Gearing up for the Olympics |
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More than a billion people world-wide will watch the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics starting this Friday and 28 August, respectively. The incredible athletic efforts and triumphs promise mesmerising moments. Chants of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” or “C’mon ‘Straya” will echo near and far. But the Paris Games are extra special with some of our NSW Health colleagues donning the green and gold. They include:
- Dr Mackenzie Little from the Northern Sydney Local Health District is competing in the javelin throw
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Tiffany Ho is a nurse for the Sydney Local Health District and competing in badminton
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Dr Carolyn Broderick from Sydney Children's Hospitals Network is the first female Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Olympic team.
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Next month, we also have staff members and patients in our care heading to the Paralympic Games too (stay tuned for the August edition of Check In).
Sport is enjoyable and helps keeps us healthy, whether it is competitive or just for fun. I personally look forward to cycling on weekends. But sport also teaches us many valuable lessons – such as the value of perseverance, the pursuit of excellence, and the power of teamwork. And these qualities translate into healthcare – from inspiring us to go the extra mile, hone our skills, and work collaboratively towards our shared goal of delivering outstanding patient care. In keeping with the Olympic spirit, the joy sport brings, and in recognition of its physical and mental health benefits, this edition celebrates some of the athletes we work alongside.
Their achievements remind us of what is possible when we push boundaries, set goals, and remain determined. I am very proud to lead an organisation where our peoples’ personal passions are supported along with their professional ones.
I hope you will follow our colleagues’ Olympic journey and wish them the best of luck as they compete on the global stage. You can even show your support and send a fan message via the Australian Olympic Committee official website. Lastly, in the spirit of some healthy competition, take our Paris Games Olympics trivia quiz. Test your general knowledge, and challenge your colleagues to see who wins Olympics trivia gold. |
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Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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Doctor by day, Olympian this July |
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Along with recently becoming a doctor at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, Mackenzie Little is set to compete at the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Currently ranked second in the world in javelin, Mackenzie successfully balanced medicine studies with Olympic training. Her Olympic debut was at the Tokyo games in 2021 (moved from 2020 due to the pandemic). She went on to score silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. And last year claimed bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. For Paris, gold is in her sights. |
| Mackenzie Little at the Tokyo Olympic Games |
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Her schedule at times has been gruelling. Last year, Mackenzie flew from Australia to Europe five times to compete, with four of those for weekend competitions. |
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Mackenzie Little at work at Royal North Shore Hospital |
| “I’m certainly not unique in juggling a lot of things,” said Mackenzie.
“I would leave late Thursday night, go to Europe, compete on the Saturday and fly back in Monday morning, and then go straight on the train to the hospital.” Alongside her love of sport, Mackenzie, the daughter of doctors, has always been drawn to science.
“Some might try to guess what my priorities are, but I’ve always wanted to do medicine, and that’s going to be my career long-term. I really like working with people and certainly couldn’t sit at a desk. I’m just excited to run around and get the job done.”
Follow Mackenzie’s Olympic journey and find out more about her and her fellow athletes on the Australian Olympic Committee official website. #AllezAUS |
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Swapping scrubs for green and gold |
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Tiffany Ho is a nurse from Sydney Local Health District and is now heading to Paris to compete in her first Olympics, representing Australia in badminton. |
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“It hasn’t fully hit me yet and I don’t think it will until I actually get there,” said Tiffany.
Tiffany is grateful to everyone who has helped her reach this point, including her support system at Concord Hospital.
“I wouldn’t have been able to go on with this sporting career without the support of the hospital.
“When I started nursing, I was at a pathway of choosing either my nursing career or my sporting career. The hospital has been so supportive. They gave me the best of both worlds, letting me work while pursuing my sporting dreams as well.”
The Paris Games have been a dream that’s been 16 years in the making for Tiffany. |
| Tiffany Ho at work at Concord Hospital |
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Tiffany Ho at 2022 Thomas and Uber Cup finals in Thailand |
| “Ever since I watched the 2008 Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing, I have dreamt of competing at the Olympics myself.
“The honour of representing my country on the biggest stage drives me to work hard to achieve this coveted Olympic dream.” Read more about Tiffany’s Olympic journey on the Australian Olympic Committee official website and follow on social with #AllezAus.
