Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward

Presiding Vice Chancellor, Provost, Professor Andrew Parfitt; presiding Dean, Fiona Brookes; University Secretary and Director of the GSU, Mr Bill Patterson; Dr Wayne Brookes, representative of the Academic Board; staff, distinguished guests, graduates, family and friends. I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians on the land on which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and future. I would also like to acknowledge those of you who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today. Graduates, congratulations. Yeah, let’s give them a round of applause. You’re all very quiet.

Today, we all celebrate the results of your hard work during the last few years, and I actually don’t say this lightly. The latest figures that we have from 2015 say that only seven per cent of the world’s population have a university degree. That may be 10 per cent to 12 per cent right now, but I’m not even sure that it’s that high. So, you don’t only make a significant contribution to yourself but also Australia and what we can deliver globally. 

This morning I would like to share with you some of my thoughts about the health care industry in 2018 and beyond. On a global level, major disparity still exists between the developed world and the developing world, where the burden of disease appears to fall on those most unlikely to manage it. Our health care systems are driven by an illness mindset, yet to really have an impact on the social determinants of health, such as obesity and smoking and others, we must shift our mindset to one of wellness, prevention and health promotion, where holistic medicine includes the physical, mental, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of a person’s wellbeing, and I mean that in the real care that we deliver, not just the rhetoric. 

Non-communicable diseases will continue to burden us this century. When we invest in ourselves, in our education, in our knowing, in the acquisition and pursuit of knowledge, we make a difference to the communities we serve. Every interaction we have with a patient is making memories, not only for them but for their family, their friends, and for their loved ones. Every patient, every client, every resident, every time. You will bring to the workplace contemporary knowledge on research, evidence-based best practice, and, importantly, a fresh perspective. 

The qualities that make a difference, however, are not at the technical level, and I know that you probably won’t want to hear that as you’ve got that bit of paper in your hand, but being competent and now having that degree is the baseline. It is not exceptional that you are competent when you’re out in the workforce; it’s a given. So, what does make a good graduate? I look for the values-based qualities, the attributes of one’s character, as well as the skills, the above and the beyond people. And I have employed thousands of nurses and health care workers throughout my career. Those that can work in a team and put the greater good above their individual desires and opinions. Being respectable, compassion, resilience, courage, strength and leadership are some of the personal traits you should look for in yourself. Often, it is the small things, the little details, that make the biggest difference, and when you get out into the workforce, it’s all the technology and the culture and the politics, but really, always think about the little things and what that means to people. 

Never doubt the contribution you can and will make, dare to dream and to offer your perspectives. Dare to challenge the traditional paradigms. The reform that is required for the health industry of the future will require this of each of you. I need to say, you will mostly likely meet resistance at some point to your fresh perspectives; you probably already have as students. It’s not fair, but it is what it is. Don’t withdraw. If you need to, retreat and find new ways to influence, to be heard. Find the leader within. Don’t victimise yourself or think the world is picking on you if people don’t listen to you straightaway. If you know you were right, then learn how to influence. Resistance is part of progress. Every generation has experienced it; don’t be consumed by it. I know right know employment is a priority, and I couldn’t agree more. It should be. 

Get into the workforce any way you can. Don’t be elitist or too picky; get a job. Very few people retire in their first job. Find comfort in that, so just get started in your careers. But the jobs that we should stay in, though, are those where our soul and our mind are nourished. Know your moral compass and what you stand for. Find your people. We should all love what we do and feel a very strong sense of purpose. So, what will the next 10 years bring in the health care industry? Honestly, I cannot really say in any real sense of what will happen. Who knew 10 years ago about smartphones and social media? The app industry didn’t exist, we didn’t know that we would be entering the fourth revolution of artificial intelligence, and we sure didn’t know that 90 million selfies would be taken every day around the world. And I suspect – I was watching you all in the foyer this morning; you might have even upped the numbers. I can tell you this, though: there will always be the challenge of competing for finite resources and doing more with less. There will never be enough money, so don’t get upset about it. Learn how to fight for what is there. The impacts of the ageing population and the ageing workforce will have dramatic effects on service delivery in the next decade and beyond as we move towards a country where almost a third to a quarter of our population will be over 65 years. 

