Meet the PACCS Team
PACCS clinical nurse consultants (CNCs), hold AHPRA registration, are members of key nursing and palliative care associations and have comprehensive professional indemnity and public liability insurance and workers compensation policies.
The PACCS clinical nurse consultant service does not replace the expertise within the NSW Local Health District Specialist Palliative Care service but aims to provide a ‘proactive’, adjunct and timely intervention to optimise care for the resident.
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Jane Mahony RN is the managing director and together with her team of clinical nurse consultants, offers three decades of palliative care experience across aged care, community and inpatient palliative care services.
Jane has been a registered nurse since 1987 and has a Bachelor of Applied Science Nursing, a Certificate in Midwifery and Certificate IV TAA.
Jane held the position of Clinical Nurse Consultant for Palliative Care SSWAHS (Wingecarribee) from 2002 to 2010.
In June 2010 PACCS was established as a palliative care and complex pain management service, providing consultancy and education to residential aged care facilities across NSW including Warrigal, John Paul Village Heathcote, RSL Life Care, Baptist Care, The Salvation Army Aged Care Plus, The Whiddon Group, Anthem, Harbison Care, The Thompson Group, Blue Haven and LDK.
Jane is also employed as a casual tutor and lecturer at the University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing and Midwifery and TAFE NSW.
Jane is a member of the Palliative Care NSW Association, Palliative Aged Care Network (PACN) Aged Care Palliative Care Nurses Hub and Australian Practice Nurse Association (APNA).
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Jane Noble joined Palliative and Aged Care Consultancy Services (PACCS) as our Clinical Services Manager in 2019, bringing with her a foundation in nursing and a passion and warmth for our ageing population.
Applying her extensive experience as a Practice Manager, Jane's role is to provide support to Jane Mahony and the PACCS team, but equally scheduling education, communication with facilities, and the financial stability of PACCS.
Jane understands that providing a high level of understanding, kindness and support will sustain and improve relationships between PACCS, the Aged Care Facilities and their clients.
While she oversees the business side of PACCS, she is also present and involved with relationships between PACCS and the facilities they service, ensuring all compliances are up to date from Nursing Registrations to Practice Insurance.
Jane is a Registered Nurse and Midwife, having obtained her degree through Australian Catholic University and St Margaret's Hospital respectively. Having spent many years working in hospitals and the community, both in Australia and London, Jane has always had an attachment to Aged Care.
Janes' passion, friendly nature and can-do attitude make her a wonderful addition to the already inspirational PACCS team.
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Rachael started her career in business admin in 2007 when she began working for a small company within the building industry as an office assistant.
Over the next five years she was able to work her way up in the company managing all aspects of admin including, quoting, purchasing, accounts payable, sales and marketing, also obtaining a certificate IV in business administration, before leaving that role in 2012 to have her first baby.
Between 2012 and 2021 besides raising 3 small children she also worked casual hospitality jobs, and managed the family landscaping business.
Rachael joined the PACCS family in February 2021 as an executive assistant, bringing years of clerical experience with her, excited to help the company expand and grow.
Rachael is passionate and committed to providing strong support to our wonderful team in the important, quality work they do providing care to vulnerable people.
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Louise Crawford joined the PACCS Team in March 2019 as a Mental Health Clinical Nurse Consultant, having previously worked as a CNC for Older Person’s Mental Health in the Southern Highlands.
Louise has been a Registered Nurse since 1993 with over 14 Years in Aged Care.
Louise commenced her Nursing Degree in 1989 at the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur) whilst working in Aged Care as an AIN.
Louise graduated from University with a Degree Specialising in Aged Care and Mental Health.
Louise has done various Roles during her 35 Years of Nursing including Deputy Director of Nursing/ Nursing Educator/Nursing Manager/ Case Manager/ Various Leadership Roles in Mental Health/ Clozapine Co-ordinator for Southwestern Sydney.
Louise has completed Numerous Post Graduate Studies- specialising in CBT/ DBT and Cognitive Testing.
Louise also completed “Accredited Person Under the NSW Mental Health Act 2007”-This was certified by the Ministry of Health.
Louise’s focus is to promote “Mental Health Well-Being” and her vision for the future of Mental Health is that “Every person will have a positive experience when accessing Mental Health support through PACCS”.
“There is no Health without Mental Health”.
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Jennie Cox is a Social Worker with a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of NSW. She has a Masters Degree in Health Service Management and is an Accredited Member of The Australian Association of Social Workers.
Jennie has a long history working in the Public Health system with the last 28 years managing the Social Work Department at Bowral Hospital.
She has a strong connection with local service providers, General Practitioners and Specialists and the health and welfare system.
Jennie has extensive experience working in the areas of Palliative and Aged Care.
