This week, we celebrate 100 years of Spiritual Care Week in Australia, a time to honour the boundless compassion of spiritual care providers who offer solace, empathy, and support to individuals and families navigating the complexities of life in its many hardships and celebrations.

Join us in honouring this milestone, celebrating the profound impact of spiritual care, and envisioning a future where deep and genuine support remains at the core of compassionate care.

Here at Northern Health, our Spiritual Care practitioners are highly skilled in providing support across cultures, faith traditions, and belief systems, including those with no religious affiliation. We offer person-centred care and a calm, compassionate presence in the hospital setting, where many patients and families are facing grief, loss, and distress.

Our Spiritual Care team also provides valuable emotional and spiritual support to Northern Health staff, helping them navigate the challenges of healthcare work with resilience and wellbeing.

Spiritual care supports individuals in finding meaning, hope, and connection during times of deep vulnerability. It can help people transcend their suffering – not by removing it, but by accompanying them through it with empathy and presence. In this way, spiritual care fosters resilience, dignity, and inner peace, even in the midst of profound challenges.

The Spiritual Care team includes Penelope Vye, Associate Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care, Natalia Dewiyani as Spiritual Care Coordinator (NHE), Melanie Moore (PCU), Sebastian Antony (NHE), Kelly Pinto (NHE & BC), and John Davies (BH). As an extension of the in-house team, we work with more than 30 faith representatives who are called in to provide services from particular religious/faith/cultural traditions.

Natalia Dewiyani, Spiritual Care Coordinator said she was proud to lead such a dedicated and passionate team.

“The Northern Health Spiritual Care Team was recently recognised as runner-up in both the 2025 Spiritual Care Australia Best of Care Award and the Northern Health Allied Health Excellence Awards. These honours reflect the outstanding care they provide every day. I’m also grateful to our Northern Health leaders and advocates for their continued support of spiritual wellbeing as an essential part of holistic care,” she said.

Penelope Vye, Associate Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care, said the team provides extraordinary care and support to patients and staff at Northern Health who are experiencing challenges to their health and wellbeing.

“It is my very great pleasure to lead the Spiritual Care team at Northern Health,” she said.

“The team provides a deep listening presence and a sense of calmness amid often traumatic circumstances. I congratulate the team on their service to others at Northern Health recognising the value of their work throughout the year and especially during Spiritual Care Week.”

Alison Giles, Medical Director of Palliative Care, said she couldn’t speak more highly of the wonderful work that the Spiritual Care team do every day.

“Their incredible warmth, compassion and dedication to supporting patients, families and staff is valued by all who they encounter, many of whom are facing some of life’s biggest challenges,” she said.

“Their skill, energy and commitment is evidenced by the breadth of work which they are involved in. This includes marriage ceremonies on the wards, health service podcasts, regular staff wellbeing sessions, art therapy providing a legacy for loved ones, bereavement support, end of life rituals and religious prayers, research projects exploring provision of bereavement services in Emergency and Intensive Care Units, and involvement in quality work through the End of Life Committee.”

Our Patient Experience team receive many compliments about our health service, with many of the compliments directed to our Spiritual Care Team:

“Thank you, Natalia and Melanie, for your kindness and spiritual support during my father’s last weeks, we are looking forward to the memorial service.”

“Sending thanks for the invitation to the memorial service to honour the passing of our father, we think that this is a truly wonderful way to say thank you to all the doctors, nurses and other health carers for the care and support we and our loved ones received at your hospital.”

“We came to the memorial last week and wanted to thank Northern Health for providing us a chance to remember our loved ones. It was great to see so many staff present to support it and you could see how well they work as a team. Even the CEO was there, and she seemed so proud of her team. Well done Northern Health.”

The next Northern Health Memorial Service is on Thursday, 13 November. Click here for registrations.

Northern Health Foundation has marked a milestone year with heartfelt celebrations and exciting new initiatives, highlighting its unwavering commitment to improving healthcare in Melbourne’s north.

On 17 September, the Foundation hosted its annual thank you event, honouring the generosity of its donors, partners, and sponsors. The evening was a celebration of community spirit and shared impact, recognising the vital role supporters play in advancing equitable and accessible healthcare.

