Welcome to my website for Health Professionals and Aged Care workers.

How are your communication skills?

Working with people who are ill or infirm can put a lot of strain on you. Most of us fall down on making connections with other people sometimes. When no-one’s shown you the easy ways of making sure you have all the true information you need about your patients, this adds additional stress. I suspect you’ve found, as I have, that the Questionnaire just doesn’t do it.

At times, the people you deal with can be difficult. Some exchanges create unwelcome feelings for both you and them.

Everyone experiences fear sometimes. Even when you’re very expert at what you do. And it can be hard for health professionals and aged care workers to admit to this. With all the responsibility on your shoulders and so many variables, you need support. You don’t ever want to make a mistake. That would shatter you.

Knowing the story from the patient's side can be very empowering, because that information does give you more confidence that you're doing it right. When you're courageous enough to admit some situations trigger fear or confusion, you can then open yourself to more help.

Since 1985 I’ve been helping people work through events they find traumatic – and breaking down barriers in those areas where communication is difficult.

I’ve fitted being a patient into my busy schedule all too many times. None more of a learning curve than having emergency cancer surgery in 2001. That was one of life’s defining moments for me. 6 months of chemo therapy weren’t much fun either. More recently I spent time in a residential facility when knee surgery made it impossible for me to climb the stairs to my unit. That was an eye opener of another sort.

These experiences highlighted just how dangerous a lack of great communication skills can be, even to causing death. Now I’m really passionate about showing others what patients and residents need from the professionals who seek to help them, adding my patient’s view to the skills I’ve been using all this time in other areas.

When you invite me in to your facility, I mediate the patient’s or residents view to you, adding my expertise as a wordsmith and educator to your professional expertise. Transferring to you these easier ways to forge high-end communication skills will enhance your everyday life. Creating an environment where you are understood and trusted to a higher degree by those who rely on you for their welfare improves both yours and theirs.

You know what they say. 'Courage is expressed by acknowledging your fear - and acting anyway'.

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BERYL SHAW   -   SOME CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & MAJOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS 2003 -  2007

2007	November	ADELAIDE	‘Australian Assn of Gerontology (AAG)’	‘IS SELF EXPRESSION POSSIBLE IN AN AGED CARE FACILITY?’
	August	MELBOURNE	‘NALAG Grief Awareness Week Forum’	‘WHAT DO YOU SAY AFTER YOU’VE SAID ‘I’M SORRY?’ --  Coping With The Grief In Cancer
2006	October	MELBOURNE	‘The 3rd International Conference On Healthy Ageing & Longevity’	‘ARE WE ADDING TO THE PROBLEM? HEALTH CARE AND AGE’          ‘THE CHALLENGE FOR CLINICIANS                   – A JUST WORLD THROUGH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION’         ‘IS YOUR DOCTOR LISTENING TO YOU? BETTER COMMUNICATION GIVES YOU BETTER RESULTS’
	June	YEPPOON	‘LifeLong Learning Conference – Central Queensland University’	‘LEARNING / TEACHING FROM OUTSIDE THE ‘SYSTEM’
	April	MELBOURNE	‘7th National Conference for Adult Day Centre, Leisure & Recreation & Community Support Staff’	‘EMBRACING CHANGE – SPARKING UP YOUR FUTURE’
	March	TAMWORTH	‘Australian Assn of Gerontology (AAG)’	‘KEEPING THE DOORS OPEN – SINGING FOR YOUR SUPPER AFTER 5O’
2005	October	ADELAIDE	‘Aged Care Quality Assn Conf.’	‘COMMUNICATION – THE CONSUMER’S PERSPECTIVE’
	September	NEWCASTLE	‘Life Quest Expo’	‘BEATING CANCER’  x 2   &    ‘CANCER – A JOURNEY’
	August	MALVERN	‘Wholistic Business Network’	‘SAVE YOUR BUSINESS FROM CATCHING COLD - IF YOU CATCH COLD"                            (Disaster Proof Your Business or Organisation)
	July	ELTHAM	‘Universal Insights Expo’	‘BEATING CANCER & OTHER LIFE SHATTERING EVENTS’ – The Courage to Cope
	July	HOBART	‘CNSA (Cancer Nurses Society of Australia) Winter Congress 2005’	(Presentation)   ‘THE CRUCIAL NATURE OF COMMUNICATION’:                                  Jettisoning Assumptions About Advancing Age & Cancer        (Poster)  DISCUSSING SEX & ALTERED BODY IMAGE IN CANCER NURSING – Communication to Make it Easier
	June	MELBOURNE	Reflexology Association –  Half Day Training Seminar	‘RELATING WITH CANCER PATIENTS’
	June	MELBOURNE	‘MindBodySpirit Festival’	Speaker Cafe -  ‘CANCER - A JOURNEY’                                     Seminars x 2  – Saturday  & Monday  -  ‘BEATING CANCER’
	May	SYDNEY	‘ARCHI  (Australian Resource Centre for Healthcare Innovations)Toolkit Seminars’	‘COMPLAINTS – THE ART OF LISTENING’
	May	MELBOURNE	Community Forum, Rheumatology Health Professionals Conf.	MC
	May	SYDNEY	‘GPCE’  (General Practitioners Conference & Exhibition)	Workshops:  -    Friday 20th:     12noon ‘COMMUNICATION SKILLS – FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS’                            3.30pm      ‘THE HOSTILE PATIENT – HOW TO MANAGE’               Saturday 21st:    12noon     ‘THE HOSTILE PATIENT – HOW TO MANAGE’                            2pm    ‘COMMUNICATION SKILLS – FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS’
	May	SYDNEY	‘Mind Body Spirit Festival’	Speaker Cafe – ‘CANCER - A JOURNEY’  ----     Seminar – ‘BEATING CANCER’
	April	ALBURY	'Crossing Borders'   AAG  Aust Assn of Gerontologists	‘SAY IT AS YOU SEE IT -  UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF AGE & ILLNESS               -  Enhancing Communication for Improved Health Care Outcomes
	February	MELBOURNE	‘Today, Tomorrow, the Future’ Breast Care Nurses’ Conference	‘DISCUSSING SEX & ALTERED BODY IMAGE IN CANCER NURSING –  Communication to Make it easier’
2004	March	BRISBANE	‘Research to Reality’  6th National Breast Care Nurses Conference	NURSE/PATIENT COMMUNICATION – A DYNAMIC DUO?
2003	March	WODONGA	WODONGA PRIVATE HOSPITAL	‘COPING WITH CANCER - YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW - When the World Stops’

Since the early 80s I’ve had 6 books published, as well as delivering many presentations and workshops for teachers, Health and Legal Professionals, Children, Individuals affected by major life trauma. The mass media love the work I’ve been doing too, I’m pleased to say.

Now I’m enjoying being effective at transferring my skills to professionals in areas of health, cancer, and aged care.

I’m happy to discuss the needs of your group. Give me a call.

Beryl Shaw   -   PO Box 134 CarnegieVic 3163     Ph. 03 9569 1412   Mob. 0408 142 133       Email. berylshaw@netspace.net.au