Welcome to 2023, celebrating the Lunar New Year, keeping health in the family and more! |
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Welcome to our first edition of Check In for 2023!
Again, a big thank you to the many staff who were working across the festive season. I hope everyone was able to spend some time with family and friends or just retreat from the world for a little while!
The festive spirit is still around as many of us celebrated the Lunar New Year over the weekend. I’d like to wish a very happy and fortunate new year to all staff and their families.
In 2023, we will continue to showcase the inspiring work of our colleagues across the system and celebrate significant events. |
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For NSW Health, this year is one of growth and transition.
Our focus will be on embedding Future Health across the system. As our roadmap for the coming 12 months and the next decade, Future Health guides us as we rise to meet the increasing health demands and needs of our community and importantly of our most precious resource - our staff. Addressing these challenges requires us to work as one aligned health system.
You can expect regular updates throughout 2023 on how we are progressing towards Future Health and how everyone across NSW Health can contribute. I look forward to working with you all this year. Kind regards,
Susan Pearce
Secretary, NSW Health
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Sunday 22 January marked the start of the Lunar New Year.
It is a grand festival that celebrates the beginning of spring and the transition into a new zodiac symbol. Happy New Year and well wishes to those who celebrate!
Some staff members have shared how they celebrate the Lunar New Year. |
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“We have a family feast on Lunar New Year’s Eve. On the New Year’s Day we all wear new clothes that are red which is a symbol of good luck. We also hand out small red pockets filled with monetary gifts to younger family members for good wishes for the new year ahead.” Danni Li, Graphic Designer, NSW Ministry of Health |
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“Back in China we would celebrate with colourful decorations, firework shows, traditional dancing and mouth-watering treats. This year I celebrated with my family and made some traditional dishes to give blessings for the new year.
Each dish is a symbol for prosperity, happiness and auspiciousness." Sarah Wang, Clinical Costing Analyst, Far West Local Health District. |
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“Family members get together to celebrate, eat and wish each other good fortune.
Traditionally, we all wear new clothes to celebrate the start of a new year and the older generation give ‘red pockets’, which are envelopes with money in them, to the younger generation to wish them good fortune.”
“While I won’t be back in Guangzhou (Chinese city where Shiming was born) this Lunar New Year, I’ll hopefully be celebrating with my friends in Australia.” Shiming Li, Paramedic, NSW Ambulance. |
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Get more from your health Check In in 2023.
We want to hear from you by completing this short survey about what you'd like to see more of in Check In this year. |
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We asked some of our NSW Health executive staff members to share their new year's resolutions. Watch the video to find out what they hope to achieve in 2023. |
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Keeping health in the family |
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Once an occupational therapist, Maryanne Hawthorn is now the Director of Western NSW Local Health District Health Intelligence Unit after discovering her interest in policy design to create good outcomes for communities.
After undertaking a policy role in Canberra, Maryanne wanted to continue to make a difference to the delivery of healthcare, but also wanted all the joys of living and working in a regional area.
“The call of regional New South Wales has always been strong. I always wanted to be able to come back and live and work regionally which I’ve been able to do through health. Working for a rural health service is a bit like working for a big family,” Maryanne said.
Speaking of family, all three of Maryanne’s siblings work in health, with careers in pharmacy, general practice, and paediatric dietetics. |
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Maryanne Hawthorn (second from left) with her three siblings who also work in health. |
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“I think we all wanted to work in rural health having grown up in the bush. You want to make a contribution by giving back to your community and improving health outcomes for your family, the people you know and our rural communities.”
“There is also a lot of potential to diversify within health and try something new. Our team has come from all areas including allied health and nurses who have a real interest in analysing data and information and planning services for the future,” Maryanne said. |
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Congratulations to the Allied Health Awards finalists |
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Congratulations to all the finalists of the 2022 Excellence in Allied Health Awards. It was a competitive year with 35 finalists from across the state.
The impact of allied health professionals on our health system is extraordinary and to be recognised at a state level is an amazing achievement. You can join in on the celebrations by watching the Awards live at 6:00pm on Thursday 23 February. Details of the livestream will be available closer to the day of the event. |
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Learn how voluntary assisted dying is being implemented in NSW
The Parliament of New South Wales passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022 last year. This Act will allow eligible people the choice to access voluntary assisted dying from 28 November 2023. On Thursday 2 February from 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and the Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Team will host a webinar to provide an update for health professionals. |
| Dr Chant introduces the webinar in the video below above. Register for the webinar here. |
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Register for the new Value Based Healthcare event series During 2023, these short virtual sessions will showcase the exciting, innovative work that delivers value across our health system. The series will celebrate successes and learnings, highlighting people’s experiences and insights, local examples and key enablers for change.
Register now to attend the opening session on Tuesday 14 February from 11:00am that focuses on how value based healthcare supports Future Health and our vision. |
| Join us in celebrating the NSW Telestroke Service
More than 2,800 patients who experienced a stroke in NSW’s regional and rural areas have now benefitted from life-changing treatment thanks to the NSW Telestroke Service.
Join us at a virtual event on Tuesday 31 January at 10:00am as The Hon Brad Hazzard, Minister for Health and The Hon Bronnie Taylor, Minister for Women, Regional and Mental Health celebrate the successful completion of the NSW Telestroke Service’s rollout.
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Name: Brad Astill
Role: Chief Executive, Far West Local Health District Now, let’s get to know you a little better…
What are three words your family and friends would use to describe you? Calm, cook, grandfather
Last great TV show or movie you watched? Mindhunter Favourite book or podcast? 1Q84, a book by Haruki Murakami If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
Drawing |
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If you’re cooking dinner, what will everyone be eating? Asian influence, noodles, seafood Any hidden talents? Excavating golf courses and creating mounds of sawdust from perfectly good wood |
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Every refugee has a unique, complex, and often traumatic path to resettlement in Australia. Knowing this is what lead staff from the Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee local health districts (LHDs) to team up with the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) to make refugee health services a priority.
