She is one of only around 15 nurses across the country to be part of the growing initiative.
The program is part of the broader Myeloma Rural Equity Program, which aims to address the disparity in resources, support and education between metropolitan and regional patients living with myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
It also supports the healthcare professionals who care for them.
“Myeloma Australia supports patients and clinicians across the country, but this program is specifically focused on making sure people in regional and rural areas get the same level of support,” Eva said.
“Being in a regional area brings unique challenges: travel, access to services and the different ways we deliver care.
“Having local nurses who understand that context is really important.”
Eva has been working in the GV Health Oncology unit for a number of years and was recently appointed to the new role of haematology support nurse, providing dedicated support for people with blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
The number of haematology patients at GV Health has tripled since 2020, prompting the creation of this specialised role.
“I’ve worked in haematology for around 20 years across Australia, and I’m really passionate about improving care for patients with blood cancers,” she said.
“My role focuses on patient education, support and helping co-ordinate their treatment, whether they’re receiving care locally or split between here and Melbourne.”
Being part of the Link Nurse team will allow Eva to share knowledge with other regional nurses and gain access to valuable new resources.
“It’s exciting to be part of a national network focused on improving patient outcomes and empowering regional teams,” she said.
“It’s also about helping patients stay well in the community, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and keeping care close to home.
“Anything I can do to support my patients, I’m going to put my hand up for.”
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