This year we’re all about CONNECTIONS – join us as we explore creativity, change, collaboration and courage – all in the name of a kinder healthcare system for all.     

A gathering with a difference - for healthcare workers, patients, carers and supporters. 

In person, Online, Live Q&A, and Livestream.

Lift your gaze from the daily grind. 

“We know that healthcare staff desperately need a break from the stress, negativity and worry of these times. We hear that you also want to feel empowered to create positive change at work.

We have designed a program of creative, uplifting and important conversations, offerings and tools to reconnect with yourself, like-minded colleagues, and with joy, meaning and positive action in your work.

Let us celebrate and help sustain you. Let us work together to co-create a kinder and more sustainable healthcare system for all."

Professor Catherine Crock, AM, Paediatric Oncologist and Founder & Chair, Hush Foundation & Gathering of Kindness 

The Gathering of Kindness is a conference with a difference.  An opportunity for those working or receiving care in health and care environments to lift their gaze from the daily grind, be acknowledged, challenged and inspired, hear the latest innovations in creativity in health and care, be connected with like minded colleagues and supporters, and reaffirm your commitment and enthusiasm for the important work you do. 

You and we share stories of what it actually looks like to say #KindnessWorksHere, what it means to be a co-creator of kindness at work, and the importance of kindness starting with ourselves.  We don’t dwell too much on all the hard bits (we don’t ignore them either), we envision a happier, healthier, kinder day-to-day for the humans in healthcare, together. 

The pandemic reminded us all about the importance of simple acts of kindness.  As health and care systems and the people in them continue to feel the strain, the 2022 Gathering of Kindness aims to celebrate, nurture and reinvigorate you - with connection, creativity and important conversations about the simplicity and power of kindness and joy at work.  Research tells us that both kindness and creative approaches to learning have significant positive impacts for both personal and organisational change, wellbeing and safety. 

Scientific and fun - what’s not to love!  And there will be dancing!  And music, and art, and so much more!     

The team at The Hush Foundation and Gathering of Kindness are so excited to be able to bring you an in person gathering again.  And, because we know our kindness tribe and our experts come from near and far, don’t miss our additional online offerings. 

What To Expect:

• A health futures think tank

• Five workshops (2 online, 3 in person)

• Five online presentations

• An in person day of conversations, contemplation and joy

• ...and an evening of theatre and music – featuring local and international experts, authors, artists and healthcare leaders.

A day for CREATIVITY!

Monday 7 November

We are so excited to be LIVE again!

Join us in Richmond (Vic) for a day filled with creative, enlightening, joyful and fun events which will leave you reinvigorated and inspired. The day will include creative offerings including music, dance, art, theatre and storytelling, woven around themes and discussions on supporting staff to become more empowered co-creators of kinder cultures at work which support safety and wellbeing for all.  ​

THINK TANK:

‘Structural Kindness: the what, who and how’
A participatory health futures think tank led by healthcare CEO’s and leaders - all welcome.

KEYNOTES:

‘A million acts of kindness in healthcare: Give an hour, get a lot more back’
The story of Hexitime: an online skills bank and timeshare platform aiming to host 1 million acts of kindness in healthcare, with Dr Hesham Abdullah, UK

‘Giving Voice to Values’
GVV is an innovative approach to values-driven leadership development in the workplace with Mary Gentille, USA

‘Hardwired? How our brain makes unconscious judgments and what we can do about it’
With Marni Panas, Canada.

PRESENTATIONS:

‘Kindness in Action – what does it look like and how can we do more?’
Panel with stories from individuals to teams to organisations to governments

‘Humans in Healthcare’
Author Panel - go to the full program for more information.

‘The physiology of stress: meditation, music and medicine’
With cardiologist Dr Arnagretta Hunter and Professor Kim Cunio (Head of ANU School of Music)

‘10 years on – what has changed?’
Dr Chris Turner on the aftermath and outcomes from the Mid Staffs Scandal, Investigation and Report.

‘Walk a mile in my shoes – dignity with dementia’
Using technology and film to support a life well lived with dementia, with Kimberley Littlemore, PocketMedic, Wales.

AUTHORS:

Dr Ben Bravery (The Patient Doctor), Hachette, 2022

Dr Neela Janakiramanan (The Registrar), Allen & Unwen, 2022

Dr Hilton Koppe (One Curious Doctor. A memoir of medicine, migration and mortality), Hambone Press, 2022

Ed (Ayres) Le Brocq (Whole Notes), Harper Collins, 2021

WORKSHOPS:

Poetry Workshop
With Dr Glenn Colqhoun, GP and award winning poet.

Storytelling Workshop
With the team from Care Opinion.

Reflective Writing Workshop
With Dr Hilton Koppe.

Art Workshop
With Aunty Rochelle Patten, a Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba woman and artist.

A Narrative Initiative Workshop
Narrative Initiative workshop with Lucy Mayes.

ART, THEATRE, DANCE AND MUSIC:

Dance Performance and Workshop
With with Movement Zone Silver tops Dance Crew (all ages, all abilities) featuring ‘The Dancing Doctor’ aka Dr Richard Mayes.

Theatre Performance
Enduring Witness.

Exhibition
Human - a Conversation between art & music, by Anjaq (Jaq Grantford & Andrew Batterham)

Collaborative Artwork
Led by Aunty Rochelle Patten, a Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba artist.

Live Music
From our Hush musicians.

Keynote Speakers

Dr Hesham Abdullah, UK

A million acts of kindness in healthcare: Give an hour, get a lot more back

The story of Hexitime: an online skills bank and time-share platform aiming to host 1 million acts of kind-ness in healthcare.  

Mary Gentile, USA

Giving Voice to Values

Giving Voice to Values (GVV) is an innovative approach to values-driven leadership development in business education and the workplace.

Marni Panas, Canada

Hardwired? How our brain makes unconscious judgments and what we 
can do about it

Are you biased? Well we are. And you are, too. We’re all biased. Take a closer look at how unconscious bias can affect  inclusion and diversity, and how you can become more aware of, and manage your unconscious bias.

Meet our Gold Partner!

The Hush Foundation is proud to announce our Gold Partnership with St Vincent’s Health Australia.