How our diverse workforce at NSW Health reflects the communities we serve |
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As well as being the largest public health system in Australia we are one of the most diverse. With more than 180,000 people, the cultural and linguistic diversity across NSW Health is incredible, and a huge asset. Diversity helps generate new ideas and insights, it means multiple voices and perspectives inform decision making, and it elevates our ability to provide compassionate and culturally appropriate care. We are better together.
This week, teams across the state will observe two important days. National Close the Gap Day supports health equity for Aboriginal people, and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, also known as Harmony Day, promotes equality and equal treatment for everyone.
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While we may be a diverse bunch, we also have much in common – staring with our shared goal of providing the best possible care to the people of NSW. The recent We are here for you video featuring NSW Health staff captures this beautifully. It is testament to the work we do each day to ensure that everyone feels welcomed, respected and safe when seeking healthcare.
These values are embedded in our ways of working and reflected in our CORE values, which guide how we work with each other and serve the community. Strengthening diversity is also a pillar of our Future Health Strategy. Our commitment to diversity continues to run deep because we know that an inclusive and diverse workforce means better outcomes – both for our people and the communities we care for. I am proud to lead an organisation where all people are welcomed, valued, and where individuals from all different backgrounds are working together and making a huge difference in the lives of the communities they serve.
Finally, a huge thank you again to everyone who rallied around colleagues and communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Despite comprehensive emergency preparations and a downgrade to a category 1 storm, the impacts were significant and will be long lasting. I look forward to visiting the NSW Health teams on the ground later this week and hearing how people are faring as we focus on supporting one another during the recovery from this natural disaster.
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| Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health |
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Meet Joshua Toomey and Lauren Jones, Aboriginal Care Navigators at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. They work tirelessly to ensure Aboriginal patients and families receive culturally safe and appropriate care. |
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Since starting in their roles, the local CICADA (Care and Intervention for Children Affected by Drugs and Alcohol) service has seen an increase in Aboriginal families attending. Aboriginal people can face barriers to accessing healthcare. These can include cultural discomfort, and a mistrust and fear of clinical settings. Joshua and Lauren work with families to overcome these barriers.
“It’s a beautiful job to be able to support people and make them feel comfortable,” said Joshua. “These aren’t spaces where many Aboriginal people feel comfortable, so we decided to create more non-clinical pathways for patients to access our care,” said Lauren. |
| Joshua Toomey and Lauren Jones |
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“We are guided a lot by our lived experience to support the team in delivering care that is culturally safe,” she said. Their work at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network includes supporting communication between patients and clinicians, engaging families, and promoting cultural connections.
“When you receive positive feedback from kids and families, it makes you think this is why I do this – it's making a difference,” said Joshua. |
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Tat Garwood is the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
Tat lives with visible and invisible disabilities. When she was diagnosed with ADHD and autism at age 50, she received support from her workplace and colleagues.
Watch the video to learn more about Tat’s story. |
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| Growing up, Jaspreet Kaur watched her father struggle with diabetes, a challenge that motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare.
Now a diabetes educator at the Queanbeyan Community Health Centre in Southern NSW Local Health District, Jaspreet is helping others navigate their own diabetes journeys. “Diabetes is a lifelong condition, but it can be managed with the right tools and support.
“My role is to give patients the confidence to make positive changes,” she said. |
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The Southern Diabetes Services provide personalised care in the Queanbeyan-Palerang community, including newly diagnosed diabetics, or people at risk. “Our sessions are about supporting patients, not judging them. We want them to know they are taking an important step toward better health.” "We provide clear, evidence-based education to help patients make informed decisions,” she said. “We take the time to understand their health challenges and create a roadmap that works for them.” | | |
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Rabbi Mendel Kastel, Jewish Chaplain, and Mohamed Elshafei, Senior Muslim Chaplain, share a mission – providing every patient with holistic care, regardless of race or religion. These interfaith collaborations help care for our community at all times, but especially during challenging times, and help people understand NSW Health remains safe and welcoming for all people.
