Conversations that Connect: Recent Episodes
Mark Aitken, Cheri Huggins and Guests
Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV). We’re pleased to connect with you and share relevant and practical information to assist in enhancing your health and wellbeing. The topics we have planned are based on what you’re telling us is important to you. We hope you find this podcast series both enjoyable and informative.
Expert insights from nursing leader Michelle Rutherford on graduate nurse wellbeing, confidence, resilience, feedback and succeeding in your first year of practice.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman on how racism impacts nurses, midwives, and patient care—and what individuals and organisations can do to create safer, more equitable workplace.
In this episode of the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria podcast, host Celeste Pinney speaks with registered nurse Rob McKenzie about his powerful lived experience of addiction, recovery, and returning to practice. Rob shares his journey from early substance use through relapse, professional consequences, and significant mental health challenges—including losing his registration and facing legal proceedings—through to rebuilding his life and career.
The conversation explores the realities of addiction in healthcare, the impact of stigma and regulatory processes, and the critical role of compassionate, non-judgemental support. Rob reflects on how engagement with NMHPV, therapeutic support, and persistence helped him develop insight, self-acceptance, and new coping strategies. Now working in the alcohol and other drugs sector, he uses his experience to support others, emphasising that addiction is not a moral failing but a complex neurobiological condition. This episode offers an honest, hopeful perspective for nurses and midwives navigating similar challenges and highlights the importance of seeking help early.
In this podcast, Celeste Pinney and Wendy McIntosh explore how good intentions can lead to boundary breaches or even burnout, and the practical ways to protect both yourself and patients.
In this podcast, we explore women’s mental health through a gendered lens, discussing the unique challenges faced by nurses and midwives. Celeste Pinney is joined by Katrina Locandro from Women’s Mental Health Australia to unpack research insights, barriers to care, and practical ways to support women’s mental wellbeing across the lifespan.
Registered midwife Celeste Pinney and Dr Rowan P. Ogeil discuss the realtionship between mental health, substance use and sleep.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn discuss discuss breathing techniques that can be practiced just about anywhere, anytime, that help reduce stress and increase feelings of calm. ‘Breathing through challenges: resilience in stressful situations’ is one of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times".
Celeste Pinney, midwife, and wellness speaker Mark Bunn discuss stress management strategies for nurses and midwives, emphasizing the importance of small, consistent practices to help reduce stress, overwhelm and burnout.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn discuss simple and effective ways for nurses and midwives to include more movement in their routine. ‘Movement Matters’ is part of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times," and it explores the role of movement in our lives and ways we can begin to incorporate this to improve our wellbeing.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn explore practical approaches to incorporate better sleep into busy schedules, promoting overall wellbeing. ‘Sleep Smarter’ is part of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times." This podcast focuses on the importance of sleep and strategies for nurses and midwives to improve its quality.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn look at actionable ways that nurses and midwives can integrate more rest and downtime into their schedules, to enhance wellbeing. ‘The Art of Rest: Mastering the Pause’ is part of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times." This podcast explores the concept of rest and relaxation and its importance in wellbeing.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn explore practical strategies for nurses and midwives to enhance their wellbeing. Through simple, actionable steps, they reveal how small changes can lead to better health and greater resilience. ‘Harnessing the Power of Habits’ is one of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times." This podcast dives into the transformative power of habits.
Celeste Pinney and Mark Bunn explore practical strategies for nurses and midwives to enhance their wellbeing. Through simple, actionable steps, they reveal how small changes can lead to better health and greater resilience. ‘Harnessing the Power of Habits’ is one of six podcasts under the theme of "Wellness Reimagined: How to Thrive in Stressful Times." This podcast dives into how we can Thrive in Stressful Times.
This episode of the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria podcast is a thought-provoking episode hosted by Cheri Huggins, Senior Clinician at NMHPV and our highly respected guest Dr Moira Junge, Health Psychologist and CEO of The Sleep Foundation, Victoria. The podcast delves into the challenges faced by many nurses and midwives.
Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria. Rachael Pallenberg works as the Quality and Safety Co-ordinator with NMHPV and leads the Strengthening Responses to Family Violence Project. She has extensive experience working with victim survivors experiencing family violence. Rachael provides her knowledge, experience, wisdom and resources in relation to the complex issue that is family violence. Additionally, a range of information, resources and supports are provided.
Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria. Carolyn McDonald is a registered nurse and Senior Clinician with NMHPV and an Iyengar yoga teacher. She provides advice, tips and techniques for how students, graduates, early career nurses and midwives can nurture your emotional, physical and spiritual health. This includes how to establish self-care as a routine so it becomes part of your nursing and midwifery toolkit to refresh and restore your health and wellbeing.
Nursing and Midwifery Health Program Victoria (NMHPV). Sam Eddy, a health, wellbeing and stress management expert, talks about stress and crisis, how you can understand your stress response and establish your wellbeing anchors to support your health. Sam provides information, resources and tips for how to look after yourself, take your stress temperature and check in with a friend, family member or colleague who needs support.
In this first podcast, Mark Aitken talks to Heather Pickard, a registered nurse and Chair of the NMHPV Board, who provides her personal story of a nurse in recovery from addiction.
Twenty-six years into recovery, Heather shares her addiction journey, thoughts on the risks for nurses and midwives in relation to developing addiction, the reasons people may not seek support, the importance of self-care and how to access support. She discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy work and life balance and self-reflection.
Heather tells us that nurses and midwives are often loaded with shame and stigma when experiencing addiction and this may be an impediment to accessing support. However, key to Heather’s recovery, was another nurse who recognised her problem and provided support and care. It is the nursing and midwifery community that can be our greatest support.
Throughout this podcast, Heather provides hope that support and recovery is possible, and she reminds us that to live our best life we need to be ‘humans being’ not just ‘humans doing’!