The Nurse's Tale: Forgotten Stories from Australia's History:

Talks on Tuesdays is a live event series bringing big ideas, real experts, and curious minds together - at your favourite local venues. Think thought-provoking lectures, audience questions, and post-talk mingling over drinks and dinner.

This isn’t a uni lecture. It’s a social, intelligent night out.Come alone or with friends, leave with something to talk about.

Event Schedule:

6.30pm Arrival & Doors Open

7pm Lecture Starts

7.45pm Q&A

8pm Talk Concludes

8.30pm Event Closes.

*Please arrive close to 6.30pm

A La Carte menu and full bar available throughout the night - pay as you go.

Your Topic:
The Nurse's Tale: Forgotten Stories from Australia's History:
History is often told through famous names and major events, but some of the most remarkable stories belong to nurses whose contributions have been largely forgotten. In this talk, I will share the lives of some of my favourite nurses from history, including Aboriginal nurses who provided care despite significant barriers and discrimination, convict nurses who worked within the colonial health system, and some of Australia's first Nightingale-trained nurses.
Drawing on historical research, the presentation will explore these women's diverse experiences, the challenges they faced, and their lasting impact on nursing and healthcare in Australia. Their stories offer a fascinating insight into resilience, service, and the ways nursing has shaped Australian society.

Your Speaker:

Jacinta Mackay is a Wiradjuri woman, registered nurse, historian, and Lecturer at the University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery. Her work explores how history can inform contemporary nursing care, with a particular focus on improving cultural safety and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She is currently completing a PhD examining how history and truth can empower culturally safe care in hospital settings. Through her research, teaching, and public engagement, Jacinta is committed to recovering overlooked stories from the historical record and using them to inform more equitable and culturally safe nursing practice.