Doing what we have always done is not sustainable. Change and innovation will be our way of life. You hear words like change fatigue or too busy; don’t get caught in that language. As humans, we are programmed to welcome change and to adapt, or we wouldn’t be here now – we’d still be in a cave. We need new ways of being and new ways of working. We have access to data like never before, so learn to analyse data, learn to understand it, and use clinical informatics to be able to drive change and argue your point. Health is a human right. 

On Saturday, it’s International Nurses Day and last Saturday was International Midwives Day. The theme for International Nurses Day this week is Health is a Human Right, and it’s all about access. It’s not an economic privilege. The world is struggling to provide universal health care, and whilst we have one of the best health care systems in the world here in Australia, we do still struggle with access and equity. We know people in the cities have better health care outcomes than our rural and regional counterparts. There is a major disparity in lifespan, chronic disease and overall health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One in four Australians right now was born overseas, one in 200 Australians sleeps homeless each night, and this includes children. Vulnerable communities need us to be the best that we can. I cannot emphasise that enough, as you become health professionals. 

For our graduating midwives, your involvement in safely delivering the future generation is paramount. When mothers are educated, families across the nation benefit – include the families in who you focus on. Be open minded to possibilities and progress; intend to leave the people that cross your path every day glad that they spoke to you; choose who you allow to affect your day, either positively or negatively; always conduct yourself with pride, professionalism and integrity; look for the best in people and who extended kindness, even to those who don’t deserve it. They may well need it more than you know. There may be times when confidence and a sense of purpose eludes you. Find an environment that nurtures your soul, that is safe for you to be your authentic self. 

Each of you has the right to be who you are. Find your strength and your voice, and have the courage to stand by your beliefs. We worry, really, too much about what people think of us, and the fear of judgement often restricts us. Reflect on the legacy that you would like to leave and how will you be remembered – each shift, each day and at the end of your careers? What do you want to be known for? Understand what it is to be a leader, and why. If you do not have the attributes to be a leader naturally, then set on a course to learn them and practise them daily. To be a nurse means to be a leader, and I would say exactly the same for midwives. Leave here today knowing that you have the power to influence the health care industry and lead a new time – one of social justice and equity. I have watched each of you, I have looked at every one of your faces as you have walked across the stage to be presented with your degrees, and I have seen so much joy and the smiling and the sense of pride – it’s been beautiful to see. Each of you does have a story and I would love to get to know your stories, and really, after today, there’s a new chapter in your life with the blank page that starts right now. Very exciting place to be. Choose well. 

Every one of you will care for someone who also has their own story, and you’ll work with people – we all have a story. Sometimes in the people we care for, they can’t tell us their story, and others won’t remember, as we see epidemics like dementia and Alzheimer’s increase in numbers. Consolidate your education and commit to lifelong learning. 

The World Bank has recently recognised that nursing is one of the top five guaranteed professions and occupations of the future, and there will be very little changes in our industry with artificial intelligence, and that’s more talk for another day, but in our digital world, the desire for human connection will be even more important, so for those of us in this industry and these professions, it is paramount we understand what that human connection really means. It is predicted that by 2025, there will a shortage – there will be an 80,000 shortage of nurses in the workforce, and by 2030, 125,000 workforce shortages of nurses. That’s not because we can’t get enough nurses; every university turns away applications for people to do nursing. It is the ageing population and the nature of caring for people and disease and illness. 

But I personally don’t want anyone to become a nurse just because it is a lifetime of guaranteed work, and I’m very protective around this. The nursing profession needs only the best and the brightest joining our ranks and serving our community. We bring confidence and worth to families, communities and to our profession. The communities that we serve require us to command our space and have a very strong and influential voice. Expect the best, want the best, and deliver the best. When we fly, we feel confident and proud and our patients flourish as a result.

With all of my heart, I wish each and every one of you success and the very best as you being to make a difference through your careers. Our country and our professions are filled with inspiring and dynamic people. Go and find them and go and be them. Thank you.