STSFT welcomes Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer  

We hosted a visit this week from Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer (CNMO).

Professor Alison McMillan visited Sunderland Royal Hospital. She worked here between 1982 and 1985. 

Alison was born in Peterlee. She trained at Bede House. She then went on to work in our Emergency Department. 

She visited the Trust this week. She spent time with our Chief Executive, Ken Bremner and Director of Nursing of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals, Melanie Johnson.

They talked about the work that we are doing across the Trust.

They also discussed the work Alison is leading in Australia. This includes developing the national nursing workforce strategy and the nurse practitioner 10 year plan.

Professor Alison McMillan, right, with Ward Manager Mal Hayden-Duck, Karen Spackman, Manager for Emergency Care and Head of Nursing Barbara Goodfellow.

During the visit, Alison popped into ED. She had a tour of the whole department. She got a chance to see how the site had developed since her days working here. She also stopped by Bede House as part of her walk around the grounds. 

Alison has been a registered nurse for 40 years. She provides strategic advice to the Australian Government in the role as CNMO. She is also a Professor at Monash University in Melbourne.  

She has won several awards for her work. This includes a Public Service Medal (PSM). This is similar to the UK’s OBE. The award was for outstanding public service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly around infection prevention measures. 

Alison is also an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) member. She has been deployed many times. This included the repatriation of Australians from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan (2020), Fiji following cyclone Winston (2016), Vanuatu following cyclone Pam (2015) and Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2005) following the Indian Ocean Tsunami. 

A big thanks to all colleagues who were involved in the visit. 

Alison McMillan, right, chats to Mayflor Bernal, our Lead Nurse for International Nurses, Head of Nursing Barbara Goodfellow and Executive Director for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional Melanie Johnson.