#WeAreNorthern

Today, we chat with Melanie Bullock, McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse at Northern Hospital Epping.

Q: Let’s start with your coffee order.

Not being a coffee drinker, it’s a skinny hot chocolate if I feel like a hot drink.

 Q: Tell us about your role as a McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Consultant, what does this entail?

As a McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse, I support both women and men who have been diagnosed with advanced (stage IV) breast cancer from diagnosis through the entire care continuum ensuring that the complex needs of patients are being met.

My role provides clinical, psychosocial and emotional support to not only patients but their families and support network. I identify potential and realised barriers to a high level of patient focussed care and facilitate referrals as  recognised.

The McGrath Metastatic Breast Care role ensures that all patients and their  loved ones have access to a familiar and consistent point of contact to aid with the navigation of the public health service during their at times complex pathway of appointment, scans, treatments and wider multidisciplinary teams involved in their care.

 Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?

There are so many aspects of my role that I enjoy. Mostly it would be the relationships that are built with patients, their loved ones and their support networks. To support someone during such a difficult diagnosis through to end of life care and know that you have made a difference to enable a patient focussed approach and flexibility to individualised care needs. Working as part of the wider multidisciplinary teams at Northern Health from Medical Oncology, Day Oncology, SURC, NOAH, Ward staff and the Palliative Care team.

Q: Tell us about your career leading up to where you are today.

I initially starting in my nursing career working across both Paediatrics as well as Oncology. I actually came to nursing with the aim to be a midwife but became passionate about Cancer nursing.

This led me to stay on the Oncology ward whilst becoming accredited to administer chemotherapy and also work in our Day Oncology unit. During this time I completed a Grad Cert in Oncology & Palliative Care.

An opportunity arose to work in a new area of Day Oncology, NOAH (Northern Oncology & Haematology at Home)  to administer chemotherapy and other cancer treatments in patients homes.  Which was a fantastic experience (& during COVID a great opportunity to have some time without a mask on whilst in the car!)

I completed Grad Cert in Breast Cancer Nursing and when the McGrath Foundation saw a need for a Metastatic Breast Care Nurse within our service,  we were fortunate to receive funding for this new role at Northern Health.

 Q: Do you have a favourite travel destination, or some place you have always wanted to visit, and why?

I really enjoy to travel and like to try somewhere new if possible each time. My dream would be a trip to Antarctica.

 Q: What is something many people mat now know about you?

I was a disability support worker for 15 then moved to Dubai for 4 years when my children were young.  While there decided it was time for a change of career when returning to Australia. I was accepted into Nursing and actually turned 40 in my Grad year. Just slightly order than most other grads!