Staff and community members from these regional LHDs shared their experience to inform a new online resource that will guide healthcare workers and their community partners in creating trauma-informed and culturally safe health services for people from a refugee background.
Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW outlines the key elements that contribute to a positive healthcare experience; practical tips and the steps involved to set up a regional refugee health service; and insights from local case studies. Sofia Lema, a multicultural health education officer at Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, explains the importance of this new resource. |
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“Providing a sense of cultural safety, building trust, applying the right communication skills, and understanding a refugee patient’s world view and health beliefs are key ways to support them in their healthcare journey,” Sofia said. Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW outlines the key elements that contribute to a positive healthcare experience; practical tips and the steps involved to set up a regional refugee health service; and insights from local case studies. This resource will help NSW Health staff and services to progress the NSW Refugee Health Plan. |
| Belinda Crain (standing), CEO Multicultural Council, Wagga Wagga, welcoming a family to the local health clinic. |
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Twenty-seven nursing and medical students seized the opportunity to get a taste of the patient experience. Each student completed 20 volunteering hours where they were able to connect with different patients and practise their communication skills.
Program convener Ellie Barker originally launched the program as a research project to find out if the extra time spent with patients while studying increased empathy in students.
“I loved volunteering when I was a nursing student and I experienced lots of benefits from it and I wanted to share that,” Ellie said. |
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“The initial findings show a significant increase in empathy and participants say the experience has taught them to look beyond the illness, to see the patient and the human behind their presentation to hospital,” she said. Nicole Mitchell is one of the students who completed the Volunteer Taster Program in 2022. “It was really beneficial to spend additional time in the hospital, especially interacting with patients," Nicole said.
"I'm really grateful for the opportunity, the knowledge passed on by experienced volunteers and the connections I was able to make in a clinical setting." The Volunteer Taster Program at Gosford Hospital will return in 2023 to provide more students with the opportunity to connect with patients. |
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Nursing students Amanda Muscat and Nicole Mitchell |
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NSW kids will be staying healthy and having fun in 2023. The Child and Family team at the Centre for Population Health is thrilled to host face-to-face Go4Fun programs once again in 2023.
Go4Fun is an evidence-based lifestyle program for children aged seven to 13 years who are above a healthy weight, and their families. The program helps their self-esteem and teaches them how to live a healthy life, all while having some fun. The Child and Family Team are ramping up Go4Fun in 2023 and are prioritising regional communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Staff from the Western Sydney local health district had a blast hosting their Aboriginal Go4Fun program. The team worked with Kimberwalli to create a culturally relevant program for the community.
“Our partners at Kimberwalli told us that the community wanted ideas for fresh, affordable family meals and getting active together,” Jenny Plaskett said, Healthy School Years Coordinator, Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) Centre for Population Health.
The Kimberwalli Go4Fun session has helped families to make healthier choices. “After a lot of healthy switches, we are now happy and healthy eaters,” Jody Castairs said, mother of Danny and Kyle who were part of the Kimberwalli session. |
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| One group of brave NSW Health staff set out to be the first people to cross the Bass Strait in a rowboat.
It took 330 kilometres of rowing and eight days to pull off, and it was all in an effort to raise money for charity.
Andrew Lawson, physiotherapy head of department at South Eastern Sydney LHD; Dr Joe Isaacs, VMO Orthopaedic Surgeon at North Sydney LHD; and Philip Vial, Radiation Oncology Medical Physicist South Western Sydney LHD – also known as the “Musselrowers”, made the choice to row the Bass Strait to raise money for the Clown Doctors charity. |
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The Bass Strait is the stretch of water that connects mainland Australia to Tasmania. Over eight days, Andrew, Joe, Phil and their team faced many challenges to reach Little Musselroe in Tasmania. “My experience as a trauma surgeon and as a Musselrower has shown me the importance of supporting those in need, especially during times of crisis,” Joe said.
“I often see the wonderful benefits of providing patient support beyond the conventional medical treatment, just like the support provided by Clown Doctors. I am proud to have been able to raise funds for organisations who support patients,” Phil said.
The Musselrowers raised $130,000 for Clown Doctors which will help fund clown visits for patients, every week for an entire year and help bring laughter and joy to patients and their families facing tough times.
The Musselrowers milestone has sparked the same courage in Anna McGlynn, Program Manager SES HealthPathways at SESLHD, who will complete the crossing with an all-female group in February.
“We are very excited that the Musselrowers live on through a new all-female group that aims to complete the Bass Strait crossing in early 2023 to raise money for Red Nose,” Andrew said. |
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Easing first day of school nerves
A new resource from the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) is helping parents, educators and teachers support children to have a positive start to school.
The Supporting the Transition to School Video Series was developed by the NSLHD’s Population Health Promotion team for teachers and educators, and parents and carers. The videos are designed to show how to help kids develop skills at home and in the classroom. |
| Watch the Supporting the Transition to School video |
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NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund
Applications for the NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund are open until Friday 10 February 2023.
The Fund provides an opportunity for NSW Health staff to apply for funding to “kick start” innovative projects and initiatives that improve patient care and reduce our environmental footprint (either in emissions or waste).
The Fund is coordinated by the NSW Health Climate Risk and Net Zero Unit. For information on how to apply, visit the NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund - Climate risk and net zero |
| COVID-19 information update
Read the full Clinical Intelligence Unit Evidence Digest here. |
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We acknowledge the Aboriginal traditional custodians of the land in which we live and work and pay respects to all Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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