Fellowship of the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses awarded to Elyse Coffey

We are delighted to congratulate our colleague Elyse Coffey on her recent award of Fellowship of the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) - a significant recognition reserved for nurses who have made a sustained and meaningful contribution to perioperative nursing through leadership, advocacy, and the promotion of high standards of practice.

Reflecting on the honour, Elyse describes it as a deeply meaningful recognition. “I was really honoured to receive this,” she shares. “A lot of my involvement over the years has come from saying yes to opportunities that felt important.”

That commitment has taken many forms. Elyse has contributed to national work with ACORN and served on the ACORN Board from 2020 to 2022. At a state level, she has been actively involved with the Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group (VPNG) since 2015, including roles as Vice President and President, a sustained engagement she credits as central to connecting with, and supporting, perioperative nurses across Victoria.

Her contributions have also extended to health policy, having been one of three perioperative nurses appointed by the Health Minister to the Victorian Perioperative Consultative Council. Elyse describes this as “a really valuable way to be involved in shaping broader health priorities and bringing a perioperative nursing perspective into those conversations.”

“It’s a really meaningful recognition, but also a reminder that there’s always more to do.”

Looking ahead, Elyse is eager to continue contributing through education, supporting colleagues, and staying engaged with the direction of the profession. “I feel very lucky to be part of such a strong perioperative community and to do work that I genuinely care about,” she says.

Please join us in congratulating Elyse on this well-deserved recognition of her ongoing commitment to perioperative nursing.