Meet the staff contributing to innovation across the system |
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Being part of the biggest health system in Australia, offers a distinctive value proposition in research and innovation. One of our defining strengths is our multifaceted public health system enabling every clinician and patient to be involved in research and innovation. This provides a unique opportunity for us to drive equity and improve care across NSW.
The recently launched NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030 provides a clear roadmap for the future. It outlines how we’ll embed research and innovation into everyday care, ensuring research, innovation, and digital advances continue to inform service delivery. This includes accelerating clinical trials, expanding access to emerging therapies, and supporting our remarkable clinicians to apply research evidence to their day-to-day practice.
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Innovation also plays a vital role in helping us meet the NSW Government’s net zero targets and creating an environmentally sustainable health system. The Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund is a great example of how staff-led ideas are driving this change. Now in its third year, the fund has supported 28 successful projects that improved health outcomes, reduced our environmental impact, and strengthened our climate resilience.
I'm pleased to announce this year’s recipients, whose bold, forward-thinking ideas will pave the way for a more sustainable healthcare system. Congratulations to all the successful recipients. I look forward to seeing how your innovative ideas develop and the impact they may have across NSW Health. You can find the full list on the NSW Health website.
Thank you to all the staff who continue to contribute to this important work. Your efforts and creativity are helping us build a more sustainable and future-ready health system. |
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Kind regards, Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health |
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When Rebecca Jane Torbruegge felt her skin start to “bubble” after burning her leg go-karting, she knew something was wrong.
Fortunately, she was able to join a world-first clinical trial at Concord Hospital in the Sydney Local Health District. The process uses advanced 3D printing technology to create skin from a patient’s own cells and apply it directly to the wound. |
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Dr Joanneke Maitz and Rebecca Jane Torbruegge |
| "I was so surprised there was no pain! I was expecting some pain – at least in the spot where they took the graft – but it was fine,” said Rebecca.
Dr Joanneke Maitz, Group Lead of the Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Research Group, said the breakthrough offers a promising new approach to reduce pain and has the potential to improve wound healing. “Scarring, especially for large burns, is a common result of traditional techniques such as skin grafting, which can significantly impact long-term quality of life,” she said.
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“This new technique prints biomaterials and patient’s own cells directly onto the wound with precision, helping surgeons rebuild lost tissue after trauma. “It is truly life-changing for people with burn injuries.” |
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NSW Ambulance has completed a trial, using innovative drone technology to improve patient care in remote and rugged terrain. The trial was funded by the 2024 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund.
The two-month Remotely Piloted Aeromedical Clinical Systems (RPACS) trial used drones to enhance aeromedical and special operations capabilities during search and rescue missions.
Seven specially trained paramedics operated RPACS drones across dense bushland in the Blue Mountains. The trial focused on improving the speed, safety and precision of responses in areas where traditional access is limited. |
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“It’s an extra tool under our belt,” said Sam Immens, Critical Care Paramedic. “The RPACS allow us to do our role more efficiently by locating the patient and seeing their condition earlier through the camera feed. It enables us to be more targeted and specific in our response,” he said. The drones provide live aerial surveillance, thermal imaging, high-intensity search lights, and even loudspeakers to communicate with the patients. |
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| “They can also carry medical supplies such as blood, anti-venoms, or defibrillators – up to seven kilometres in hard-to-reach locations,” Sam added.
By reducing reliance on helicopters for some missions, the drones also lower emissions and environmental impact. The project has received renewed funding this year as a recipient of the 2025 Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund. |
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There’s no need to ask Jason to lend a hand because chances are he’s already rolling up his sleeves before you can say a word! As a security officer at Casino and District Memorial Hospital, Northern NSW Local Health District, Jason's got your back, and his acts of kindness are deeply appreciated by his colleagues every day. |
Date to mark This Thursday (24 July) marks the 10th anniversary of International Security Officer’s Day – a date chosen to symbolise the 24/7 nature of security work.
NSW Health is one of the largest employers of security staff in the state. Celebrate the day by recognising and thanking a team member like Jason for keeping us safe every day. |
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Leaving the paper trail behind |
In the Southern NSW Local Health District, Robyn Ginger and her colleagues are helping to reshape the way surgical teams manage implantable devices.