She has worked collaboratively with the Medical and Nursing Palliative Care teams in the hospital setting in providing a Specialist Social Work role to patients and their families and is committed to providing a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to Palliative Care.
She has many years of experience in working in the areas of grief and loss, death and dying, trauma and the complexities experienced by people nearing the End of Life.
Jennie has worked extensively in the area of Aged Care with a very strong knowledge of the issues facing aged care clients including the grief and loss associated with moving into residential aged care, cognitive impairment and the loss of independence.
She is experienced in navigating the complexities of the aged care and health system and in advocating for people experiencing difficulty in accessing appropriate care, services and support.
Jennie has experience in providing Clinical Supervision and is committed to providing support and mentoring to staff and volunteers working in Palliative and Aged Care.
Jennie is proud to be able to assist PACCS with the establishment of a Social Work service in their Team and to embed this role in their Model of Care.
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Amanda Heap joined the PACCS team as a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant in September 2021. Since then she has been working in Aged Care Facilities in Queanbeyan and, from October 2023, in Yass.
Prior to starting consulting work in the ACF’s Amanda worked in the community with the Queanbeyan and ACT Specialist Palliative Care teams.
Amanda first realised her passion for Palliative Care when she was a community nurse in the ACT in the 1990s. She was sharing care with a Palliative Care nurse whose holistic approach focused on enabling the person to achieve the best quality of life at the end of his life. This approach supported the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of this person and his family.
Amanda joined the ACT Palliative Care team and has since supported many people with life-limiting illnesses in the community.
Since starting with PACCS Amanda has adapted the same holistic approach to working towards providing the best quality end-of-life care for the elderly in ACF’s.
Amanda appreciates working closely with nursing staff, families, GPs and allied health. She feels a team approach ensures all Residents in her care receive quality symptom management and End of Life care.
Amanda also supports facilities by providing education and assisting families with Family Conferences and completing Advanced Care Directives.
Amanda presented a paper titled “Too Little Too Late” at the Advanced Care Directive Conference in 2013, and completed the Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing in 2007 with Calvary Health Care in the ACT.
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Margaret Nichols joined PACCS in September 2021. She has been a Registered Nurse since 1980 and has worked in various roles in the acute care setting including palliative care, aged care education and project work within aged care.
For the past 20 years, Margaret has worked with the elderly and their families. Whilst this role was based in the acute setting, she outreached to community health services and aged care services as well as residential aged care facilities.She has a keen interest in advocating for the elderly person and empowering those who provide care. She believes in making a difference for the elderly person and recognises that often it is the little things that are important to the older person and their families.
Margaret has an Associate Diploma in Community Health Nursing, Bachelor of Education (Adult Education) and Master of Science: Gerontology and Rehabilitation Studies.
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Susie joined the PACCS team, as a Palliative Nurse Consultant, in November 2019, having previously worked as a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant.
Susie has been a registered nurse for over 30 years, training in England and working in Canada before immigrating to Australia, and the Southern Highlands, in 1996.
For the last twenty-four years, Susie has focused on community nursing and aged care.
Her passion for palliative care was sparked whilst working under a dynamic manager who valued a palliative approach to care and recognised the importance of advanced care planning.
Susie continues to promote advance care planning to enable residents to live their best lives whilst having their wishes known for a time of declining health.
She enjoys working in partnership with the health care team, supporting them to provide quality and equitable palliative care to all residents living with a life-limiting illness.
Susie has undertaken post-graduate studies in palliative care and completed Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is committed to providing high-quality resident care through fostering a culture of learning. She is a member of Palliative Care Nurses Australia.
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Pam Rath started her nursing career as an Enrolled Nurse having trained at Masonic Hospital, Ashfield in 1974.
Her first role was in an aged care facility on the Central Coast where she worked for five years.
Pam then moved to the Southern Highlands with her family and was the first Enrolled Nurse to be employed at Bowral Community Health, a job that she loved and in which she excelled. She stayed as a Community Nurse for 30 years.
In this time Pam gained knowledge and experience in wound management and was accredited in chronic wound care, compression therapy and VAC dressings.
Pam was very involved in providing palliative care in the community and worked alongside the Palliative Care Specialist and Clinical Nurse Consultant.
She undertook the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) at Camden Palliative Care Unit.
Pam represented Bowral Community Health at the local health district Falls Prevention Committee and initiated the annual April Falls Day at Bowral Community Health. Pam continues to utilise this knowledge in the home setting, promoting client safety and minimising their fall risks.
Pam was an active member of Bowral Community Health NSW’s Essentials of Care (EoC) Program which focused on improving client satisfaction and spoke at EoC forums in Sydney.
Pam retired from Community Health three years ago and joined the PACCS team.
She continues to use her skills to support aged care nurses with wound prevention, assessment and management. She also provides respite support for palliative clients and their families within their home.
