In this issue

• Shaping better healthcare in 2025

• Women’s & Children’s Health Network leads organisational change

• Palliative Care Week in our local community

• Kings Birthday Honours for A/Prof Charlie Corke

• Communicating for Safety in the NSQHS

• What do African Drumming and good communication have in common?

• Both masterclasses sold out - New October dates announced!

Shaping better healthcare in 2025

What a year it’s been already! Time is flying, and we’ve hit the ground running, collaborating with both familiar faces and new partners to drive real, meaningful change across the healthcare system. Since our relaunch in January, an incredible 345 people have trained with us through more than 40 events held in both regional and metropolitan areas. Just recently, we trained over 100 participants in a single week!

If you haven’t booked your training yet, now’s the time. We’d love to have you on board!

Women’s and Children’s Health Network leading the way in organisational change

Our recent Healthcare Communication Masterclass was energised by six passionate members of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Network’s Communication Skills Training Program, joining Director Meg Chiswell and collaborators Peter Martin and Grace Walpole.

The Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia's leading provider of health services for children, young people and women.

The network is co-designing a person-centred training program for all interdisciplinary staff, supporting the hospital's journey toward Planetree Certification. Backed by input from over 320 staff and shaped by PhD research, the program focuses on interactive, interprofessional learning grounded in the Calgary-Cambridge model and agenda-led education. It is our absolute privilege to be part of this exciting journey - watch this space!

Out and about at Palliative Care Week in Armstrong Creek

What a privilege it was to be invited to present at the special Palliative Care Week workshop hosted by the Barwon South Western Region Palliative Care Consortium. Meg shared insights on essential communication skills for communicating resident deterioration, with a focus on empathy, pacing, and active listening.

The session sparked thoughtful conversations with a dedicated group of professionals, and we were able to explore a range of strategies in a supportive, collaborative environment. The day served as a powerful reminder that while working in residential aged care can be challenging, a strong local support network is there to help make those challenges feel more manageable.

Congratulations to Associate Professor Charlie Corke AM

We’re delighted to celebrate Associate Professor Charlie Corke, who has been awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours. This well-deserved recognition reflects his exceptional contributions to intensive care medicine, medical education, and end-of-life care.

Charlie’s generosity, wisdom, and leadership have made a lasting impact not only in his field, but also as a valued friend and supporter of the Healthcare Communication Collective. We are proud to stand alongside him in championing compassionate, person-centred care. Congratulations, Charlie!

Communicating for Safety in the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards

Meg was recently invited by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care as a subject matter expert to take part in a workshop as part of the consultation to inform the Communicating for Safety standard in the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. The Commission is preparing to develop the third edition of the standards in collaboration with the community and the healthcare system. The consultation session drew diverse stakeholders who engaged in discussions exploring multiple perspectives and priorities. This consultation is an early step in the process, and there are opportunities to get involved. Read more on the NSQHS Standards Engagement Hub

What does African drumming have to do with healthcare communication?

More than you might think!

At our recent sold-out Masterclass, we invited participants into a high-energy, deeply connecting drumming session, not just for fun (though it was!), but to explore the core skills that underpin effective communication: listening, partnership, and collaboration.

In African drumming, every beat counts. You must tune in, respond in rhythm, and hold your part while staying aware of the whole. Just like in healthcare, where clear communication and mutual trust can transform outcomes for patients and teams alike.

As the drum circle grew louder, so did the insights:

• Listening isn’t passive, it’s dynamic.

• Collaboration requires presence, timing, and humility.

• Effective clinicians cultivate the capacity to perceive both the clinical data and the emotional undertones in patient interactions.

This was a highlight of the Masterclass and a reminder that sometimes the best lessons come through experience, not lecture slides.

❝A great experience pushing the boundaries of effective communication in a safe practical space. Something I would come back to again in the future.❞

Because when we listen better, we care better.