“The SmartChain Traceability project tracks devices such as surgical implants directly to the patient they’re used on,” said Robyn Ginger, Change Lead Manager. |
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Robyn Ginger (middle) with her colleagues Janelle Hopwood and Debbie Mcintosh |
| “Tracking all the implants that go into our bodies after surgery means if there’s a TGA recall, we immediately know within about half a minute where that part is and who’s got it,” she said.
Robyn supported staff across six hospital theatres during the rollout of the digital system. By replacing manual, paper-based systems with real-time data, teams now benefit from better stock visibility, improved patient safety, and a more sustainable approach to ordering and billing.
“It’s reduced workload for a lot of staff and given time back to our theatre unit managers to focus on quality care,” she said. |
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The SmartChain Traceability project forms part of a broader procurement reform led by eHealth NSW and HealthShare NSW. It was awarded the Transforming Patient Experience Award at the 2025 Southern Excellence Awards. |
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In focus with Kim Sutherland |
Q: How does the NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy inform advances in service delivery?
A: The NSW Health Research and Innovation Strategy 2025-2030 provides a clear roadmap for researchers, clinicians, and health leaders. It encourages collaborative approaches, raises awareness of key contributors and initiatives, and promotes smarter investment of time and resources. The strategy aims to make research and innovation part of everyday care, through the acceleration of clinical trials and increasing patient access to the latest therapies and technologies, while also improving clinicians access and usability of evidence from research.
Research and innovation can lead to transformational breakthroughs and improved patient outcomes, such as weight loss medications or gene therapies, or incremental improvements like streamlined models of care. Together, these advances are powerful drivers of better patient health outcomes and more efficient care. |
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The strategy outlines six strategic outcomes to guide progress: - Building a thriving, inclusive ecosystem for coordinated research and innovation
- Investing strategically in areas where NSW can lead and grow
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Embracing an open assets philosophy to accelerate innovation
- Strengthening place-based foundations through statewide precincts and initiatives
- Adopting a pipeline approach to scale solutions that address real system challenges
- Promoting research and innovation for all – ensuring better use, translation, and creation across healthcare settings to improve outcomes, equity, and efficiency.
This strategy is a catalyst for shaping the future of healthcare in NSW through research-driven transformation. Dr Kim Sutherland Executive Director, Office for Health and Medical Research NSW Ministry of Health |
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Creating accessible health information Want to create clear, inclusive, and accessible health communications? Join an upcoming virtual information session.
These sessions will provide guidance on creating communications for people with disability, neurodiversity, and low literacy. They will also explore ways you can make information more accessible for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal communities.
Register for the next session on the event page. For more information and available sessions, visit the Accessibility Matters webpage. |
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Dr Frank Hsieh, Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Westmead Hospital has performed Australia’s first nano-tech bypass surgery to prevent lymphoedema* in breast cancer patients. The lymphovascular bypass surgery uses nano technology where the tip of the instrument is super fine to enter the body. “It’s finer than one strand of hair with magnification up to 70 times. The lymph fluids get trapped and need a way out. The new technique re-routes it into another system,” said Dr Frank. “It allows women to live their lives with strength and confidence post breast cancer surgery,” he said. |
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The 12-month pilot at Westmead Hospital is now complete. All 20 patients were followed up at 3, 6 and 12 months post-operation, with none showing signs of developing lymphoedema.
"The surgery is a fantastic breakthrough for breast cancer patients in the Western Sydney Local Health District.” Read the full feature and patient case study on Western Sydney Local Health District’s news site The Pulse. |
| Dr Frank Hsieh and patient Urhay |
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*Lymphoedema is a condition of localised swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. It is commonly experienced by people with breast cancer following the removal of lymph nodes. |
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Healthcare that's closer to home |
People living outside metropolitan areas often face barriers to participating in clinical trials, including limited local infrastructure and long travel distances.
To address these challenges, the Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Program is working to bring clinical trials closer to home in NSW and ACT.
“Rural people often miss out on clinical trials due to distance or face the burden of long travel times to participate,” said Shellie Burgess, Rural Health Network Manager, Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI).
