THE DESIRE FOR PRIMARY CARE NURSES TO DO MORE, BE RECOGNISED AND VALUED FOR THE WORK THEY DO
With
Denise Lyons
Nurse Practitioner, Newcastle, NSW &
President, Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA)
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Newcastle, NSW | August 2025
Denise Lyons is a highly experienced nurse with over 40 years in the profession, including more than 25 years dedicated to primary care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the United States in 1985 and, in 2012, became an endorsed Nurse Practitioner in Australia. Currently, she serves as a primary care Nurse Practitioner in General Practice in Newcastle, where she is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves the health and wellbeing of her community.
Throughout her career, Denise has championed the vital role of nurses in primary health care. Her professional journey spans clinical practice, leadership, and policy, with a strong focus on innovation and equity in health service delivery. Passionate about excellence in primary care, she has contributed extensively to advancing the profession through leadership, mentoring, and advocacy.
As an elected Board Director, and now President of the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA), Denise is dedicated to strengthening the voice of primary health care nurses nationwide. She advocates for best practice, professional recognition, and sustainable models of care. Known for her collaborative leadership and strategic vision, Denise is committed to shaping a strong future for nursing and primary health care in Australia.
About APNA
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) is the peak body and professional membership association for all nurses working outside of a hospital setting in Australia. APNA champions the role of primary health care nurses; to advance professional recognition, ensure workforce sustainability, nurture leadership in health, and optimise the role of nurses in patient-centred care.
APNA represents a significant and rapidly expanding workforce; primary health care nurses account for around one in eight of the 640,000 registered health professionals in Australia.
Source: Supplied and from Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) website
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Landmark brain shape study
For over a century, researchers have thought that the patterns of brain activity that define our experiences, hopes and dreams are determined by how different brain regions communicate with each other through a complex web of trillions of cellular connections.
Now, a Monash University Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health-led study has examined more than 10,000 different maps of human brain activity and found that the overall shape of a person’s brain exerts a far greater influence on how we think, feel and behave than its intricate neuronal connectivity.
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How I Became an Emergency Physician
Dr Kim Hansen was initially attracted to emergency medicine because of its dynamic and chaotic environment. She enjoyed organising the chaos of the emergency department and working with a variety of patients, from newborn babies to centenarians. Dr Hansen found it fulfilling to help people get better or provide them with assistance and guidance when they couldn’t be cured. The unpredictability of the work was also part of the appeal, and she dedicated herself to developing the skills required to be a good emergency doctor.
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Outstanding Achievement
George FaithfullGeorge has been in the medical device industry in a variety of roles for over 35 years including Sales, Marketing, Business Development, General Management, R&D, Clinical, Regulatory and Government Affairs. He has worked for Stryker in Australia, USA and across Asia.
