EPISODE · Jul 29, 2025 · 50 MIN
The walking nun — Sister Clare Nolan on entering the convent and saving lives
from Conversations · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Sister Clare Nolan was the head of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital when the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia. She met with politicians, brothel workers and gay activists in the same room to work out how to save the men under her care in Ward 17 South.Clare was 21 years old when she entered the convent, against her mother's wishes, joining the Sisters of Charity novitiate to prepare for life as a nun.Clare had already completed her training as a nurse, and so she didn't want to join a contemplative order, closed off to the rest of the world.Clare wanted to take care of the sick and marginalised as a nurse, and as a nun, and so she became a 'walking sister'.Sister Clare quickly rose up the ranks, becoming the director of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, right as the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia.Clare found herself in meetings with politicians, immunologists, brothel workers, gay activists and Catholics, working together to figure out how to save the hundreds of patients who came under her care in Ward 17 South - the first and only dedicated HIV/AIDS ward in the country.Further informationYou can learn more about the Sister's of Charity of Australia and St Vincent's Health Australia online.Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
What this episode covers
Sister Clare Nolan was the head of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital when the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia. She met with politicians, brothel workers and gay activists in the same room to work out how to save the men under her care in Ward 17 South. Clare was 21 years old when she entered the convent, against her mother's wishes, joining the Sisters of Charity novitiate to prepare for life as a nun. Clare had already completed her training as a nurse, and so she didn't want to join a contemplative order, closed off to the rest of the world. Clare wanted to take care of the sick and marginalised as a nurse, and as a nun, and so she became a 'walking sister'. Sister Clare quickly rose up the ranks, becoming the director of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, right as the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia. Clare found herself in meetings with politicians, immunologists, brothel workers, gay activists and Catholics, working together to figure out how to save the hundreds of patients who came under her care in Ward 17 South - the first and only dedicated HIV/AIDS ward in the country. Further information You can learn more about the Sister's of Charity of Australia and St Vincent's Health Australia online. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
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The walking nun — Sister Clare Nolan on entering the convent and saving lives
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