Melissa reflects on her busy year
Te Ārai researcher Melissa Carey undertook her postdoctoral study in Auckland, but is now an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. She’s had a busy year which has culminated in being awarded the VC Staff Excellence Award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advancement. The award was made for demonstrating leadership by engaging with local Aboriginal artists in the South West to co-design and commission artworks for the newly refurbished school of Nursing and Midwifery. Congratulations Melissa!
Melissa receiving her VC’s award
Other highlights of her year included meeting with former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark at the International Council of Nurses Congress held in Helsinki. The event theme was “Nursing Power to Change the World. Over 7,000 delegates from 137 countries explored the global health priorities, leadership, education, technology, and workforce sustainability. Highlights included plenary sessions, expert panels, and a vibrant Parade of Nations. The Congress emphasized nursing’s role in shaping policy, advancing universal health coverage, and addressing challenges such as staffing shortages, climate impacts, and humanitarian crises.
Melissa meeting with Helen Clark
A key part of Melissa’s work this year was developing and delivering a program for a series of community workshops aimed increasing community grief literacy through positive psychology techniques using Art. These were held in Bunbury and Perth Western Australia. Melissa reflects that:
Participants in the Art of Grief Workshop
Melissa reflects that: “Our recent Art of Grief workshop was a deeply moving experience that combined creativity with grief literacy. Participants gathered in a safe, supportive space to explore loss through art-making while learning about the nature of grief—its complexity, individuality, and the myths that often surround it. Guided activities encouraged expression beyond words using colour, texture, and symbolism. Conversations about grief literacy helped normalize feelings and reduce stigma, empowering participants to understand and articulate their experiences. The session fostered connection, compassion, and resilience, reminding us that grief is not something to “fix,” but something to honour through creativity and knowledge.”
We can’t wait to see what Melissa gets up to next year!