In a record-breaking achievement, the Foundation proudly announced it had distributed $1.6 million to Northern Health in 2024/25, its largest contribution to date. These funds have supported life-changing medical equipment, research, staff training, and enhancements to patient spaces across all campuses.

A highlight of the evening was the launch of the Foundation’s new capital campaign to bring the Da Vinci surgical robot to Northern Hospital Epping. This cutting-edge technology represents a major leap forward in patient care, enabling world-class surgical precision and outcomes for the local community.

The Foundation also shared inspiring news about the impact of workplace giving. Thanks to the generosity of Northern Health staff, over $70,000 was directed to projects that have transformed patient and family spaces throughout the hospital. These upgrades include:

• A refreshed Women’s and Children’s balcony
• New furniture for staff and visitor courtyards
• A revitalised Sacred Space room (Coming soon)
• Welcoming waiting areas for maternity and cancer services
• A dedicated family room in the Emergency Department
• A vibrant mural in the Children’s Ward, bringing colour and comfort to young patients (Coming soon)

Each of these enhancements reflects the Foundation’s deep commitment to creating environments that promote dignity, wellbeing, and healing.

Newly appointed Foundation Director, Chris Harding, is looking forward to building further on the great work of the Foundation, saying how pleased he was to meet donors at the recent thank you event and to have an opportunity to thank them in person.

“It’s amazing to witness how the contributions of our donors and supporters, and our workplace givers, combine to achieve such a remarkable result. I take this opportunity to thank our staff who contribute regularly to the Workplace Giving Program, together with BankVic who kindly match these contributions.”

The Foundation expresses profound gratitude to every donor, partner, and workplace giver whose kindness continues to shape a healthier future for all.

To learn more about workplace giving and how to get involved, visit https://www.nhfoundation.org.au/workplace-giving

Shocktober is Ambulance Victoria’s month-long campaign aimed at highlighting the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Every day, around 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest, with only one in 10 surviving. A cardiac arrest occurs when a person’s heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively around the body.

For every minute that CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent. But when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.

Last week, Northern Health partnered with Pacific Epping and Ambulance Victoria to host a Restart a Heart Day event. The community was provided with hands-on training in CPR and AED use in a controlled, non-emergency setting for participants to develop these critical life-saving skills.

Elise Sutton, Resuscitation and Clinical Deterioration Coordinator and Simulation and Safety Coordinator at Northern Health, said the health service was pleased to once again collaborate with Pacific Epping and Ambulance Victoria to bring life-saving CPR and AED awareness to the community.

“We appreciate Pacific Epping’s commitment to share essential health messages and provide the public with the tools needed for emergencies,” Ms Sutton said.

James Tehan, Ambulance Victoria Acting Director of Regional and Clinical Operations, encouraged locals to learn CPR, learn how to use an AED, and know where their closest defibrillator is located.

“Shocktober is about giving Victorians who have a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” said Mr Tehan.

“CPR and defibrillation are critical. Every day, around 21 Victorians suffer the medical emergency but only one in 10 survive. For every minute CPR is delayed, survival decrease by 10 per cent.”

“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life. Just remember to call Triple Zero (000), perform CPR and use an AED.”

Adam Phillips, Centre Manager of Pacific Epping, spoke about Pacific Epping’s dedication to community safety and its ongoing work with Northern Health.

“Being able to team up with Northern Health and Ambulance Victoria for this training is a real chance to help our community feel ready in an emergency, like a cardiac arrest,” said Mr Phillips.

To find out more about Shocktober, please visit https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober/.

Featured image: Northern Health and Ambulance Victoria at the Restart a Heart event at Pacific Epping last week.

#WeAreNorthern

As we approach Research Week, say hello to Preethi Holman, Administration Officer, Research Development and Governance Unit at Northern Health.

Q. Firstly, what’s your coffee order?
Skinny strong latte or dirty chai depends on the day. Always iced.

Q. Tell us about your Northern Health journey.
My journey with Northern Health began in 2024 in the Outpatients Department, moving into Research Development and Governance Unit this year. Starting on the frontline with patients taught me a lot about healthcare delivery, and now being part of the research team has opened new opportunities for growth. I’ve developed and refined my skills from admin and communications to event coordination, and I’ve really appreciated the chance to explore different areas and contribute in meaningful ways in healthcare.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy helping people, staying organised, coming up with solutions, and thinking outside the box, no two days are the same. I love that my role allows me to wear many hats, whether it’s generating ideas that make a small difference or finding ways to work more efficiently. Most importantly, being part of a supportive team really makes all the difference.