They both recently shared a strong message of unity in a NSW Health social media video. |
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Mohamed Elshafei and Rabbi Mendel Kastel |
| What is your role at NSW Health? Mohamed Elshafei: I am a senior accredited Muslim chaplain working in clinical and mental health settings. I have been with NSW Health since 1998.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel: I’m a Jewish chaplain and have been one for more than 35 years. My work takes me around Australia and overseas. What do you do in your role? Mohamed Elshafei: I provide patients, staff members and families with social and emotional guidance firstly, then religious guidance if required. I also assist with all Islamic direction for any ethical matters raised. Rabbi Mendel Kastel: I visit a number of hospitals to provide spiritual support and guidance to people – whether through activities, prayer or just the opportunity to talk. |
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How has it been for you in recent weeks?
Mohamed Elshafei: To be honest it has been overwhelming as I’ve been dealing with personal issues along with recent public events. Chaplain work is inherently very emotionally draining, so it has been challenging with recent events.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel: We have received feedback – some good and some bad. It’s important in our role as Chaplains to support the community, let them know we’re here for them and restore trust in the system. Why was the message in the video you made so important?
Mohamed Elshafei: As a member of NSW Health, it’s important that we protect the public’s trust of our organisation. I wanted to take the opportunity to reassure and reaffirm with the public that hate has no place here. Regardless of a person’s religious or cultural background, we health workers are here for them to provide holistic care.
Rabbi Mendel Kastel: I’ve worked with NSW Health for a long time and knowing all the good work we do, it was important for me to be a part of building community trust. It’s important that we make it clear that discrimination has no place at this organisation. We want people to know the care is there for them, no matter what background, race or religion they are. |
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About NSW Health chaplaincy services
NSW Health chaplaincy services provide emotional and spiritual support to patients, families and staff across many different topics. These include emotional and spiritual support, religious and spiritual rituals, grief and bereavement support, and simply a compassionate presence. To learn more about chaplaincy services including how to access them, contact the Chaplaincy Office at your local hospital. |
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Content warning: This story contains themes related to female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) that may be distressing or triggering for some readers. Information on available support can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. |
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Supporting female genital mutilation survivors |
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Women and girls subjected to female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) require sensitive, culturally appropriate, and specialised care. Midwives play a critical role. |
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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) – predominantly in countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced. However global migration means health workers anywhere may find themselves having to care for women living with FGM/C.
Heba Allam, midwife at Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney Local Health District, helps FGM/C survivors feel safe, respected, and heard throughout their pregnancy journey and beyond. “Avoiding strong or traumatic words is important, so they don’t feel different or isolated,” said Heba. “We’ve done training on language, but ultimately it’s about making women feel comfortable. We listen and give them the space to talk.” As part of the comprehensive care model, Heba also emphasises the importance of continuity. |
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| “Being there for them at every step, whether through surgery or specialist care, truly makes a difference."
Through the Pre and Postnatal cOllaborative Outpatients sErvice (PAPOOSE), Heba and fellow midwife, Collete Compton ensure that women have a consistent point of contact, helping them navigate their care smoothly.
“Having one person follow them through their pregnancy journey helps them feel safe and supported, said Collette. “Many women put their trust in us, and we want to make sure women feel safe and cared for,” said Heba. |
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A bridge to greater understanding |
Dana Mouwad, clinician turned change leader and her team focus on making health information inclusive via the new Statewide Health Literacy Hub, hosted by Western Sydney Local Health District. “Health literacy is the foundation of safe, high-quality care – especially vulnerable communities,” said Dana, director of the Hub. |
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“Every patient deserves health information they can understand and act on. Effective communication creates a more inclusive health system,” she said.
The Hub equips all healthcare staff, no matter what their role, with skills like plain language and culturally responsive communication to ensure information is accessible. “By using health literacy strategies and culturally relevant platforms, we can make health information clearer, understandable and actionable," said Dana. “From my earliest days as a clinician, I saw how addressing health literacy can turn confusion into empowerment and missed care into better outcomes. “We aim to build the capacity of the system through education that will support our staff to build health literacy approaches into everyday work." |
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The hub is launching a new interactive foundational training module for all NSW Health staff.
