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The Second National Conference of the Association for Australian Rural Nurses Inc.

Brenda Harrison

The Australian Journal of Rural Health © Volume 2 Number 2, November 1994

The Second National Conference of the Association for Australian Rural

Nurses Inc. WARRNAMBOOL 26-28 NOVEMBER 1993

CONFERENCE REPORT

by BRENDA HARRISON

ATTENDANCE

The conference was attended by 112 delegates from all states and territories of Australia as well as overseas visitors. Most delegates were nurses and included those working in rural and remote areas in both hospital and community settings, some nurses from urban settings and nurses

working in the tertiary education and continuing education areas, as well as independent practi- tioners.

In addition to the large number of nurses, it was most pleasing to welcome delegates from outside the profession. The interest in the practice of rural nursing was shared at this conference by key personnel from Commonwealth and state

governments as well as practitioners, researchers and historians from disciplines other than nursing.

CONFERENCECONTENT

A total of 35 papers were presented. The topics of the three keynote speakers were

diverse and they set a high standard for both presentation and interest of material shared. The future directions for rural nursing practice, practice in remote areas of Australia and costing of service were the specific topics addressed.

Other presenters matched the keynote speakers in quality, offering sessions that were well prepared and that generally excited interest and comment. Rural nursing issues covered included nursing

practice, education, research, multicultural issues, management, mental health, family and women’s health and primary health care. Sixteen papers

were presented by practitioners currently in the field and related to their nursing practice. Other papers were based on current research as well as those that described innovations in both practice and education initiatives for rural nurses.

CONFERENCE ACTMTIES

Apart from the formal sessions there were several other activities for conference delegates. As rural practitioners are often unable to access many facilities due to their location, book displays and trade displays were presented. A wide selection of books was also available for purchase, with the emphasis on Australian material. These features were well received, with the majority of delegates identifying the usefulness of the materials available.

Another innovation for this conference was a series of educational displays. All tertiary insti- tutions and other nursing centres in Australia providing education for rural nurses were invited to display their course and enrolment materials free of charge. As a result there were 15 displays from tertiary and continuing education centres and delegates saw this selection as an interesting and informative means of identifying current and planned programs accessible to them.

The launch of Anne Mchlurray’s book was a an unplanned bonus, especially as Anne was a

keynote speaker. It was planned that social activities associated

with the conference would allow delegates the time to network with colleagues, to renew acquaintances

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and form new ones. The bush dance/dinner and the barbeque were both well attended.

AARN ACTMTIES

The conference was the venue for the Annual General Meeting of the Association for Australian Rural Nurses Inc. Prior to the meeting the confer-

ence delegates had participated in workshops on planned focus and direction for rural nurses in Australiaover the next few years. The two activities formed a focus for the conference, highlighting the commitment of the Association to encourage rural nurses to be involved in influencing and shaping rural nursing policy and practice in Australia. An innovation by AARN was the marketing of products advertising the Association. Generally this was a successful move. AARN pin badges were given to all delegates. T-shirts, windcheaters and key fobs were on sale. There is

stock remaining and this will be sold through the Association and at future conferences.

MEDIA COVERAGE

ABC Radio coverage of the conference was diverse. In programs broadcast Victoria-wide, general conference information was shared and specific papers highlighted. Two conference speakers discussed their papers on a state-wide morning magazine program. Radio Far North (ABC Cairns) also picked up on the conference

and interviews highlighting different papers were shared with listeners.

The VIC TV news team visited the conference, resulting in a segment on the Victorian country news program for Channel 9 which highlighted the conference and rural nurses.

The Warrnambool Standard printed a small article on the conference but this was not picked up by other newspapers.

CONFERENCEFEEDBACK

Most delegates knew about the conference from the flyers and brochures, but how they received them was not clear. General comments on the conference from delegates were favourable. The venue was seen as good by the majority with positive comments on the catering, organisation, venues for sessions and overnight accommodation. For some delegates the distance of travel to Warrnambool was a problem. At the venue, several delegates cited a need for more signs and notices. The cost of the conference was seen as reasonable. A factor that occasioned some comment was the growing requirement for access to facsimile and computing facilities for delegates.

The papers were well received and the variety appreciated. Some delegates wanted more practice papers and did not appreciate all the ‘academic’ papers. The frustration at not being able to get to all concurrent sessions was also evident. The timing of the days - finishing sessions around 3.00pm - was generally seen as useful. Being able to take the proceedings home at the end of the conference was an important plus for many.

Ideas for future conferences indicated first and foremost that there should be more AARN confer- ences. There were suggestions for organisational modifications - timing (two-day conference), information etc, and also a plea for the focus of future conferences to be on practice issues involving practitioners, rather than becoming too ‘academic’ and removed from clinical nursing in rural areas.