Kathy Dempsey1
1NSW Chief ICP & HAI Advisor, IPAC COVID-19 Response Clinical Lead, Clinical Excellence Commission, Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner (CICPE; FACIPC)
Abstract:
There are many challenges when tasked with a leadership role let alone as a leader with a country in turmoil and navigating a pandemic. There are many competing priorities, many more emotions and personalities. This is a walk through the experience of one of the busiest times of our lives as an ICP. It’s a story of lived experience. The power of lived experience is one that recognises and values the experience itself and the people that live it. The voices of people with living experience are powerful. The contribution of lived experience is vital to the work of continuously improving safety and quality in our health system. Leadership that is adaptive, able to push beyond boundaries, create connectivity and foster connected leadership whilst on the outside looking in may appear to be a lone wolf is a team sport in our specialty. It is time to lead and stand up for one and other in Infection Prevention and Control!