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Pippa Rice
President
Pip, a seasoned nurse with 28 years of experience, resides in Tasmania with her partner and four daughters. Early in her career, she explored 23 countries in two years, earned the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and worked in the UK, embracing the flexibility and diversity nursing offers. Pip's journey includes caring for Port Arthur Massacre victims, leading to her interest in trauma and emergency management as a Nursing Officer in the Australian Army Reserve since 2006.
Enlisting in the Australian Army Band Corps in 1997, Pip combined her love for music with her nursing career. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in 2006, she continued her family's military legacy, with relatives serving in various conflicts. In the Army, Pip excelled in nursing, logistics, and operations, rising to the rank of Major. She played crucial roles, including preventing flu outbreaks and providing resuscitation capability in military exercises.
Pip's career expanded to training and assessing ADF nurses, and a remote posting as a nursing Career Advisor at Army Headquarters in Canberra. Pip is passionate about mentoring, welcoming new challenges, and presenting on her specialty of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. Her diverse roles, from serving as Treasurer to the Tasmanian Wound Care Association to responding to bushfires, showcase her commitment to both military and civilian communities.
As a Clinical Nurse Educator at the Royal Hobart Hospital since 2009, Pip is presently orientating nursing students and graduates, conducting audits, and providing training in the Short Stay Suite including Endoscopy. Simultaneously, she serves as the inaugural President of NPAV, advocating for members and contributing to future healthcare directions. Pip's diverse impact extends to her recent role as a Director for the RSV Aurora Australis Foundation Ltd, where she lobbied to keep and preserve Australia's icebreaker.
In 2019, Pip's professionalism earned her the Tasmanian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence in Nursing Practice Award. Beyond her outstanding career, she actively supports the community, mentors new nurses, engages in various causes and champions human rights. As a dynamic force in healthcare, Pip looks forward to influencing future directions and providing a voice of reason in an evolving healthcare landscape.
Bernie Franke
Vice President
Bernie is a Registered Nurse (RN) with an extensive background in healthcare, spanning over 30 years of full-time experience in various hospital settings. His career has predominantly revolved around community clinical practice and case management, where for 17 years he has been an integral part of the Hospital Admission Risk Team (HARP) in the Barwon area.
His dedication to the field led him to become a member of the Nurses Professional Association of Victoria and throughout his career he has “always valued the principles of informed consent and the practice of individualised risk-benefit assessments in medicine. It is my belief that every individual should have the right to make informed decisions about their healthcare, and that medical interventions should be tailored to each person's unique circumstances and needs.”
Bernie's extensive experience as an RN, his commitment to informed consent, and his dedication to individualised risk-benefit medicine all underline his hope for a future where these principles are once again at the forefront of healthcare practices, and where the well-being of both patients and healthcare professionals is safeguarded.
Jenny Zhang
Treasurer
Jenny is passionate about assisting others in achieving optimal health and life outcomes, this is rooted in her belief that a positive and enthusiastic attitude plays a crucial role in this endeavor. Her journey in the health industry has been marked by a wealth of experience, encompassing various facets such as aged care, subacute, acute, and critical care.
With a diverse background in nursing, Jenny has seamlessly blended her roles in nursing care and patient advocacy. Throughout her career, she has consistently strived to bring smiles to the faces of both patients and colleagues, recognising the profound impact a positive outlook can have on overall well-being.
Driven by her unwavering commitment to making a meaningful difference, Jenny has recently embarked on a new chapter by joining Red Union. Here, she sees an opportunity to further channel her passion for helping frontline nurses. By leveraging her extensive knowledge and experience, Jenny aims to continue fulfilling her passion in helping frontline nurses.
Jenny Spencer
NPAV State Coordinator
As the NPAV State Coordinator, Jenny is eager to support nurses in the field, giving them a voice to bring about positive change for themselves and the patients they care for.
Jenny’s understanding of the challenges faced by nurses in diverse settings, including hospitals and nursing homes, come from her hand-on experience. She begun volunteering for Red Union and was quickly asked to be part of the team.
For two years, Jenny has been contributing to general member support and addressing a wide range of workplace issues. Her role in expanding NPAV in rural settings shows her commitment to reaching nurses in all corners of our community.
Jenny is happy to be working for an organisation that isn't associated with any political party and who actively puts nurse's interests first. Jenny looks forward to growing the union so that we can really make a difference for our Victorian members.
"I believe NPAV will make a positive difference for nurses. I am very encouraged by the fact that we have no political affiliation and truly give nurses a voice which is unmitigated by alternative agendas.”
Ella Leach
State Secretary
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