Event topic: Holding It All Together: Supporting Carers Through Burnout
When someone close to us is diagnosed with a brain tumour, our instinct is often to put all of our energy into supporting them. While this comes naturally for many carers, the emotional, physical, practical and financial impact of caring for a loved one can be overwhelming. Many people unexpectedly find themselves in the role of a carer, with little preparation and no clear roadmap for what lies ahead.
We’re often told that we need to “look after ourselves”, but anyone who has cared for someone with a brain tumour knows this is far easier said than done. Between appointments, treatments, work, family responsibilities and the emotional toll of watching someone you love face brain cancer, your own wellbeing can quickly become the last priority. Yet looking after yourself isn’t selfish, it’s essential if you’re to continue supporting your loved one.
This webinar, presented in collaboration between Brain Tumours Online and Peace of Mind Foundation, brings together healthcare professionals and lived experience to openly discuss the realities of carer burnout. We’ll explore why caring for someone with a brain tumour is uniquely challenging, how to recognise the signs of emotional and physical burnout, practical strategies to help protect your own wellbeing, when to seek professional support, and the services available to assist you throughout the journey.
We have a lot to cover in this webinar, but if you have a specific question for our panel, please include it when registering for the webinar. Depending on numbers of questions received, we may not be able to answer all submitted questions during the webinar timeslot.
About our host and panel members:
- Professor Mei Krishnasamy is Professor of Nursing (Cancer) at the University of Melbourne, and part of founding team that developed Brain Tumours Online.
- Bec Mallett founded Peace of Mind Foundation in 2013 following the loss of her 32-year-old sister-in-law to brain cancer, an experience that inspired her to ensure no family faces this devastating disease without support. Alongside her professional role as Founder and Head of Impact & Engagement, Bec has spent the past 5 years caring for her husband Matt, who is living with end stage brain cancer, giving her a deeply personal understanding of the emotional, practical and often overwhelming challenges faced by carers and families. Combining this lived experience with more than 20 years in the not-for-profit sector, Bec is a passionate advocate dedicated to improving support, quality of life and survivorship for people affected by brain cancer.
- Ella Sexton is Senior Clinical Psychologist at Peter Mac and Lecturer at Deakin University. She leads the psychological service for carers within the Peter Mac Wellbeing Centre, where she works with partners, family members and friends supporting a loved one with cancer. She is also the co-chair of the Cancer Carers special interest group within the Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group.
- Melanie Davies is a Client Support Specialist for Peace of Mind Foundation. Melanie has over 17 years of experience in palliative care and oncology nursing.
Please note: these webinars are for education purposes only and should not be taken as individual medical advice. Consult with your healthcare team to find out what approach is best for you.
How do I register to attend?
Click the blue button below to “Sign up for the event”. This will take you to our Humanitix page where you can register to attend the free webinar. You can also submit a question for the panel as part of registering to attend.
When do registrations close?
Registrations (tickets) close 2 hours before the webinar is due to start. If you miss this cut-off, you will still be able to watch the recording on our website once we upload the video, usually 1-2 days after the event.
Will the webinar be recorded?
The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend live or in case you want to re-watch it. The video will be uploaded to the Brain Tumours Online website a few days after the event.
How does the Q&A webinar work?
- The webinar will be held online using Zoom Webinar. The Q&A session will be hosted and moderated by the Brain Tumours Online team. One day prior to the event, we will send you an email with the Zoom details including the link to join.
- Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions prior to the event, when registering for the webinar. You can also submit questions live during the webinar using the Zoom Q&A function.
- Our speakers will do their best to answer your questions and will do so in a way that does not personally identify the person who submitted the question.
- Only the panellists will be visible during the webinar and in the video – attendees watching will be able to see and hear the panellists, but won’t be able to see or talk to other attendees, and attendees won’t be visible in the video recording.