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Anne-Marie joined the PACCS Team in September 2025 as a counsellor who specialises in helping people navigate grief and loss in their lives.
As a counsellor working in tandem with PACCS health care professionals, Anne-Marie is at home supporting people in the aged care community impacted by loss – often due to a change of home or health circumstances, or the death of a loved one.
With post graduate accreditation in grief and loss counselling and a range of counselling modalities, Anne-Marie focuses on tailoring interventions that suit the individual, be it practical, mindful, or creative. She aims to support people to live with change as well as possible and even to help turn the grit in their life into gold.
Prior to PACCS, Anne-Marie worked as a counsellor and educator with Dementia Australia for 5 years supporting both carers and those living with a diagnosis of either dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or brain injury. Anne-Marie completed Dementia Essentials qualifications in 2021 and represented Dementia Australia at regional ‘Brain Hubs’ in NSW providing education and support to regional communities.
Anne-Marie has a Diploma of Counselling (through AIPC in 2020) and is a registered counsellor with the peak industry body, the Australian Counselling Association.
Prior to working as a Counsellor, Anne-Marie built a bedrock of skills over 25 years as a communications expert in various roles including as a company spokesperson, issues manager and content creator with some of Australia’s largest companies.
In addition, she qualified as a business coach and developed a coaching model collaborating with individuals to uncover their unique set of communication patterns to help people maximise their strengths for career success.
Anne-Marie’s earlier studies included qualifying in 1995 with a Bachelor of Laws (University of Technology Sydney) and in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts (University of Sydney).
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Anne-Marie has post graduate accreditation in grief and loss programs, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, ACT, Tapping and Meditation. Anne-Marie also undertakes annual study programs with the UK’s premier Psychology and Counselling Institute, Human Givens.
Anne-Marie is proactive at tailoring counselling interventions that suit the individual, be it practical (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, or ACT), mindful (meditations, tapping, breathing or movement exercises), or creative solutions (Narrative Therapy, reminiscing). She aims to support people to live with change as well as possible and even to help to turn the grit in their life into gold.
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Bron Heron’s initial passion for palliative care nursing began in 1984 when training to become an Enrolled Nurse.
Bron went on to qualify as a Registered Nurse in 1989 and since 1992 has worked in a variety of palliative care clinical roles, including acute hospital, primary health and Palliative Care inpatient settings.
Prior to joining the PACCS team in 2020, Bron spent almost 10 years working for an Aged Care Organisation as a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, the role had a strong model of clinical consultancy and education across residential care, retirement living and community care, and set the organisational direction and clinical standards for the provision of Palliative and End of Life Care.
Bron was a founding member and Inaugural Chair of Palliative Aged Care Nurses, NSW (PACN) and continues her membership of this network. She is also a member of the peak industry bodies Palliative Care NSW and Palliative Care Nurses Australia.
Bron has completed Postgraduate studies in Palliative Care and is committed to maintaining clinical currency ensuring her provision of a consistently high standard of palliative and end-of-life care for all in her care.
Bron is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience of palliative care and aged care nursing. She has a special interest in training Palliative Care Volunteers and has been privileged to join Southern Highlands Community Hospice in training volunteers to support people living and dying within residential care settings.
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Monica comes to PACCS with over 35 years of experience in health.
Monica has been a registered nurse since 1985. Monica is a person-focused registered nurse with a strong commitment to health, advocacy, stabilisation and improvement especially in the elderly.
She holds a graduate certificate in Oncology and a Graduate Diploma in counselling and Certificate IV in training and assessment.
Monica has worked in differing roles in Aged Care organisations over the past 10 years as a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant, Care Manager and Clinical Support. Supporting residents, their families and staff to improve symptom management and support Palliative Care within the organisations she has worked with.
Monica previously worked as a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Melanoma and Surgical Oncology for SLHD and Aged Care rehabilitation and Palliative Care at Wolper Jewish Hospital.
In her career, Monica has been a strong advocate for those she has cared for holding roles in patient support, complex health management, and data management, and has been a solid contributor to clinical trials and research.
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Maxine joined the PACCS team as a Clinical Nurse Consultant in 2025. Maxine began her nursing career in 2003 as an Assistant in Nursing in residential aged care and both hospitals in the Southern Highlands while she undertook her Bachelor of Nursing. Over the course of her career, Maxine has developed her clinical expertise across public, private and aged care sectors, holding positions in acute care, respiratory, chronic disease management, palliative care, aged care, rehabilitation, cancer therapy and renal dialysis settings.
