McGrath Foundation
In June 2011, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) partnered with the McGrath Foundation in a healthcare initiative to support Australian families experiencing breast cancer.
The McGrath Foundation was co-founded by Jane and Glenn McGrath after Jane’s initial recovery from breast cancer. The Foundation raises money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities right across Australia and to increase breast awareness in young women.
Thanks to the McGrath Foundation and the fundraising efforts of Elders staff nationally, a McGrath Elders Breast Care Nurse is currently based at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Base in Broken Hill. The appointed nurse, Jo Beven, travels across the region by plane, to support Australian families in rural and remote areas experiencing breast cancer.
Jo is stationed at the RFDS' Broken Hill Base, as part of the RFDS Primary Health Care team. She performs a community service making home visits to patients and also holds clinics on the regular RFDS clinic runs that fly to 18 remote locations in three states (NSW, Northern South Australia and South Western Queensland).
Chief Medical Officer for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, South Eastern Section, Dr Anne Wakatama said, “We are delighted to welcome the McGrath Elders Breast Care Nurse into the Flying Doctor ‘family’. The position is invaluable and a much-needed addition to our primary healthcare team, providing support and empowering families through accurate and timely information and referral services during what is naturally a very stressful time.”
Jo has worked in health care since 1986 when she started working as a Registered Nurse at Broken Hill hospital. She moved into oncology in 2000 and has spent over 11 years caring for women who were fighting cancer.
Jo said “Only one in three healthcare professionals out here are women, so there are limited opportunities for local women.”
“Also, those with cancer have to travel huge distances away from home – if they can’t be treated in Broken Hill. With chemotherapy treatments happening once a fortnight in some cases – a long drive is the last thing you need. The treatment and being away from home takes a huge physical and emotional toll.”
“I am there to support them through their treatment and give them the advice and information they need. Having someone to talk to does help and because of the tyranny of distance many women living in the outback have to be content to talk to their oncologist on the phone.”
To meet the McGrath Breast Care Nurses and find out more about the McGrath Foundation, please visit www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au
Pictured above: Launch of the McGrath Elders Breast Care Nurse at the RFDS Broken Hill Base