Register for the training today through the Health Literacy Hub website and learn how you can help patients enhance health literacy and make healthcare more accessible. |
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In 2023, the Hospital in the Home team at Central Coast Local Health District disposed of 5,000 single use pumps. To address the environmental impact, they introduced the use of battery operated, "CADD Solis" pumps, which operate on rechargeable batteries for up to 10 years.
The project is a recipient of last year’s Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund (SFIF). “We thought there must be a better way,” said Toni Docherty, Community Programs Team Leader Pharmacist and project lead. The new pumps are already improving patient care. |
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“The CADD Solis pumps deliver medications like antibiotics more consistently, and with fewer deliveries of single-use pumps, patients can receive treatment sooner.”
The project reduces C02 emissions, waste and packaging, offering significant environmental benefits. “Being able to treat patients at home has reduced the environmental impact of hospital stays.” Toni is also doing a PhD, exploring the impact of the project. “I hope this research can help clinicians learn about the benefits, so it can be implemented in other local health districts.” |
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Registered Nurse Caitlyn Yule with Peter, a Hospital in the Home patient |
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About the 2025 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund
The 2025 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund provides $20,000 to $50,000 to support staff-led innovation projects that improve patient care and reduce our environmental footprint.
Applications are open until 4 April 2025. For more details on how to apply, visit the NSW Health website. |
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In focus with Sarah Morton |
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Q: How is NSW Health improving accessibility for people with a disability?
A: NSW Health’s recently released Responding to the health care needs of people with disability policy confirms our commitment to delivering inclusive, accessible and person-centred care and services to people with disability. The policy provides practical guidance on how we all can make adjustments that meet the needs of people with disability. This includes health information, communication methods and styles, and physical environments and equipment, that ensures people with all types of disability (physical, sensory, psychosocial and cognitive) can receive the healthcare they need. Importantly, we should make sure we can provide: -
Easy Read information featuring clear, everyday language matched with images. Examples can be found on the Disability policies and guidelines section of the NSW Health website.
- Communication aids and wayfinding tools
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Access to Auslan interpreters for people who are Deaf and/or have hearing loss
- Planning and delivery of disability inclusive service models and procedures
- Environmental adjustments, such as quiet and low sensory areas.
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| Complementing the guidance in our policy is the Ministry’s
NSW Health Accessible Communications Policy and Accessibility matters resource hub, which provides practical and easy-to-use resources. By making health information easy to understand, we support people’s participation in their healthcare.
We encourage staff in all roles across NSW Health to identify how they can make a difference to the care and experiences of people with disability accessing healthcare. Sarah Morton
Director, Disability, Youth and Paediatric Health Health and Social Policy, NSW Ministry of Health |
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Nominations open: 2025 NSW Humanitarian Awards Nominations are now open for the 2025 NSW Humanitarian Awards presented by STARTTS and Refugee Council of Australia. Each year, the Awards celebrate individuals, organisations and initiatives that have demonstrated outstanding dedication to supporting refugees and fostering multicultural harmony. Submit your nomination today via the STARTTS website. Nominations close at 11pm on Sunday 11 May 2025. |
| Your mandatory cyber training may be overdue
To stay on top of the latest cyber threats, all NSW Health staff need to complete the mandatory Cyber Security Fundamentals module every year instead of every two years. It only takes 15 minutes to complete and includes a short quiz.
Simply search “Cyber Security Fundamentals” in My Health Learning to check if you’re due to complete it. |
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations.
Recent features include: Home-based cardiac rehabilitation, AI-powered hybrid chatbots, and WHO recommendations on maternal health
Virtual care for diabetes management, remote monitoring of automated peritoneal dialysis, and task-sharing and telemedicine for perinatal depression.
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare.
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Support is available if the topics covered in this edition are distressing. For immediate support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Every NSW Health staff member also has access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Details on how to access EAP are on your local intranet. |
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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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