Q. Why is research week so important?
This is my first year being part of Research Week, and working behind the scenes has been a valuable experience. What makes it so important is the strong sense of community and collaboration, as people from different divisions come together to share their discoveries. Research Week is a fantastic opportunity to promote and showcase the amazing work being done every day by our researchers. It represents a proud moment, a time to highlight achievements, inspire others, and celebrate progress. It sets the stage for what’s next, helping to drive research forward.

Q. What do you like to do to relax or unwind from work?
Exploring new eats around Melbourne with mates, watching Korean shows, or walking my dog.

Q. What is one place you would like to travel to and why?
I would love to visit Iceland. Northern Lights, waterfalls…need I say more? So magical!

Northern Health Research Week returns this year from 20-24 October 2025, showcasing the breadth and depth of research activity across our organisation, and highlighting the significant contributions of staff and university partners – La Trobe University, RMIT University, and The University of Melbourne. The theme for this year is ‘Healthcare 2050’ as we envisage the future and the important role that Northern Health research will play in advancing clinical care for the people of Melbourne’s North and beyond.

2025 has been another year of strong growth and transformation for research at Northern Health, marked by an impressive 21 per cent increase in abstract submissions for Research Week 2025, compared to 2024.

Highlights of the year include the launch of the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Research Partnership with La Trobe University in March 2025. The partnership will establish a collaborative research hub dedicated to enhancing health equity and diversity research, specifically addressing the needs of one of Victoria’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions. The collaboration will also provide new career development opportunities for staff and students from both La Trobe University and Northern Health, helping to cultivate a stronger and more skilled workforce for the future.

There has also been remarkable progress of the Clinical Translational Research Partnership with RMIT University, established in May 2024. Already the partnership has delivered impressive outcomes including significant external funding and has seen the appointment of a joint Professor of Translational Research, appointment of a joint postdoctoral fellow and research assistant, and commencement of the first of several PhD candidates.

Research Week 2025 will celebrate these achievements and more, bringing together national leaders and our own expert researchers to share knowledge, spark ideas, and inspire future discoveries.

Highlights for Research Week:

• An opening session featuring our Chief Executive, Ms Debra Bourne, who will spotlight research at Northern Health.
• Keynote addresses delivered by internationally recognised researchers such as:

• • Professor Vassilis Kostakos (University of Melbourne) – A human-centred approach to digital health
  • Professor James Boyd (Latrobe University) – Health Research in the Digital Age
  • Distinguished Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos AM (RMIT University) – Bench to Bedside: Translating Cancer Vaccine Research into the Clinic.
  • Associate Professor Sam Forster (Hudson Institute of Medical Research) – Making Microbiome-Based Medicines a Reality.
• Showcasing Northern Health researchers through oral presentations of the top-ranked abstract submissions, and a series of poster sessions throughout the week in the Northern Hospital Epping foyer.

The week will conclude with a celebration of research excellence, including presentations from recent recipients of competitive grants, a lively Great Debate on the topic “Robots will replace clinicians by 2050” and an awards ceremony for best poster, people’s choice poster, and best abstract oral presentations including the 2025 Peter Brooks Research Award.

Research Week 2025 promises to be an inspiring and insightful event, offering opportunities for researchers at all stages of their career to connect, share, and celebrate the remarkable work being undertaken at Northern Health.

We look forward to your participation as we showcase the impact of research in shaping better care for our community and more broadly outcomes in healthcare.

A big thank you to the research office, in particular Britt Szabo and Pree Holman, for all their work in pulling another wonderful week together.

Associate Professor Mayur Garg	Associate Prof Justine Ellis
Director of Gastroenterology	Research Operations Manager
Acting Director of Research	Research Development and Governance Unit
Northern Health Research Executive Committee

Yesterday, our Allied Health team celebrated the outstanding contributions of their staff at the Allied Health Excellence Awards.

