On behalf of VPNG, you are invited to join the Committee and perioperative nurses from across Victoria for a day of high-quality professional education, connection and collaboration. The 2026 Country Conference will feature engaging presentations from the broader perioperative and healthcare community, with a strong focus on communication, patient safety and interdisciplinary practice. The program will include evidence-based presentations showcasing contemporary research and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing perioperative patient outcomes across the entire perioperative continuum. This exchange of knowledge provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen practice across metropolitan, rural and regional settings. Importantly, the conference will also provide a platform for innovative rural and regional projects to be shared with the wider perioperative community, recognising the essential contribution of country clinicians. The Country Conference also offers valuable networking opportunities for trade and industry partners to connect with perioperative nurses from across the state, and for clinicians to build professional relationships, share experiences and strengthen collaboration across diverse practice settings. These connections support ongoing innovation, education and excellence in perioperative care. We would be delighted for you to join us for this important professional event and look forward to welcoming you to Ballarat in 2026.

Webinar Overview This session will provide an overview of organ and tissue donation. We will explore the donation pathway from referral to retrieval, highlighting key perioperative responsibilities throughout the surgical process. A case study will be used to demonstrate the complexity of donation cases, including clinical and logistical considerations. Participants will gain practical insights into how perioperative nurses contribute to optimising donation outcomes and supporting the donor and their family’s end‑of‑life wishes. Monique Drury - Bio Monique Drury is a Senior Education Coordinator at DonateLife Victoria, a role she has held since 2022. Prior to joining the education team, Monique worked as a Donation Specialist Nurse, facilitating organ and tissue donation cases across Victoria. Monique’s clinical background is in Emergency Nursing, and has over a decade of experience working in health services across multiple states. She is passionate about developing confident, skilled Donation Specialist Nurses and delivering high-quality, state-wide education that promotes best practice in organ and tissue donation. Monique’s work is grounded in clinical expertise, evidence-based practice and a commitment to improving outcomes for donors, families and transplant recipients.

CONTINUE TO REGISTER IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS EXPERIENCE IN THE PERIOPERATIVE AREA. This course has been designed to provide exposure to the perioperative environment for Registered and Enrolled Nurses who have limited or no experience and are interested in moving into this specialty area of nursing. Any questions - please email enquiries@vpng.org.au The Aims of the Program Include Provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the Perioperative Nurse Facilitating the development of a basic understanding of the principles and practice of perioperative nursing Encouraging participants to further develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of perioperative nursing on completion of the course Topics Include Roles of the Perioperative Nurse Principles of perioperative nursing Preoperative care of the perioperative patient Overview of anaesthesia Perioperative pharmacology Principles of airway monitoring Patient assessment and care of the unconscious patient Pain management Infection control principles Legal and safety issues relevant to perioperative nursing Role of the Perioperative Nurse as patient advocate