Australian Cannabis Nurses Association

Simone has spent 30 years working in rural health across acute, emergency, aged, palliative and community care. In 2009 she completed a Masters of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and was endorsed in 2013. In 2014 she developed an innovative community/aged care outreach model that targets complex and vulnerable clients who have difficulty accessing care or have complex psychosocial, physical or pain needs. In 2016, this received pilot project funding and the model was successfully implemented. She has remained working in outreach with the elderly, disadvantaged and complex clients since across aged, acute and disability sectors. 

In the last 5 years Simone has also worked in Women’s Health (sexual and reproductive), undertaken on-call locum work in Urgent Care Centres in Central Victoria and undertaken extensive studies in Palliative and Cannabis Medicine. Simone has previously worked as a Forensic Nurse Examiner for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, travelling Victoria to assess and treat victims and perpetrators of crime and being called as an expert witness in criminal cases. 

On a personal note, 2019 was a big year. Simone was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma and had surgery on her right leg. Six months later she had a slip and sustained a significant broken left leg, requiring two surgeries, bone grafts and 22 metal plates and bolts in her leg forever. 

Simone spent a lot of her rehab time studying medicinal cannabis, how it works and what is happening around the world with legislation and access to it. She has since undertaken several courses in prescribing medicinal cannabis and works in a full time clinical capacity. 

Deb is a practicing Registered Clinical Nurse Consultant. Her background is Cardio thoracic, transplant & community Nursing, with focus now being Cannabis medicine. Passions are advocating for patients, community, and her colleagues in the realm of medicinal cannabis.

Deb is a member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, an Ambassador for Drive Change, a founding member of the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association (AMCA) Member of Society of Cannabis Clinicians, founding member of The Australian chapter Society of Cannabis Clinicians. (SCC AC), Cannabis Nurses Network member, a volunteer for Not-for-profit organisation United in Compassion (UIC)

She engages with many affiliations regarding helping patients obtain and retain quality of life through this plant medicine. Organises and runs full day education seminars at Metro North Hospitals and health services in QLD. These seminars given professional development points for attendees. Deb has played an integral part in bringing awareness of this medicine to major Nursing forums and conferences with motions passed in vote. She has lobbied for 60,000 strong Nurses to receive cannabis education and for this to be included in agendas. Lobbying around specifics such as Endocannabinoid education for Nurses and PBS listed medicines to driving implications for this medicine.

Deb owns and runs the Australian Nurses Cannabis Support & Information Network with 10,000 followers thirsty for correct up to date information, in conjunction with a private group, Nurses in Unity with 180 likeminded cannabis Nurses. This group was formed from the 2019 UIC symposium.

Deb strongly advocates for better access to quality product, legislation changes to driving laws, compassionate access for patients, a less convoluted system & participates in advocacy for her patients, colleagues, and the public.