Celebrating our staff recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours and more |
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Welcome to our first edition of Check In for 2025. This year we will continue to feature staff stories from across NSW Health, share important updates, and celebrate the many achievements of our people.
I am especially delighted in this first edition of the year to be able to celebrate the NSW Health staff recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours. These honours recognise the commitment of our staff towards improving the health and wellbeing of our communities they serve.
You can see the full list of NSW Health staff recognised on the NSW Health website. It was also wonderful to see so many former NSW Health staff and volunteers whose contributions were recognised this year. |
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You will be aware a significant number of public health psychiatrists have signalled their intention to resign from NSW Health. Right now, our focus is on managing the challenges this presents for our system, our staff and, most importantly, the many people who rely on our mental health services. It is important for the community, including our families, friends and colleagues, to know our services remain available. People will continue to receive care from our dedicated and highly skilled mental health staff.
I acknowledge this will have an impact on our system and staff beyond mental health services but let me be clear, we will not be asking our staff to work beyond their scope of practice as part of the response. NSW Health remains committed to working to support a solution in the best interests of both the people of NSW and our highly skilled public health psychiatrists. Kind regards, Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health |
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Culture-centred care | Listen to learn |
Creating a safe, comfortable, and culturally respectful space starts with listening. That’s why the design of the Supportive and Palliative Care Unit at Westmead Hospital is being shaped by the voices of those it aims to serve. |
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The design of the new unit draws on input from expert clinicians, people with lived experience, and Aboriginal representatives. Dr Sally Greenaway, Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, and Nicole Winters, Senior Aboriginal Health Worker, led the discussions.
“We have learned so much from our Aboriginal patients and families about what really matters when receiving care during the last year of life,” said Sally.
“We know the importance of welcoming the patient’s extended family or mob into places where care is being given. We want to create a safe and comfortable space for people of all cultures and backgrounds.” |
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The group talked about the importance of connection to nature, places for special belongings, and spaces sensitively designed for children visiting loved ones.
“Supportive and palliative care needs to provide care and respect for everyone. This includes the patient, as well as their family and friends who are with them during their end-of-life journey and into their Dreaming,” said Nicole.
“It’s not a clinical experience, but a cultural and spiritual journey that must be honoured in their own way.” |
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Reflect, respect, reconnect |
Respect is fundamental to delivering effective and compassionate healthcare. The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) is helping staff build self-awareness and strengthen relationships with colleagues and patients through reflective practice workshops. |
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Reflective practice is a process of thinking clearly, honestly, deeply, and critically about any aspect of professional practice.
CEC collaborated with Nigel Smith from Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s First Nations mental health and patient safety workforce. Nigel helped co-design an experiential workshop incorporating unconscious bias training.
“This helps participants gain a deeper understanding of their work with First Nations people, including an awareness of their biases and how these influence their healthcare practice,” said Debbie Draybi, Clinical Communication Lead.
“It enables a deeper connection and understanding of self and others, which is critical for authentic collaboration and respect.” |
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The reflective practice workshops also teach healthcare workers skills to process work challenges. “We want to humanise the work experience by recognising the emotional demands of working in healthcare.
“It helps us to grow confidence to lean into work challenges,” she said. More than 450 NSW Health staff have already completed the immersive workshops from across the state. Register your interest in attending an online workshop today. |
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In Focus with Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque |
Q: What is generative AI? How do I use it safely? A: Generative AI (also known as Gen AI) refers to artificial intelligence capable of creating new content on request such as text, images, video, audio or code. Popular tools include ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot, DALL-E and Google BardAI.
There are two different types of tools – public and private. Public tools learn from large public datasets, while private tools draw on more sensitive or restricted data and include more controls in terms of approvals and governance.
While Gen AI can be useful in supporting tasks such as writing, research and more – it’s important to understand any risks involved and actively manage them. |
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Examples of appropriate uses of public Gen AI, such as ChatGPT include: - Brainstorming and finessing ideas for an upcoming seminar or event
- Summarising a publicly available article or document
- Drafting an engaging out of office message.
