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Members have participated in nurse education sessions conducted among non‐specialist nurses who work in Illawarra inpatient facilities. This involves attending and sitting with small groups of nurses and answering questions. The idea is to help nurses gain a better understanding of what it is like to live with a stoma and to know more about how to help the patient in hospital who has a stoma. Facilitating nurses in having conversations with people who have a stoma has significantly improved the nurse education programme. Feedback from staff about this aspect of the education programme suggests that it promotes empathy and increased confidence in looking after someone with a stoma. For nurses who are active in the busy climate we work in, it is not often they have time to sit and listen to their patients outside of the care contract.

From the perspective of the patients who attend these sessions, they also gain from the experience. They may bring a stoma bag to show the staff and explain how they manage. Others prepare information ahead of time that they think will be useful for the nurses. Such material is distributed in handout form. It is clear they want to be heard, as this kind of participation is offered, not requested. Ostomates who have done this voluntary work report great satisfaction in having the opportunity to share their story with interested nurses. Nurses can be seen leaning in, nodding and engaging in active listening. The room is usually abuzz with conversation and learning.