The awards were presented to staff across clinical care, education, leadership, innovation, and quality improvement. The ceremony was also an opportunity to celebrate the contributions allied health staff make in the profession.

Northern Health is proud to have 600 allied health staff, plus 240 staff under the mental health division, providing allied health care to the community.

Yesterday also marked Allied Health Professions Day – a social movement to recognise all allied health professionals and the role the play in patient care. The theme for this year’s Allied Health Professions Day is ‘Strong Together’, which highlights the benefits of multidisciplinary team-based care.

The award ceremony was attended by Debra Bourne, Chief Executive, A/Professor Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer, Mary De Gori, Allied Health Director, Brit Gordon, Executive Director of the North Metro and Mitchell Network, Jen Williams, Allied Health Director, Division of Mental Health, as well as many allied health staff.

The awards ceremony was proudly sponsored by Northern Health Foundation. There were 10 award categories, presented to the following staff and teams:

• Outstanding Allied Health Clinician – Mental Health: Joby Philip
• Outstanding Allied Health Clinician – Physical Health: Dr Laura Prendergast
• Allied Health Student Education Award: Julie Layer
• Allied Health Workforce Education Award: Anastasia Pourliakas
• Excellence in Research Award: Hannah Silva and Monika Sekulov
• Excellence in Quality Award: Christina Lambros
• Leadership Award: Anna Connolly
• Early Career Award: Anna McArthur-Dowty
• Innovation Award: Cara Ervin-Ward, Anna McArthur-Dowty, Ben Callaghan, and Georgia Rice
• Northern Health Vales (Safe Kind Together) Team Award: The Progressive Neurological Disorders Clinic Team

“Allied Health staff are highly trained and skilled practitioners. Their impact through assessment, diagnoses and treatment is invaluable in patient care, and an integral part of clinical services at Northern Health,” said A/Prof Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer.

“The Allied Health Excellence Awards provide us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of allied health, right across Northern Health. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners,” said Mary De Gori, Allied Health Director.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Thank you to the entire Allied Health Department for the work you do.

Featured image: Award winners

Podiatry Week 2025 invites us to reflect on our feet’s remarkable journey through life — from a baby’s first steps and the balance they learn, to the miles we walk through work, sport and everyday living. It’s the perfect time to pause and appreciate the incredible work our feet do for us every day.

To shine a light on the vital role of podiatry and orthotics, we spoke with members of the Northern Health Podiatry and Orthotics team. They shared insights into their areas of expertise and what they find most rewarding about helping clients stay mobile and pain-free.

Tim Butters, Podiatrist, Foot Procedure Unit, Craigieburn Centre– Treating ingrown toenails

Podiatrists play a crucial role in managing ingrown toenails, using surgery only as a last resort. Through specialist care, podiatrists can often resolve the problem in its early stages by trimming nails to prevent them from growing into the skin, removing problematic edges, and educating clients about causes — from self-treatment issues to footwear choices and nail shape.

When needed, podiatrists perform nail surgery under local anaesthetic, including procedures to remove part (PNA-Partial Nail Avulsion) or all (TNA- Total Nail Avulsion) of the affected nail.

“It’s very satisfying to help clients with painful ingrown nails that stop them from working, exercising or enjoying daily life. Seeing someone come in unable to walk comfortably and return a few weeks later, pain-free and back to their normal activities, is incredibly rewarding,” said Tim.

Robert Beavan, Podiatrist, Foot Procedure Unit, Northern Hospital Epping – Wound Care in Podiatry

“I enjoy working in wound care because it’s both challenging and rewarding. Many patients come in feeling anxious — our role is to provide clear information, collaborate on a management plan, and help them heal.”

“Podiatrists bring a wide range of skills to wound care, including debridement, vascular assessment, casting, and minor surgery. Increasingly, podiatrists are also endorsed to prescribe medications.”

“Being able to deliver such valuable care for foot wounds makes for a deeply fulfilling career.”

Bianca Goodwin, Podiatrist, Foot Procedure Unit, Broadmeadows Hospital – Blood Flow Assessments

Podiatrists play a vital role in conducting non-invasive vascular assessments to evaluate blood flow in the lower limbs. These assessments — including pulse checks, Doppler ultrasounds, toe pressures, and ABI or TBI measurements — help identify peripheral vascular disease and other circulation issues, guiding treatment and referrals.

