December 2021
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In-house Peer Support Program is coming
Northern Health staff have faced a number of external and internal challenges and restrictions, differing work challenges, state-wide lockdowns and differing emotions, and it can be hard to gauge how we are feeling right now, especially as we are transitioning back into some sort of normality. Michelle Fenwick, Executive Director People and Culture, explained the organisation acknowledges the need for ongoing support for our staff, as well as to continue to ensure our workplace is safe, rewarding, and one where our staff want to work. “This is why we are excited to announce the development phase of our own Peer…
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Emiliano Zucchi: Through the lens of diversity
Emiliano Zucchi has been championing two streams of diversity at Northern Health for the last 15 years; the first as Head of the Transcultural and Language Services (TALS), for cultural and linguistic diversity and the second as the Head of Narrun Wilip-giin, for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander diversity. It is a role that safeguards not only equitable access to health services for our culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and Aboriginal communities, but also staff diversity. Says Emiliano, “Everything we do at Northern Health should be done by applying a diversity lens; this role covers cultural and First Peoples diversity, but at…
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Dr Amanda Baric awarded Order of the Polar Star, Mongolia’s highest state honour
Dr Amanda Baric, one of our very own anaesthetists, has been awarded the highest state honour of Mongolia, the Order of the Polar Star, in recognition of her contribution to Mongolia’s healthcare sector. Ambassador of Mongolia to Australia D.Davaasuren presented the award on 3 December in Canberra. Previous winners of the Order of the Polar Star include former US President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Northern Health anaesthetists have a long standing association with Mongolia, starting with Associate Professor David Pescod. He first visited Mongolia in 2001 to attend the Mongolian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) 40th-anniversary meeting. Dr Ganbold Lundeg,…
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Northern Health Volunteer wins Senior Citizen of the Year
Northern Health Volunteer, Shoukry Sidrak, has been announced as Senior Citizen of the Year in Whittlesea City Council’s 2021 Community Awards! Shoukry Sidrak has been a Northern Health Volunteer since 2013. His main role has been a volunteer driver until the program was cancelled in 2020. Shoukry would pick up patients from their home and take them to the hospital for appointments. The trips to the hospitals with Shoukry would often be one of the few social connections these patients would have. While waiting for the patients to finish their appointments, Shoukry would come into the volunteer tea room and…
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Third Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards
Today, Northern Health’s third Quarterly Staff Recognition Awards ceremony for 2021, showcasing the brilliant achievements of our dedicated staff, was held online. More than 110 nominations, for six categories, were submitted by the winner’s colleagues. Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, opened the virtual presentation. He said the awards recognised the “outstanding contributions by our employees and celebrate staff excellence.” “Northern Health has over 5,700 staff who work across a wide range of areas who are committed to providing great care,” Siva said. “Through these awards, we recognise staff for their hard work and dedication to our patients, staff and community. Award…
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Volunteers, donors and community say thank you
As part of Northern Health’s Thank You Week, we have collated heartfelt messages from volunteers, donors and the local community, expressing their gratitude to staff. Although our volunteers haven’t been walking the halls of Northern Health for much of the year due to the pandemic, this didn’t stop them from spreading the love to our hard working and dedicated healthcare workers. Mandy Davis, Volunteer, chose to thank all the “doctors and nurses in our Emergency Department. A big thank you to all the nurses in Day Procedure Unit and a a big thank you to our nurses doing the COVID…
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Thank You Week at Northern Health
As the end of the year is approaching, I would like to thank you, for everything you have done for our patients, our community, and for supporting each other during the year. This year, more than ever, our values of safe, kind and together have been fundamental to our daily work. This year has brought numerous challenges and changes in the organisation, and I am proud of the adaptability and strength our staff have shown. While we all had difficult days, we have showed that by working together, with kindness and safety at the forefront of everything we do, we…
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International Day of People with Disability
Today is the International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD). This year’s UN theme is, ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.’ There are many different kinds of disability. A disability may affect mobility, ability to learn things, or ability to communicate easily. Some people may have more than one. Disabilities may be visible or hidden, temporary or permanent and may have minimal or substantial impact on a person’s abilities. Today, we share the thoughts of four people living with disabilities and the challenges they face. Jane…