The program is a partnership between the Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR) and ACT Government. It is locally led by three regional clusters across Northern, Western and Southern NSW and ACT. The program supports local clinicians to design and run trials in community settings such as hospitals, GP clinics, and Aboriginal Medical Services. |
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“This isn’t just about access – it's about equity, innovation, and putting patients first,” said Danielle Somers, Director of Research Methods and Clinical Trials, OHMR. “We’re fostering the next generation of research experts in rural, regional and remote areas of NSW and the ACT,” she said. By embedding trials into everyday healthcare, the program gives people access to new treatments and technologies. “Clinical trials are not something that happens only in big cities. We’re making sure people can participate in research close to where they live,” said Danielle Somers. The Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Program is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Medical Research Future Fund. |
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Cassie Reed and Emma Young are part of the team of Donation Education Coordinators at the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service. They help prepare healthcare staff across the state for some of the most sensitive conversations in healthcare.
“We train critical care teams, mentor Donation Specialist Nurses, and deliver workshops that focus on compassion and clarity during end-of-life care,” said Cassie. |
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For both, their connection to organ and tissue donation began with personal experiences close to the heart.
“I had a close friend who received a life-saving lung transplant. That was my introduction to what donation really means and it’s stayed with me ever since,” said Cassie.
Emma was moved by the families she supported during her time in intensive care.
“I’ll never forget my first Guard of Honour. ICU staff lined the hallway as a donor was taken to the theatre. The donor’s family showed us how much it meant to them. |
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Emma Young, Cassie Reed (front) and the team |
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"It really showed me how small gestures can have a lasting impact,” she said. As DonateLife Week approaches (27 July - 3 August), the team is encouraging all NSW Health staff to learn more about donation, talk to their colleagues and patients, and start the conversation.
Reach out to the team to request a workshop or learn more about organ and tissue donation on the DonateLife website. |
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Innovating at the frontline |
A year ago, the Emergency Care Assessment and Treatment Program (ECAT) was launched with the goal of making emergency care faster, safer, and more consistent for every patient in NSW. Today, it's transforming the way nurses deliver care in emergency departments statewide.
Led by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Emergency Care Institute, ECAT was developed in partnership with the NSW Ministry of Health Nursing and Midwifery Office, eHealth NSW, HETI, and the Clinical Excellence Commission. More than 300 clinicians helped co-design 73 nurse-initiated clinical protocols, which were integrated into the electronic medical record and supported by statewide education resources. |
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Kylie Smith (right) and the team at Griffith Hospital for the first ECAT launch |
| “It’s been a huge first year for ECAT, thanks to all the nurses, doctors, and experts who made it a success,” said project lead Kylie Smith, Manager, Emergency Care Institute. “Nurses tell us ECAT empowers them to respond more quickly and ultimately improves outcomes for patients.”
Now live in 159 emergency departments and 17 local health districts and specialty networks, ECAT has guided care for more than 753,000 patients. More than 6,000 nurses have joined the My Health Learning Pathway to access the program. |
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In June, ECAT expanded to urgent care centres, launching at Mona Vale Hospital.
“Implementing statewide protocols is a smarter, safer way to deliver timely care, for patients and for emergency department staff,” said Kylie. |
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations.
Recent features include: - The NHS 10 year plan, intensive blood pressure lowering in acute intracerebral haemorrhage, video streaming for triage decision making, and hospital level acute cardiac care in patients' homes
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Perinatal and postnatal HIV transmission, palliative care rapid access clinic as an alternative to ED care, and language models for predicting surgical case length
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare.
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| NSW Health Gender Equality Action Plan 2025-2028 NSW Health has launched its first Gender Equality Action Plan. Gender equality is vital to delivering high-quality, person-centred healthcare.
The Action Plan plays an important role in ensuring that all people have equal access, treatment and opportunities in the health system. It also identifies four key priorities that demonstrate NSW Health's commitment to equality for people of all genders.
To read the full plan, visit the NSW Health website. |
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Nutrition care is everyone’s responsibility Good nutrition is essential for healing and recovery. Clinicians play a vital role in identifying malnutrition or declining nutritional status of patients. Two new eLearning modules are available to support clinicians in delivering high-quality nutrition care at every stage of a patient’s hospital journey: -
Nutrition Care (course code: 602025571)
- Screening for malnutrition risk in adults (course code: 601788290)
Enrol in the courses on My Health Learning today. |
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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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