Ladies and gentleman, we have the winners of our first Great Northern Bake Off!

Our award winners in each category have been announced, after our dedicated judges had the serious task of rewarding the ‘best of the best’.

Chief Legal Officer, Mr John Snowdon, said judging the bake off was an amazing experience – “the contestants had all gone to a huge amount of trouble to produce stunning results”.

“This was truly an occasion which brought the whole Northern Health family together!” he said.

Another of our esteemed judges, Emily Dawson, Director, Organisational Capability, said “I was so impressed with the quality of all of the entries – they were outstanding! The deciding factor was the quality, taste and effort that went into the winning cake, and the music took it to the next level”.

Our overall winners, the Anaesthesia Department, said their entry was a team effort led by Dr Michelle Chan.

“I expect the judges had a hard time deciding, and hope they are recovering from their sugar highs. It took Michelle and her team over five hours to create her multimedia presentation, but less than five minutes for our department to devour it”, said David Pescod, Deputy Director, Department Anaesthesia.

We present the awarded cakes in different categories and the overall winner below.

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all participants.

Check out some of our stunning entries in the video below!

 

Overall Winner: Department of Anaesthesia 

 

Winner: Relevant to Area – Unit I

 

• Highly Commended: Neonatal Unit, Pathology

 

 

Equal Winners: Originality – O&G Medical / HRO & Quality

 

 

• Highly Commended: Birth Suite

 

 

 

Winner: Appearance – Cardiac Cath Lab

 

• Highly Commended: Pharmacy

 

Winner: Texture – EMH / NPU

 

• Highly Commended: CDM

 

Winer: Taste – Nursing Workforce Unit 

 

• Highly Commended: Division of Medicine

 

Winner: Colour – Outpatients 

 

• Highly Commended: Children’s Unit

 

Winner: Technical Difficulty – Hand Therapy 

 

• Highly Commended: HITH

The Great Northern Bake Off has just kicked off – with a display of cakes and muffins any Master Baker would be jealous of – complete with visual and even sound effects!

Our staff’s efforts are definitely not going unnoticed, with Vinod Chellarm, Deputy Director Pharmacy, saying “the Hospital should maybe look at opening a bakery.”

Drew Aras, Associate Director of Research said, “our staff’s talents are lost in healthcare”, with Will Halpin, OHS and Wellbeing Associate Director, adding “they should all be on Master Chef!”

 

Our judges, Chief Executive, Siva Sivarajah, Chief Legal Officer John Snowdon, Director Organisational Capability, Emily Dawson and Board Directors, Peter McWilliam, along with Philip Bain, wearing R U OK t-shirts drew attention to our inaugural ‘Conversations on Mental Wellness’ week and the importance of having a conversation.

“It’s important to share the message of R U OK day, which is this Thursday. We are encouraging our staff to bring a plate to work on that day, have a conversation and ask each other R U OK?” Siva Sivarajah, our Chief Executive said.

Jodie Ashworth, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, and the organiser of this event, emphasized the importance of bringing staff together and taking care of our wellbeing.

“Wellbeing is sometimes about coming together and sharing simple things. The effort put in today’s bake off showcases how much care and pride our staff take in their work,” she said.

This week marked National Child Protection Week, an opportunity for everyone in the community to consider how we can work together to keep all children safe.

The initiative’s motto for this year, Stronger Communities, Safer Children, reflects the importance of building strong communities and environments, to keep children protected and help them thrive.

Northern Health’s social work team organised a cake stall in recognition, with the aim to donate all proceeds to Big Group Hug.

Big Group Hug, a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organisation based in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, provides support to vulnerable families with children aged 0-12 experiencing situational hardship or disadvantage that have been referred by maternal and child health nurses or other social sector agencies.

Creative bakers from our social work team successfully raised $380 for the cause.

Juan Alhucema, Social Work Clinical Leader – Acute, said “the social work department is happy to have strengthened our connection with this valuable community organisation.”

Angela Wood, Big Group Hug Director, said they don’t take this effort and show of support lightly, especially at a time when they have been working so hard to expand their network.

“We are truly overwhelmed that you and the team would go to such effort to support us. We know just how much you all already do for your families, so to go an extra step and help us is mind blowing,” she said.

It’s important to remember, we all have a role to play in protecting children from harm.

 

“Conversations build empathy, and empathy becomes the glue that binds people in healthy work environments together” – Layne Stretton, Roses in the Ocean.

‘Conversations on Mental Wellness’ kicks off next Monday on 10 September.

James Malachi, R U OK? Ambassador, will be speaking at the Northern Health Bundoora Conference Room at 2 pm, the same time Layne Stretton will be speaking at NCHER Lecture Theatre.

James’ presentation aims to strengthen our sense of belonging, “because we know people are there for us”. Layne will look at the impact that suicide can have on families, communities and individuals.

He will do so through the lens of personal experiences, talking about his reactions over a 15 year period after his brother’s death, culminating in getting the help and support that he needed.

We asked them both what the theme of conversations in the workplace means to them.

“Staying connected and having meaningful conversations is something we can all do,” James tells us.

“You don’t need to be an expert – just a good friend and a great listener. So, if you notice someone who might be struggling – start a conversation!”

Layne tells us at Roses in the Ocean, they believe the more people open up in this area, the more they give permission and empowerment for others to use their voices.

“The telling of stories is still the most powerful medium for gaining attention, emotional connection and changing attitudes,” he said.

“When a person’s courage and vulnerability is expressed through communication, it opens up dialogue in areas that were repressed or forgotten. It builds intimacy, empathy and hope.”