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| Examples of inappropriate uses of public Gen AI include: - Entering sensitive, personal or confidential information to generate content e.g. a patient’s name and medical details
- Sharing commercially sensitive documents
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Inputting data that is not publicly available.
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Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque |
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A simple rule of thumb is to ask yourself what would happen if this information appeared on the front page of a newspaper before typing your request into a public Gen AI tool. If in doubt, leave it out.
For more information and guidance around responsible Gen AI use, please read: Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque
Deputy Secretary, Clinical Innovation and Research and co-chair NSW Health Artificial Intelligence Taskforce |
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We’ve got talent: scout NSW Health’s next social media stars |
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NSW Health staff featured on our social media channels |
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Pssst. Wanna hear a story? We do too. The NSW Health Social Media team is now scouting. Help find, celebrate and showcase our wonderful people and their amazing work at NSW Health. We know our peoples’ stories are simply brilliant. So whether you … - know a superstar colleague who shines
- want to high five a team’s fantastic care
- work with exciting, game changing tech
- are breaking new ground
- are keen to bust a few myths …
Get in touch today! Simply email social@health.nsw.gov.au with ‘Social Media Collaboration’ in the subject line. (Just remember to get your manager’s okay on your story idea first.) |
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A groundbreaking collaboration across NSW Health could transform Hepatitis C testing for people at risk with an Australian first.
The NSW Ministry of Health partnered with NSW Health Pathology, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, and the Mid North Coast Local Health District to validate the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test for diagnosing Hepatitis C. This means making DBS testing a standard diagnostic tool – the first of its kind in Australia.
This project won the Health Innovation Award in the 2024 NSW Health Awards. Watch the video below to find out more about this innovative partnership. |
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Building a career in medicine is rewarding but it is also demanding. To empower future doctors, NSW Health provides targeted initiatives including expert coaching and support. |
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The Delivering Under Pressure coaching service offers three one-hour coaching sessions grounded in positive psychology principles. These sessions are designed to enhance wellbeing and help build a fulfilling professional life rich with meaning.
The Junior Medical Officer (JMO) Support Line connects JMOs with experienced senior clinicians from across different districts, networks, and specialties, offering tailored advice and support. “It’s important everyone knows they’re empowered to talk about their individual challenges or raise sensitive topics from day one,” said Dr Jessica Green, Emergency Physician and Director of Prevocational Education and Training, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney. “For example, we aim to educate junior doctors early on to recognise the symptoms of burnout, both in themselves and their peers.”
Jessica said fostering a supportive culture is a priority. |
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“We need to show our colleagues facing challenging times that it’s okay to seek help and that they are not alone. It’s also crucial that they know the support options available, if they need some time off work or further assistance.” |
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Tertiary Health Study Subsidy |
Aimee Long is a first-year medical student and recipient of NSW Health’s Tertiary Health Study Subsidy. The subsidy will provide $12,000 over three years of Aimee’s studies. Aimee is one of the 4,000 students who have been awarded this subsidy to date.
Watch Aimee’s video below and find out why she is planning a career with NSW Health and how the subsidy will support her journey and commitment to rural healthcare. |
The Tertiary Health Study Subsidies applications are open. Interested applicants can apply now on the NSW Health website. |
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Final call – learn how to make communication more accessible
It's your final chance to register for an information session on how to make health information easier to understand, especially for people with disability, low literacy, and neurodiversity.
The sessions will also help you consider ways you can make information more accessible for people from culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal communities, and the resources available to help you put it into practice. There are two remaining sessions on 11 February and 27 February.
Register now at Accessibility matters. |
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Using your voice: help us create NSW Health’s first Gender Equality Action Plan
NSW Health is developing its first Gender Equality Action Plan, to be launched in June 2025.
We’re inviting all NSW Health staff to have input into the Plan, to ensure that our ways of working, including how we deliver healthcare, is fair and supportive for everyone – no matter their gender.
Take a minute to tell us what’s important to you by filling out this this short feedback form.
The survey is open until Friday 21 February so don’t miss the chance to have your say. |
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NSW Health acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of NSW and pays respect to Elders past, present and future. |
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Feeling social? Follow NSW Health |
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