We recently caught up with Rudson Al Barcoma, BSN RN MSN ADLM, a leading figure in the nursing and community leadership sectors in Australia, currently serving as the President of the Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club. With a rich background in healthcare and community service, Rudson’s journey is a beacon of inspiration and dedication.
Rudson began his impressive career in the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009. His academic prowess was recognized early on, along with his leadership and nursing practice skills. That same year, he successfully passed his NCLEX examination and continued to advance his education with postgraduate studies focused on leadership and management.
Over the years, Rudson has amassed substantial experience in the nursing field, specializing in medical-surgical and aged care nursing. His expertise extends to academia, where he has spent eight years as a board lecturer, teaching subjects such as medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology in nursing, and professional adjustment. Currently, Rudson is making significant impacts as a Relief Care Manager, overseeing staff management, resident care, and educational quality and improvement within his facility.
Beyond his nursing career, Rudson is deeply involved in community service. He holds the presidency at the Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club and contributes as a board member to the Australian Multicultural Philippine Society Inc (Charity OpShop). His roles include Immediate Past President of Pride in Peel Inc and Executive Secretary of the Mandurah Filipino Australian Multicultural Community Inc. Notably, Rudson is a Tedx Talk speaker and a member of Toastmasters International.
Rudson Barcoma’s multifaceted career exemplifies how professional expertise combined with community engagement can create substantial positive impacts. His work not only enhances the nursing profession but also enriches the communities he serves, embodying the spirit of leadership and commitment.
A deeper dive into leadership and community service
In this interview, Rudson Al Barcoma shares his experiences, strategies, and visions for the future. This conversation offers a deeper look into his professional expertise and commitment to community service. Here’s what he had to say.
1. As the Care Manager of an Aged Care Facility in Western Australia, what were the most significant challenges you faced during the pandemic, and how did you ensure the safety and well-being of both residents and staff?
– Throughout the pandemic, Western Australia remained relatively unscathed amidst the global chaos stemming from the escalating number of COVID-19 cases in various regions. Over the course of one to two years, Western Australia maintained a notably stable and secure environment in terms of COVID-19 outbreaks. Nevertheless, this did not absolve us from the responsibility of ensuring that our infection control measures are consistently updated, conducting regular audits to ascertain our preparedness in the event of a potential outbreak, and verifying that all residents and staff are fully vaccinated, including receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. As an educator within the care community, I am committed to ensuring that my team members are well-versed in infection control protocols and possess a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19.
2. Being recently inducted as the first Filipino president of the Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club, how do you plan to leverage this platform to address public health challenges, particularly those affecting the Filipino community?
– As the first individual of Asian descent and the first Filipino president of the Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club, I consider it a great honour. My hope is that my presidency will serve as an inspiration to our fellow members from Asia and the Philippines, encouraging them to aspire to leadership roles in the future. Throughout my tenure as a member of the leadership team, I have consistently worked to elevate the role of the Philippines on the global stage. Notably, during my term as the Public Relations Officer, I spearheaded the Rotary Solar Cases in Mindanao project. This initiative aimed to address the essential need for mobile power sources in remote healthcare settings in Mindanao, enabling healthcare workers to charge various devices while working remotely. Looking ahead, I plan to focus on addressing the incidence of HIV in the country. I am also exploring potential partnerships with local organizations dedicated to addressing HIV-related issues. While there are numerous public health challenges in the Philippines, I firmly believe that community education is the crucial starting point for addressing these issues.
3. What strategies have you implemented to combat social isolation and loneliness among elderly residents during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and how can these strategies be applied to support the broader Filipino community?
– The mental well-being of elderly individuals in aged care is of utmost importance, particularly due to their heightened vulnerability to depression and anxiety resulting from the disruption of their routines, separation from their loved ones, and loss of familiar surroundings. The periodic lockdowns during the pandemic further exacerbated social isolation among residents. It was imperative for all staff members to recognize the care community as their second home, fostering increased engagement with the residents. Providing care and clinical services involved not only attending to their physical needs but also ensuring meaningful interactions and participation in activities that hold personal significance for the residents. For instance, initiating purposeful conversations and organizing activities aimed at enriching the day-to-day lives of isolated residents were crucial components of our approach.
4. In your dual roles, how do you see the Filipino-Australian community building resilience against future public health crises, and what role do you think aged care leaders and nursing professionals play in this effort?
– As a member of the Filipino community, we exhibit a natural resilience, ingrained in our cultural identity. Our upbringing instils in us the understanding that challenges and hardships are inevitable and overcoming them necessitates a steadfast faith in God and the determination to persevere. Notably, the Filipino-Australian community comprises a significant proportion of healthcare professionals, affording us invaluable insights into healthcare developments. Within this context, the role of aged care leaders assumes importance, reflecting our society’s deeply held respect for our elderly. By integrating our inherent compassion for the elderly with contemporary trends in aged care, we can enhance our effectiveness and empathy as healthcare practitioners, both in Australia and abroad, while enriching the care we provide for our elders in our homeland.
5. Can you share some of the key initiatives or programs you have introduced at your aged care facility to enhance the quality of care and support during the pandemic?
– I am a proponent of diversity and equality. It is with pride that I can affirm the implementation of various strategies at our care community to embrace every culture and ethnicity. These initiatives are not solely directed at our residents but also encompass our team members. We conduct annual educational sessions for staff members on various cultures and appropriate care engagement. Our care community also takes part in celebrating major cultural events, including LGBTQIA+ celebrations. All these initiatives are designed to ensure that our residents are engaged and maintain a sense of connection with their heritage while residing in the care community.
6. How do you balance your responsibilities as a Care Manager and your leadership role in the Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club, and what synergies do you find between these positions?
– It is tough balancing both responsibilities. Especially you are managing both most important positions within an organisation. I think, what makes me able to successfully juggle this responsibility is time management and stress management. In addition, honing the skills and expertise of your leadership team (Global Nurses and Midwives Rotary Club) and utilising the passion and competence, and expertise of your clinical team (in my Care Community). And most importantly, I give thanks to my husband (Troy Barcoma) who is always there to help me manage my schedules and priorities and even on some occasions be my representative on my behalf to community events that I manage or I was invited.
7. What advice would you give to other Filipino healthcare professionals aspiring to take on leadership roles, particularly in the context of navigating challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic?
– To succeed in leadership roles, it is important to embody both humility and boldness. While these traits may seem contradictory, mastering them can give you a strategic advantage. Cultivate humility by valuing the input and expertise of others. As a Filipino, our cultural inclination toward humility serves us well in leadership roles. Actively listen to others and be open to feedback, recognizing that there is always someone who possesses valuable expertise that can contribute to your growth. At the same time, embrace boldness when the opportunity arises. Do not shy away from taking the lead, offering innovative ideas, or seizing new roles. Embrace the confidence that others see in you and remember that there’s a reason you have been entrusted with opportunities. Embracing both humility and boldness will elevate your leadership capabilities.
FiND Kalinga is a project supported by the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA) through its COVID-19 Small Grants Projects. For more information about the FiND Kalinga, visit www.findkalinga.net