During her time with NSW Health, Maxine held several leadership positions, including Clinical Nurse Consultant, Nurse Unit Manager and Director of Quality and Patient Safety, earning a reputation for delivering high standards of safe, personalised and compassionate care. Maxine has established strong multidisciplinary professional networks in the Southern Highlands and across NSW and believes that a collaborative approach is essential to providing optimal support for the individual care needs of our clients.
To enhance her clinical practice, Maxine’s commitment to lifelong learning is evidenced by a Master’s in Healthcare Leadership, Graduate Diploma in Chronic Disease Management, Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Practice, Graduate Certificate in Respiratory Management, Certificate in Clinical Governance, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Maxine considers it a great privilege to serve her community when they are at their most vulnerable and is dedicated to supporting our clients with optimising symptom management. Maxine is a professional member of Palliative Care NSW, Palliative Care Nurses Australia, and the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s End of Life & Palliative Care, and Aged Health networks. Outside of PACCS, Maxine is a JP and is casually employed at TAFE NSW teaching the Diploma of Nursing.
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Antonella provides Palliative Care consultations to residents in aged care facilities in Illawarra and Southern Highlands.
Antonella prides herself on supporting staff, providing education, and completing Advance Care Directives so the end-of-life wishes of the residents are achieved.
Family case conferences and difficult conversations regarding residents’ goals of care are achieved in close collaboration with their chosen GP.
Antonella believes that supporting and providing ongoing Palliative care education to clinical staff is what achieves the best outcome for the residents.
Antonella has been working in Palliative Care for 25 years. She has worked in multiple Palliative care wards in Sydney and Illawarra and spent the last 10 years working as a CNC and Manager.
One of her biggest achievements was to help establish Community Palliative Care Service delivery to 8 local health districts in NSW.
Antonella has a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney and a Master’s degree in Palliative care from Flinders University.
Antonella has also completed a Leadership certificate through Impact-Silver Chain.
Antonella’s last hooray in her nursing career is to aid and promote positive changes in aged care that will be sustainable for generations to come.
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Nichole has been working with the PACCS team since 2015.
Nichole first realised her passion for Palliative Care in 2003 when she began working as a Primary Health Nurse in the Macarthur region. Nichole has continued to work in the field of Palliative Care, including in the communities of Macarthur and Hoxton Park. She also spent 6 years as a Palliative Care Clinical Trials and Research Nurse in public hospitals.
She has worked with several registered aged care facilities across the Southern Highlands, Macarthur and Shire regions.
As a Palliative Care CNC she prides herself on the close working relationship she has developed with all staff members, families, local GP’s, and Allied Health professionals.
Nichole feels this team approach ensures that all residents in her care receive quality symptom management and End of Life Care.
Nichole also supports facilities by providing education and assisting with family conferences and completing Advanced Care Directives.
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Stephen brings many years of nursing experience, the majority in the public health sector.
This experience is supported formally by Bachelor of Nursing, Masters of Nursing (Surgical), Grad Cert in Health Management, and Cert Clinical Supervision.
For the last 25 years, Stephen has worked in senior management and consultancy roles within SWSLHD. This has included the Director of Nursing, Hospital and Aged Care, Nurse Manager, Redevelopment Director and Clinical Nurse Consultant Wound Management and Hospital in the Home.
Stephen is now consulting with PACC’s and is committed to helping all residents and staff with current wound management consultancy, education, and advocacy within aged care.
Stephen believes in a collaborative and proactive approach to all wound management and skin integrity issues, so all residential care staff can now, and into the future, feel comfortable managing the challenges of wound care within their organisation.
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Carol’s passion for nursing is 30 years in the making, from her first position as an Assistant in Nursing in Aged Care, then gaining a position at Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney as a Trainee Enrolled Nurse. Carol completed her studies in 1997 to be an Enrolled Nurse in working for 6 years across multiple areas within Rehabilitation, including Outpatient, Transport Nurse and Nursing Resources.
As an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse Carol moved into General Practice in the Southern Highlands working within a large practice with a treatment room before returning to residential aged care, supervising the care of 55 residents.
During her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Western Sydney University, Carol held an Undergraduate /EEN position in Primary & Community Health NSW Health SWSLHD for 3 years as a Community Health Nurse, covering a diverse cultural demographic.
Carol completed her New Graduate Year in 2023 with PACCS, mentored by Clinical Nurse Consultants covering the areas of Palliative Care, Wound Management and Aged Care Mental Health. Carol participated in the PEACH program with SWSLHD, as well as assisting with reverse PEPA training.
Carol continues her passion for gerontology by completing a post-graduate essential course in Gerontological Nursing Competencies UOW 2023, part 2 Enhanced Leadership course commencing 2024.
Carol is a member of GANA Gerontological Alliance of Nurses Australia
Carol believes in delivering safe, respectful care where patients and families alike are empowered to be decision-makers in their own care and dignity at all stages of health condition to be advocated for.