August 2020

Collaborating with community organisations and research partners is a key focus for Northern Health, so we can continue to work together to create a healthier community. La Trobe University researchers working to prevent premature births among socially disadvantaged and vulnerable women recently secured $1.6 million over four years from the Medical Research Future Fund’s “Preventative and Public Health Research” scheme. La Trobe Professor of Midwifery, Helen McLachlan, received the funding to lead a randomised trial to explore whether caseload midwifery – offering continuity of care from a ‘known’ midwife to vulnerable women – can help reduce their substantially higher risk…

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This week, we have been looking at the second of our values – ‘Kind’, and how it helps us in ‘making a difference for every person, every day’. As Deb Bourne, our Acting Chief Operating Officer explained, “When we treat our staff with kindness, we actually are saying…they are important and adding value and they make a difference when they come to work.” “When we come to work and feel that way…it has a direct impact on patient care,” she adds. We saw the creative ways compassion is being expressed at Northern Health through initiatives such as the Children’s Colouring…

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Northern Health’s Strategic Plan 2020-24 has five priorities, including one that focuses on our innovative, sustainable future. The goal of working towards a future that enables innovation and is focused on sustainability means that, as an organisation, we will focus on building and maintaining strong financial management and eliminating waste and inefficiencies. Waste can be behavioural, clinical and administrative, and by reducing the waste, we will be able to release resources and transform the organisation to deliver value to our communities and founders. Additionally, by investing in new opportunities and innovations, including digital processes, and by expanding our services in…

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Kindness is a key value of Northern Health, as is presented in our Northern Health Strategic Plan 2020-24. It is also central to our response to the pandemic and the Northern Health COVID-19 Positive Community Monitoring Program. The program is a telephone-based service providing both an imaginative and compassionate response for people that test positive for COVID-19 at any of our testing sites. The program operates from 8 am to 5 pm, seven days a week, targeting patients with mild disease symptoms that can be managed at home. Patients at risk in the COVID-19 Positive Community Monitoring Program are closely…

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Hospital stays can sometimes be long and challenging and, at times scary, especially for children. With this in mind, Narrun Wilip-giin (Aboriginal Support Unit), has developed a colouring book to be provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children during their hospital journey at Northern Health. The book was launched today on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Children’s Day, a day on which we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and the role that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child. The book is beautifully illustrated and designed by Aboriginal…

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The author Henry James once said, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” ‘Kind’ is a key value, along with ‘Safe’ and ‘Together’, in achieving our vision of a healthier community, ‘making a difference for every person, every day’, as outlined in our Northern Health Strategic Plan 2020-24. As Kathleen Weirbiuk, Associate Nurse Unit Manager, so eloquently put it, ‘Kind’ means, “looking past the disease, past the process and coming back to empathy.” Treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy and…

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