louise Crawford
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Louise Crawford has been a registered nurse since 1993. She brings over 14 years aged care experience and over 16 years mental health care experience to PACCS. Prior to joining the PACCS team she has been a Clinical Nurse Consultant of older people's mental health in the community, held aged care nurse educator and deputy director of nursing roles and has been a registered nurse in aged care, community health and mental health inpatient facilities.
Willeke Van Vilet
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Willeke van Vilet born in the Netherlands and raised in Australia has been working in nursing since aged 17, gravitating towards mental health as her passion and speciality. In this time, she also spent a year in England in their Mental Health Services and utilised her knowledge gained there in the work she does now. After working in public health, Willeke, now semi-retired joined PACCS and is proud to be rounding out her career on such a high note.
Jules Raddatz
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Julie "Jules" Raddatz is the Wound Care Nurse Consultant at PACCS. She has Professional Certificate, Wound Management, University of South Australia and keeps abreast with current best practice through regular workshops/webinars relating to Wound Care.
Jules is an active member of Wounds Australia.
Jules has an extensive background in aged care and has developed her knowledge of wound care over the past 15 years, eight of those working as a CNC for a large Nursing Home group. Her CNC role included assisting in the development and implementation of a skin tear management regime – the first of its kind in New South Wales.
Jules has a passion for working with clients and health care teams to heal, and/or prevent chronic wounds, increasing and improving quality of life.
Julie has always been active in the provision of education to staff through individual one on one support, group training and at conferences / workshops.
Steph Ratcliffe is a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant working for Palliative Aged Care Consultancy Services (PACCS) within the Eurobodalla area. Steph completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1995 in the UK and moved to the South Coast 20 years ago. In that time, she has worked within the Acute Care, Oncology, Community Palliative Care and Aged Care settings. She has a passion for evidence-based practice and life-long learning and is currently studying towards a Masters of Palliative Care.
As a member of the Palliative Care Nurses Association, she prides herself on her ability to make positive and ongoing connections with GPs, practice nurses, allied health professionals, residents, families, and staff members across the settings. She focuss on open and ongoing conversations about advanced care planning, identifying goals of care and ensuring that residents and family feel educated and supported in their health choices. This with ongoing education, menotoring and support of Aged Care staff ensures that residents and their families have the best access to quality end of life care
Currently, she is involved in the implementation of the “Last Days of Life Toolkit”. The toolkit is for inpatients identified to be in the last 72-24 hours of their life. It aims to support clinicians assess patients, plan, deliver and document care.
Stephanie Ratcliffe
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