In 2026, 19 Juv’ae cosmetic nurses took their education overseas to the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM) Conference in Queenstown, a clinical excellence program in South Korea and IMCAS World Congress in France. They came home with sharper treatment planning, fresh perspectives on the patient journey and stronger peer connections, all applied within Australian requirements and Juv’ae’s clinical protocols.
Over the past few weeks, my co-founder Melissa Isaia and I have watched our nurses ask questions, exchange ideas and return home thinking differently about their clinics.
Biostimulatory treatment featured strongly, alongside practical injecting insights and the chance to see how experienced clinicians approach treatment planning in their own practices. We came home with practical insights to reflect on with our teams.
There were also dinners with the faculty and our industry partners, new connections with New Zealand nurses and doctors, and a Bollywood gala that gave us a very good reason to dress up.
At the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM) Conference in Queenstown, New Zealand, seven of us explored a leading manufacturer’s portfolio through international and New Zealand speakers for clinical discussions and hands-on workshops. We saw how experienced clinicians approach treatment planning in their own practices and came home with practical insights to reflect on with our teams.
There were also dinners with the faculty, new connections with New Zealand nurses and doctors, and a Bollywood gala that gave us a very good reason to dress up.
For Juv'ae nurse and Queenstown grant recipient Elise Fox, the time together mattered just as much as the conference:
“The knowledge we gain at conferences is invaluable, but the friendships, support and connections we build along the way are just as important.”
Eleven of us attended a clinical excellence program in South Korea, with two nurses also attending the PharmaResearch Global Symposium (PGS).
We spent time with three doctors working in very different environments, from a premium, highly personalised clinic to a busy “pay and go” service seeing hundreds of patients each week. The range of devices, treatment combinations and approaches to the patient journey gave us plenty to discuss.
Korea grant receipient Rachel McDowall particularly valued the opportunity to question, compare and consider:
“I particularly valued the doctors' independent, evidence-led teaching; it gave me a clearer framework for deciding which products best align with my clinical values and the direction of my practice.”
The clinical education prompted us to reflect on how we assess each patient and develop a plan around their individual needs, rather than letting a familiar routine lead the consultation.
There was a practical business conversation, too: how clearly do we explain our recommendations, costs and realistic expectations? And how does the consultation experience support an informed decision?
The point is not to bring an overseas approach home unchanged. It is to ask better questions about our own practice and consider new learning within Australian requirements, product guidance and our clinical protocols.
Take what we learned in Korea into your next consultation. Extensive clinical insights on treatment planning and volume considerations are now in the Juv’ae Academy.
Hydration and skin quality were also part of our conversations, along with how we help patients understand their concerns through individual assessment.
For your socials, start with the education itself. Share a moment from the trip, explain a professional insight and describe why ongoing learning matters to your practice. Keep patient-facing content focused on education rather than products, treatment volumes or promised outcomes, and have it reviewed before publishing.
Rachel also described the business impact:
“Visiting leading Korean aesthetic clinics provided valuable inspiration around the patient journey, consultation experience and the importance of creating a premium yet personalised environment.”
For WA-based grant recipient Alexandra Preston, the connections were especially meaningful:
“Being in WA, we sometimes feel we don’t build those key relationships and I feel much closer to a beautiful group of Juv’ae nurses!”
She also valued understanding the science and considering how new treatments fit alongside other modalities.
Kerziah Del Rio, a Korea grant recipient who experienced Korea valued the mix of education, culture and connection:
“The experience inspired me to refine my techniques and challenge my current practices.”
And the hospitality deserves its own mention. Breakfasts, lunches, dinners and everything in between, our hosts looked after us beautifully.
In France, Jacinta King, Juv’ae’s Director of Quality and Performance attended IMCAS World Congress - International Master Course on Aging Science. Her train-the-trainer program offered another valuable perspective: how premium aesthetic brands are positioned in Europe, and education on understanding different patient types.
“I also loved all the education on patient archetypes and how to cater to each.”
- Jacinta King
Those insights come home with Jacinta and into the cosmetic medicine education and support we provide our nurses. For more clinical themes from IMCAS, read Nicolette Gabriel’s report.
What stays with me most is the generosity of our nurses. On bus rides in Korea and walks through Queenstown, conversations moved from clinical techniques to staffing, business challenges, superannuation changes and ideas worth trying.
Watching nurses grow in confidence over the years and then help their peers do the same is something Melissa and I love about the Juv’ae community.
Applications for 2027 educational grants are now open to Juv'ae Nurses and close on 30 November 2026. Please apply via the Juv’ae Academy here.
You could come home with a new clinical perspective, an idea for your business and colleagues you can call long after the trip ends.
Much love,
Nicole Schmid-Sanele xx
Co-Founder and Director of Nursing, Juv’ae