MAKE A DIFFERENCE : Prof Nicole Brooke
by Lorna Gordon
It ’ s not often that you get to speak to someone who literally makes a difference to hundreds , if not thousands of people each year , but that is exactly what Prof Nicole Brooke has managed to do every day in her job .
Nicole started out as a registered nurse in aged care , where her love for education saw her move into a nurse educator role in her early twenties . From there she moved into a position where she set up organisational processes and developmental checklists for staff to work to , and then moved on to redevelop their working manuals , which were five volumes long !
Her next step was director of nursing , which she described as a turning point in her career . Nicole realised that she needed to develop good leadership in aged care , thereby ensuring staff were trained in the frontline practices .
Nicole developed the first certificate
IV in aged care , which is now the standard training for aged care workers . This certificate meant that the carers were finally able to supervise and administer medication .
She realised this was an important step as it freed up
Nicole ’ s driving force has always been the people she is working for , our seniors who are in aged care , some of the most vulnerable people in our society . Her commitment to doing better for them shines through when she talks about being first and foremost , a nurse . the RNG nurses ’ time , which gave them more resources to manage the complex care of the residents , and also develop their own leadership capabilities .
While she was working on these changes , Nicole was also studying and having a young family . She completed her masters of adult education and graduate certificate of research commercialisation , followed by her PhD .
Her love of learning then took her on the path of a masters of leadership and graduate certificate in aged car . She is now on the board of two organisations which report to the government regarding legislation for the aged care community .
I think it ’ s fair to say she is one smart cookie . However , Nicole ’ s driving force has always been the people she is working for , our seniors who are in aged care , some of the most vulnerable people in our society .
Her commitment to doing better for them shines through when she talks about being first and foremost , a nurse .
“ In so many industries it takes a long time to develop relationships which could be with a student or customer ,” Nicole said .
“ In aged care , the people we look after might only have one more day with us , and to be able to give them a smile , hold their hand and take a moment to be fully present with them , you can make a difference without doing a lot . “ In aged care you are the advocate , carer , friend , and for many clients , I ’ ve been the only person there for their last breath .”
This desire to improve things for our elders resulted in Nicole being awarded Business Woman of the Year by the Hills Shire Council , an award that she is deserving of , but being the person she is , Nicole doesn ’ t see what she does as anything special .
“ I was lost for words and so humbled to be given this recognition . We have the most amazing women in the Hills Shire
Nicole has dedicated her career to improving the way residents in aged care are looked after .
and around our community that when I put in the application , I never thought anything would come of it ,” she commented .
“ I don ’ t consider myself special . I ’ ve been very lucky to have some great mentors and opportunities and I think I spent a lot of time making sure that my personal values are in line with my career .”
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 83 // MAY 2022 9