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Discover how sport has shaped the careers of these NSW Health staff who have competed in the Olympics. |
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From targeting bullseyes to targeting genes |
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“I think archery gave me the attributes to be a good genetic counsellor – there is a real need in both to be focused.”
Michelle Stewart | Genetic counsellor at Murrumbidgee Local Health District | Represented Australia in archery at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “I did archery and was lucky enough to compete at the Sydney Olympics, which was an amazing experience. After that I thought ‘well what am I going to do with my life’? So I went to university,” said Michelle. Michelle trained at the Canberra Institute of Sport, before studying science (psychology major) at university for her current role as a genetic counsellor.
“The way I’d describe my role is, I help individuals and families if there’s a family history of a particular illness, whether it’s a chronic problem, something that affects children or cancer. Seventy per cent of my caseload deals with familial cancer, predominantly breast cancer,” she said. |
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“When I sit on the start line of a race, I’ve got adrenaline pumping and I’m nervous, thinking of what’s ahead of me. It’s the same when you’re tasked to a big job, you know the pressure is going to be on and you’ve got a sick patient in front of you.”
Jo Bridgen-Jones | NSW Ambulance paramedic | Represented Australia in Kayaking at the 2012 London Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “I thought it would be a good challenge to see if I could fit my paramedic career and training together, and I guess I surprised myself along the way that I could actually do it.” Jo said.
The pandemic period was an extraordinary time for Jo, who juggled both work, and competing in the Olympics. She gained worldwide recognition for working as a paramedic during COVID-19, appearing in TIME magazine alongside other Olympic and Paralympic athletes who also battled the pandemic on the frontlines.
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Registering a second chance at life |
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Clare Lynch and Karen Newlan are the Family Support Coordinators at the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service. Based in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, they provide post-donation care and bereavement support to the families of all donors in NSW. |
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With Donate Life Week (28 July – 4 August) around the corner, the duo are working hard to encourage more Australians to sign up for organ and tissue donation. Approximately four out of five Australians say they support donation, but only approximately one in three are registered to be a donor on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR).
“It can be very difficult for families to decide about organ donation if they don't know the wishes of their loved ones,” said Clare. |
| Karen Newlan and Clare Lynch |
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“That is why we encourage everyone to talk about organ and tissue donation with their family and register on the AODR.” “I see this as honouring what may be the patient’s last wishes,” said Karen. |
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Yoni Hope-Hodgetts and Jenny Holman |
| “It is a privilege and incredibly rewarding to support families through the loss of their loved ones. They allow us into their lives and place their trust in us,” said Karen.
Donation Specialist Nurse, Yoni Hope-Hodgetts, from the Central Coast Local Health District also finds working with donor families rewarding. “I call this my ‘retirement job’ because I love this role and can never see myself in any other position until the last day I work,” said Yoni.
“My favourite part is when I tell the family after donation about the lives they have changed and how the recipients are recovering. “If we can provide families with unconditional support and make the end-of-life care that their loved one receives truly special, then we have done our job.” For more information visit All about donation and the NSW Health FAQs. |
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As a kid, Shakti Rathore loved racing against other kids at the park, and even racing the train as it pulled into the station. After starting athletics at age eight, he swiftly earned his place on the winner’s podium. |
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Shakti is a multiple national champion in running at Australian, Australian Masters, and Oceania Masters Championship level. He also currently holds championship records at the Australian Masters (200m) and Oceania Masters Championships (100m), and an Australian Masters Record (4x100m relay).
“I love how the sport holds you accountable. It exposes you and makes you comfortable with working and training really hard to pursue a goal with no guarantee of success,” said Shakti, Senior Occupational Therapist at South Western Sydney Local Health District.
“Many hurdles can pop up, such as injuries, but running really taught me to enjoy the process. |
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“I train five days a week. Everyone knows the benefits of training for your physical and mental health, and ultimately, you make time for the things you value and love.” |
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Kirstin Berry was a late comer to rowing. But since taking up the sport in 2019, she has thumped the competition. Along with a gold, three silver and eight bronze medals at the National Championships, she earned four silver and eight bronze medals at the NSW and ACT Championships. But for Kirstin, rowing is more than just a sport. |
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| “It’s like enforced mindfulness while you’re in the boat. If you think of anything other than rowing, you’re likely to end up swimming,” she said.
