What happens when a family member has died, especially when it is referred to the Queensland Coroner, is a question usually only asked when a family is in those circumstances.
That’s where Ann Wallace comes in.
It’s an unusual job and on a daily basis, as a Queensland Health Coronial Clinical Nurse Consultant, Ann helps the family members to get through the process of what has to be done from that point on.
Based at Queensland Health’s Coopers Plains facility where she works alongside scientists, lab technicians and police, she is part of a team who works as the bridge between families and authorities in the event of a death which has been referred to the coroner.
A coroner will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a person, to find out the identity of the deceased person, when and where they died, how they died and the medical cause of death.
Ann is there to support families as the coronial process takes place.
"My job is as a coronial nurse, and I work closely with a team of forensic pathologists, who provide a service to the Queensland Coroner in identifying the cause of death, in cases reported to the Queensland Coroner.” Ann said.
“Generally they're the deaths that have been reported because no ‘cause of death’ certificate has been issued, and that’s where my nursing background becomes very important. I’m someone that has always wanted to help people.”
Ann and her team will get in touch with a family, who could be anywhere in the state, and talk to them about the person who has passed away, and work with them to come to a resolution so that the family can then move on with funeral arrangements.
As a nurse, her background in dealing with people who are going through a tough time has given her a set of skills that she uses every day as she helps Queenslanders through the process.
“That’s part of a nurse’s role when working in a hospital, and I guess the challenge at times is that you’re dealing with a voice on the other side of the phone,” Ann said.
“We don’t get to see 99% of the people who we speak with, so it’s my role to establish and build that connection.
“Every family has a certain dynamic, with different personalities, so it’s about learning quickly how to best direct that conversation and obtain the required information, and ascertaining the level of distress they can be in.
“It’s so important as a health professional to always look back at what you’ve done, and see how you can improve or learn from every experience. One of the most rewarding parts of the job is that we get so much positive feedback from families who are at a point in their life where they are often traumatised or have suffered a great loss.”
Working in this field means that Ann is part of a close-knit team that has to lean on each other for support.
“Obviously we can’t discuss our day with anyone outside the office, so we are always looking out for each other and making sure that we support each other.
“It’s not a job that you can take home with you, so you need an outlet to clear your head and for me that’s music or running, it helps me to reset and go to work the next day ready for the next challenge.
“In the past I’ve worked in emergency departments, ICUs, medical nursing, even in regional areas where resources are scarce, so all of that experience has supported my ability to be able to do a job like this, it’s a good background to have and I love my job.”
Ann believes that her role is often as simple as giving families the information they need at a time when they need it most.
“Every day, every family is different, that’s what I like about the job, and I’m so glad to be part of a supportive team that is there to help Queenslanders.”