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About this Episode
Get ready to rethink how we verify and value professional capability as Zoe, Michelle and Karen unpack one of the trickiest concepts in healthcare: competency.
Together, they examine how competency needs to be more than a process — it needs to be a conversation. They also discuss how to move beyond static assessments, how confidence and compliance fit in (or don’t), and what good competency-based education actually looks like.
Resources and links:
- Contact the show at podcast@ausmed.com.au
- Follow Ausmed on LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram
Toolbox Articles Discussed:
- Competency Assessments are Not a Checklist | Webinar
- The Competency Conundrum in Home Care
- Practical Approaches to Competency-Based Education | Guide
- How Do I Use Learning Analytics for Competency Mapping? | Guide
- Guide to Building a Competency Framework for Skill Development
- Developing a Competency Identification System | Guide
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Podcast Hosts
Zoe Youl
Zoe Youl is a Critical Care Registered Nurse and Head of Community at Ausmed, with over a decade of experience in clinical governance, education, and professional development. As Director of Ausmed’s Accredited Provider Program, she led the team to its fourth consecutive Accreditation with Distinction from the ANCC in 2024, making Ausmed the only Australian provider with this recognition.
Zoe holds a Master’s in Nursing Management and Leadership and has contributed internationally to advancing nursing professional development, including as a peer reviewer and co-author of key standards and curricula.
Dr Karen Patterson
Dr Karen Patterson (PhD) is Ausmed's inaugural Chief Nursing Officer, leading the organisation's clinical governance and workforce capability strategies. With a distinguished career in health leadership, governance, and workforce development, she brings extensive expertise in clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, and professional development across diverse healthcare settings.
Karen firmly believes that a skilled, equipped, supported, and engaged healthcare workforce is fundamental to providing safer, more effective care with meaningful outcomes — benefiting individuals, communities, and the broader health system.
At Ausmed, she is committed to advancing nursing education, supporting providers in meeting evolving standards, and strengthening workforce capability to drive better care and healthier communities.
Michelle Wicky
Michelle Wicky is the Chief Customer Officer at Ausmed Education. Michelle's formative years were spent in the nursing sector with a focus on clinical education before transitioning into workforce capability and development.
Michelle has held senior roles in workforce capability, including upskilling clinical and non-clinical staff in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. She possesses a wide range of skills in leadership development, strategic planning, capability building, education, facilitation, and project management.
An experienced educator, presenter, and facilitator, Michelle has a knack for engaging her audience and addressing their needs and desires. Known for her interactive and energetic approach, she is passionate about bringing practical applications to make your work life easier.
