Conversations of kindness are changing care

Running from Monday 30 October to Friday 3 November 2017, the event run by Dr Catherine Crock and the Hush Foundation will feature a number of events and ‘story-starters’ who will hope to spark positive conversations that engage and inspire care staff and provide the people they care for with the best possible experience.

Dr Crock says the conversations and promotion of a kind health system will benefit everyone involved.

“Gathering of Kindness is important because it is changing the conversations from one about bullying, poor behaviour and burnout in staff and poor satisfaction for patients and families to conversations about promoting a kind health system,” she says.

“Last years event was very different to the usual conference type event – we had 100 people from diverse backgrounds sharing their stories and perspectives in a unique way.

“Many people had difficult experiences either working in healthcare or receiving care.

“The group listened to each other and came up with ways people could influence with kindness wherever in the system they sat.

“The event was deemed a great success with participants suggesting a yearly event that would grow the conversations and the community.”

With the start of the second Gathering just around the corner, Dr Crock says she is looking forward to this year’s line up of ‘story-starters’.

“Our speakers are actually story-starters who will begin with their story and experience and then involve other participants in the discussion,” she explains.

“The topics are wide-ranging and creative because we want to bring many points of view to bear on some tricky healthcare issues such as professional boundaries – where should they be set? Who decides and how? How do we address occupational violence, bullying and other poor behaviours in a constructive way that improves culture rather than making it worse? What rules do we need to ‘break’ to promote kindness?

“Staff, patients and families touched by healthcare experiences – basically everyone – can benefit from exploring how we can treat each other with kindness and build trust.

“The beauty of Gathering of Kindness is that we will listen respectfully to many different perspectives and together work on solutions and steps to build a culture of kindness.”

Dr Crock says she would love people to come join the events at Gathering of Kindness 2017 and share their experiences to learn together.

“Improving healthcare culture is not an easy fix and we need many different approaches and a groundswell of people willing to think creatively about it,” she says.

“Come to as many of the events as possible – everyone is welcome and there is no cost.

“Just bring your enthusiasm to be part of this change and an open mind to explore how simple concepts like kindness and trust can transform people’s experience.”

More information on Gathering of Kindness and upcoming event details can be found online.