In-depth training in unique caregiving skills - a two-day training seminar for social and healthcare professionals and trained volunteers

5-6 June, 2012 | Sydney

Mary MacKillop Place Conference Centre, 80 William Street, North Sydney NSW | Google map

With Alexandra Yuille and Wendy Wright

$350 full | $195 concession (students) | includes catering and a certificate of participation for Continuing Professional Development purposes

The Compassion and Presence seminar has been endorsed by Royal College of Nursing, Australia, according to approved criteria as well as by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Attendance attracts 16 RCNA Continuing Nurse Education (CNE) points as part of RCNA’s Life Long Learning Program (3LP) and 2 AASW points per hour (16 points)

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Responding effectively to the needs of patients remains an on-going professional and deeply personal challenge. Compassion and Presence offers the opportunity to learn contemplative resources that support you in your life and work, and enhance the way you offer care - with a renewed sense of joy, confidence, and fulfillment. Drawing from meditations taught in the wisdom tradition of Tibet, this training focuses on cultivating presence and mindfulness, and deepening the capacity for compassion, so that you can remain present, spacious and loving in the face of suffering.

The training introduces insights and contemplations from Sogyal Rinpoche's groundbreaking book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and demonstrates in practical ways how to appropriately integrate these practices of meditation, contemplative listening, and compassion in any medical setting.

Compassion and Presence is for anyone who cares for others in hospice, palliative care, critical care, gerontology, oncology, general medicine, nursing, emergency medicine, pastoral care, psychology, social work, health care education, and other allied health professions. It will resonate with professionals and volunteers from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

The training focuses on four core competencies:

• Holding authentic presence and communication.
• Deepening one's ability to extend compassion toward oneself and others.
• Developing a personal understanding of suffering, and how to be present with suffering.
• Applying contemplative practices for self-care.

Methods of training

Lectures, discussion, writing, reflection, contemplative practice, and interactive methods for integrating learning.

Training Topics

• Spirituality and healthcare - an introduction to the spiritual care model of compassionate care
• Cultivating presence through meditation and mindfulness practice
• Methods for deepening compassion
• Responding to suffering
• Training in contemplative listening
• Creating a sacred environment
• Compassionate self-care for alleviating stress, healing burnout, and transforming challenging situations
• Caregiving as spiritual practice
• Scientific research on the benefits of training in meditation and compassion in medical care work.

Faculty

Alexandra Yuille, B. Arts. CCPE (Advanced) After a successful career as a business leader, Alexandra completed her Advanced Certificate with the NSW College of Pastoral Education in 2002. She has worked as a Pastoral Carer at both St Vincents and Royal North Shore Hospitals in Sydney. From 2006 to 2009 Alexandra trained in the study and practice of authentic Buddhist teachings on meditation, mind, compassion and wisdom at the Rigpa Institute of Wisdom and Compassion in France.

Wendy Wright B.App Sc.(OT) M.App. Sc (Soc Ec). Drawing on her experience as a health professional, health educator, learning and development consultant and meditation instructor as well as working in cancer support and end of life care Wendy brings a diverse and rich background to her role in the Spiritual Care Programme.

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