They’re especially important for individuals with diabetes, smokers, or those with wounds, numbness, or leg pain. Early detection allows podiatrists to implement preventive measures and reduce the risk of serious complications.

Vascular assessments include:

1. Visual inspection: Observing skin colour, temperature and condition.
2. Pulse checks: Assessing strength and regularity.
3. Doppler: Measuring blood flow using waveforms.
4. Toe pressures: Detecting narrowing or blockages.
5. ABI/TBI: Comparing blood pressure between the arms and ankles to assess arterial health.

“We work closely with vascular surgeons, and when peripheral arterial disease is detected, clients are referred for surgical evaluation. Once blood flow improves, patients often experience reduced pain, faster wound healing, and greater mobility,” said Bianca.

Kyle Martin-Alcaide, Orthotist, Northern Hospital Epping – Orthotics and Wound Care

Orthotics play an essential role in both preventing and healing foot wounds by redistributing weight and offloading pressure from vulnerable areas. Reducing excessive pressure improves blood flow, supports tissue repair, and accelerates healing.

“Helping with wound care is deeply gratifying because the impact is immediate and visible. Supporting patients through recovery helps restore their independence, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life. For many, it means returning to work or simply enjoying time with their families again — and that’s incredibly fulfilling,” said Kyle.

Tim Butters – Working in the Paediatric Clinic

“Working in the children’s clinic is always fun — no two days are ever the same. I enjoy adapting assessments from observation to hands-on movement testing, depending on each child’s needs.”

“It’s incredibly gratifying to help children overcome foot pain so they can get back to playing sport or running around without discomfort. Sometimes, it’s simply about reassuring parents that their child’s leg alignment will improve naturally with growth and development. Watching that progress over time is always rewarding,” he said.

This Podiatry Week, let’s celebrate our Northern Health Podiatry and Orthotics team for keeping our community steady on their feet — from first steps to next steps.

Every year on 13 October, health professionals and communities across the world unite for World Thrombosis Day, a global initiative founded by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) to raise awareness of one of the world’s most serious yet often silent conditions, blood clots.

Thrombosis, the formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel, is responsible for one in four deaths. Each year, around 10 million people experience hospital-associated clots, with 60 per cent of venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) occurring during or soon after hospitalisation. These events remain a leading cause of preventable in-hospital death, but with the right systems, awareness and clinical practices, they can be prevented.

At Northern Health, the Pharmacy and Medical teams have been working to improve patient safety and outcomes in VTE prevention and anticoagulation management.

“We’re incredibly proud of the progress Northern Health has made in thrombosis prevention and anticoagulation safety,” said Simon Huynh, Senior Pharmacist – Anticoagulation Stewardship, Pharmacy. “It’s been a journey built on collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to protecting our patients.”

 

Key highlights from Northern Health’s Anticoagulation Service include:

• Establishment of a VTE & Anticoagulation Committee providing clinical governance and leadership.
• Implementation of an Anticoagulation Stewardship Program to optimise prescribing and safety.
• Introduction of the VTE Risk Assessment Monitor, improving assessment completion from 30% (Oct 2023) to 76% (Sept 2025).
• Launch of a multidisciplinary Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) and updated clinical guidelines.
• Becoming the first Victorian hospital to perform large-bore mechanical thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism (May 2024).
• Establishment of Victoria’s first Virtual Thrombosis Clinic.
• Recognition as Australia’s first Anticoagulation Centre of Excellence.

“Preventing venous thromboembolism is an important part of patient safety. Everyone in the hospital plays a role through early review, timely intervention, and listening to our patients,” Simon says.

“Each achievement reflects the teamwork and dedication of our multidisciplinary teams. Every improvement helps us deliver safer, faster, and more effective care for our patients.”

This World Thrombosis Day, Northern Health celebrates the dedication of its staff and reaffirms its commitment to reducing preventable harm from blood clots across every stage of care.

You can test your own knowledge and join the awareness effort by taking the THANZ World Thrombosis Day quiz.