Balancing her job as Medication Safety and Quality Manager at the Hunter New England Local Health District with her rigorous training schedule is no small feat. “I love training, and the people I get to row with,” said Kirstin.
“I train twice a day, six days a week. We’re on the water at 5.30am each morning, then in the evenings we’re either doing weights, ballet, or sessions on the rowing machine or bike. |
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“I am very lucky to have an exceptional line manager and incredible team who make coming to work an absolute pleasure, even after the most tiring training days.” |
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Breaching the Barassi Line |
| Did you know? The Barassi Line is an imaginary line in Australia which approximately divides areas where Australian rules football or rugby league is the most popular football code. |
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Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) were traditionally seen as male-dominated sports. Cambridge McCormick and Abbi Church are breaking the mould (and breaching the Barassi Line). |
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Breaking barriers
“I’m currently acting as a senior physiotherapist, while also playing as a key defender for the GWS Giants. If there’s anything the sport has taught me, it’s the importance of perseverance and hard work!”
Cambridge McCormick | Key defender for the GWS GIANTS | Physiotherapist at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
“I started playing Australian Rules football with Auskick when I was young and continued until under 12s, usually as the only girl within the team. As I got older, the options for AFL grew smaller,” Cambridge said.
“Luckily, my dad along with some other AFL-mad fathers wanted their daughters to continue playing and started the first Youth Girls competition on the Sunshine Coast.”
Cambridge is currently working as a senior physiotherapist within the Orthopaedic Physiotherapy team at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
“The GIANTS fan base has grown greatly with the addition of a lot of the physiotherapists at the hospital donning a scarf and heading down for games which I am hugely grateful for.” |
| Lessons in strength
“Playing in the National Women’s Rugby League has taught me lessons in physical and mental strength, as well as resilience. A lot of the skills and lessons are transferable to life including teamwork, communication and leadership.” Abbi Church | Fullback for the Parramatta Eels | Paramedic at Campbeltown Ambulance Station Abbi started playing rugby league at age 21 in 2019 for her local team. She was then scouted by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition. After Abbi’s second season in the NSWRL, she was offered her first National Women’s Rugby League contract.
Abbi's achievements include being a 2022 NRL Women's Grand finalist, and 2023 Prime Minister’s 13 selection. “I grew up loving rugby league, but as a child saw that it was a male-dominated sport that not many young girls or women could pursue,” she said.
“I have always been a team sports person and love the comradery that comes with playing with mates. As a contact sport, it comes a physical challenge and adrenaline rush as well, which is also something I love about the sport.” |
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Contributing to NSW Health’s sustainable future |
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A total of 11 teams have received funding to bring their sustainable project to life as part of NSW Health’s Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund. The Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund provides up to $25,000 to support staff-led innovation projects that improve patient care and reduce environmental impacts.
This year, 72 applications were submitted from every part of NSW Health. Following a rigorous evaluation, a whopping 11 applications were selected to receive funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to bring their idea to life. These include a laundry electrification program, dialysis water recycling and battery infusion pumps for Hospital in the Home patients.
In its second year, the Fund has already supported successful projects. This includes the Going Circular project focusing on re-issuing returned respiratory equipment, reducing waste and carbon emissions and a pilot gardening and composting project for mental health consumers.
Congratulations to all 2024 Fund recipients, and thanks to everyone that contributed. You can find the full list of recipients on the NSW Health website. |
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Interim standardised recruitment process A new interim standardised recruitment process will launch on Thursday 25 July. Highlights include online reference checks and streamlined checks for internal applicants. Sign into the recruitment system (ROB) using your StaffLink number to maximise the benefits of these changes.
Visit the People and Culture for Future Health intranet for more information. |
| Australian of the Year nomination opens now Do you know a NSW Health staff member who shows courage, sacrifice and kindness? The Australian of the Year Awards recognise individuals who are changing lives and Australian society for the better. Nominations for the 2025 Awards are now open until 31 July.
Visit the Australian of the Year Awards website to nominate now. |
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations. Recent features include: - AI-assisted colonoscopy, Future Health Index report, and living evidence syntheses for evidence-informed health policy
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Non-relapse mortality after CAR-T cell therapy, new and emerging treatments for major depressive disorder, precision public health and patient safety culture performance in OECD countries
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare.
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Stay tuned for our Paralympian stories in the 21 August edition. |
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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Feeling social? Follow NSW Health |
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