‘Conversations on Mental Wellness’ showcases Northern Health’s commitment to a psychologically safe workplace, and how we provide tangible steps towards a number of actions, including raising awareness, combating stigma, suicide prevention and promoting positive mental health.

Speakers and sessions will run until R U OK? Day to close the program on Thursday 13 September.

To start the conversation, please click here.

Physiotherapists at Northern Health play a key role in helping people achieve their goals, fulfil their potential and participate fully in society.

We often see physiotherapists as a professionals who help with sport-related injuries and post-surgery recovery, however after a quick chat we’ve realised that helping women after giving birth is another important part of their work.

Catherine is one of Northern’s passionate physios, who works with women and helps them in the most sensitive period, focusing on providing advice on how to take care of their body.

“I do a lot of education around pelvic floor and recovery after birth, helping with issues like incontinence, which can have a huge impact on women’s everyday lives,” she says.

Even with women who have had a straightforward birth, physios still have a role of helping them get back to everyday activities in the first three months after the delivery. It is proven that exercise decreases the risk of post-natal depression and anxiety.

Seeing women in the wards, and even as outpatients, is a huge part of our physiotherapy service, especially with the increasing number of births at the hospital and the growth of the northern suburbs.

“We are getting busier and busier,” Catherine says.

The dedication of our physios doesn’t go unnoticed. Recently, they’ve received a card of appreciation from one of the new mothers, who was touched by the care she received at Northern:

Each year, on 8 September, we celebrate World Physiotherapy Day — a global event recognising the incredible role physiotherapists play in the community.

Melanie Hogan, Acting Associate Director Allied Health Physiotherapy, says there’s a different theme every year. This year’s focus is on raising awareness of physiotherapy’s key role in improving mental health through exercise.

“We help patients in many different areas – from helping women getting back to their everyday activities, to people with sports injuries, neurological or respiratory conditions. The world of physiotherapy is vast and it all contributes to helping people achieve their goals and full potential, as well as improve the quality of life,” she says.

Exercise and activity have a wide range of health benefits for mind, as well as the body. 

Our physios say – get active and stay active!

In baking …er breaking news this week, it’s been confirmed next Monday, Northern Hospital Epping will host its first Inaugural Bake Off and Afternoon Tea.

Event organisers have requested that all areas put forward two cakes, muffins, slices or any baked item really. The baked goods must reflect the ‘area you work in’.

Entries will be adjudged on taste, theme alignment and innovation, by our highly experienced judges, Mr John Snowdon and Chief Executive, Mr Siva Sivarajah.

Items can be either sweet or savoury but it’s very important to note all entries must be edible. To quote the event organisers – ‘don’t be afraid to take whisks!’

Cakes will be on display from 11.00 am after 10.30 am drop off. Winner will be announced at 3 pm the same day and receive $100 Coles Myer gift cards.

Entries will be shared with staff from their department as part of an afternoon tea.

When asked if the judges can be ‘influenced’, the cryptic response was ‘if there’s a whisk, there’s a way.’

For any area that would like to participate but hasn’t been included on the below department list, please email jodie.ashworth@nh.org.au.

In response to our question, ‘any final comments?’, they emphatically said ‘just beat it!’

Bake Off Department List

 

Meet Northern Health’s newest Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer, Jordan Casey.

With the Aboriginal population growing in the northern suburbs, it was important for Northern Health to employ another Hospital Liaison Officer to maintain quality support services for the community.

Emiliano Zucchi, Manager Transcultural & Language Services | Aboriginal Support Unit, says, “we realised the Aboriginal population in our catchment area was growing faster than any other group, and there was more demand for our services than we could meet”.

Jordan’s passion for Aboriginal health and culture started to grow five years ago when he got involved in the community health sector in Sunbury.

“It really fuelled my drive to want to help and contribute in the health sector,” he said.

His new role allows him to provide emotional and cultural support to Aboriginal patients at Northern Health.

“We make sure they’re getting culturally safe care whilst in the hospital. We also provide some follow-up care as well, especially if it’s regarding home and community care.”

A typical day for Jordan consists of seeing Aboriginal patients in the Emergency Department, Short Stay and Wards, to ensure they’re getting culturally appropriate care, as well as providing secondary consult to staff members at Northern Health that are engaging with Aboriginal patients.

Jordan has been working at Northern Health for one month now and he already recognises how his new role can improve the overall patient experience.

“The most rewarding part of my role here at Northern is seeing the positive impact we can have on our patients and their families,” he said.

This year marks a major milestone for Northern Health Home Care Packages (NHHCP).

The program will be celebrating their 30 year anniversary of providing in-home support to older people and people with disabilities, with the aim of assisting them to remain in their homes and chosen community for as long as possible.

It all began in 1988, when NHHCP were called the Bundoora Community Care Program, located at what was previously named Bundoora Extended Care Centre.

The program was a trial funded by State and Federal Governments to assist people at home, rather than having to enter residential care prematurely. This was the beginning of the ‘Linkages’ program.

Initially, the program had 74 Linkages packages and later became a part of Northern Health, when it was established in 2000. Since then, Northern Health has been dedicated to providing quality case management and services to improve people’s quality of life and overall wellness at home.

By 2014, the program included 185 Linkages Packages, 77 Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) and 41 Extended Aged Care at Home Packages (EACH). CACP and EACH packages were eventually renamed as what we now go by, Home Care Packages, as part of the Australian Government ‘living longer, living better’ aged care reforms.

Julie Williams, Manager Northern Health Home Care Packages, says the program has grown by over 70%, to include a total of 202 Home Care Packages with 26 staff.

“It’s quite an achievement, as we were one of the original pilot programs,” she said.