June 2023
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Get to know: Michael Farber
#WeAreNorthern Meet Dr Michael Farber, Geriatrician Q: Tell us about your current role at Northern Health? A: I am a Geriatrician. I look after Acute, Subacute, Community and Outpatient services. I work in the Continence Clinic, Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) and General Medical Outpatients. I am a clinical lead for Broadmeadows Hospital and a supervisor for junior medical staff. I have been an employee of Northern Health since 2010. Q: What is your favourite thing about your career? A: I work in different settings and see patients during acute and subacute stages of their care. I receive tremendous…
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Northern Health wholeheartedly supports the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’
Later this year, the Australian people will be asked to vote YES or NO to a single referendum question to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. This change was called for in the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’, a statement endorsed by 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru on 26 May 2017. Northern Health wholeheartedly supports the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our health service is built, the Wurundjeri people, and we acknowledge…
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Lalor Running Club supports Northern Health Foundation
On Sunday, 30 April 2023, Lalor Running Club (LRC) completed yet another successful running event, raising over $4,000 for Northern Health Foundation. All funds will be directed to Northern Health Cancer Services, to continue supporting our patients and ensuring comfortability throughout their treatments. Kirsty Branagan, LRC committee member and coach, has been organising these fundraising efforts for Northern Health for the last few years. In January 2020, Kirsty was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer, undergoing her own treatment right here at Northern Health. She was cared for by a wonderful medical team, and supported by her club mates, throughout…
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Northern Health’s own McGrath Breast Care Nurse
The McGrath Foundation has reached the pivotal milestone of funding 200 McGrath Breast Care Nurses across the country, following the appointment of six new nurses in Victoria. McGrath Breast Care Nurses are experts in breast cancer care and help people with breast cancer navigate complex medical systems, from diagnosis and throughout treatment. Among these six new nurses is Melanie Bullock, McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Consultant (MBCN) who is based at Northern Hospital Epping. “My role as a McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse at Northern Health is to support women, and men, as well as their families, from the time…
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We Are Northern: This is the Disability Liaison Officer Program
The Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) program was established in 2020 to improve health care accessibility for people with disabilities, with DLOs working at every hospital within Victoria. At Northern Health, there are two DLOs, Simone Ortiz and Maria Bowman, who have both worked for Northern Health for several years, and have backgrounds in social work. During the peak of the pandemic, the DLO program became a primary contact for people with disabilities wanting access to COVID-19 vaccination. The program received approximately 1,000 referrals during this period, from people living within the Northern Health catchment, but not necessarily all Northern Health…
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Patient Activation Measure provides valuable insights
The Northern Health Oncology Department and Cancer Survivorship Surveillance Clinic have implemented an evidence-based assessment tool to measure individuals activation levels, helping clinicians provide more specialised care to their patients. The Patient Activation Measure (PAM) is a valuable questionnaire tool used to assess an individuals’ knowledge, skill and confidence (referred to as ‘patient activation’) for managing their own health and healthcare. Patient activation can be increased by offering support and providing opportunities to develop general health knowledge and specific condition knowledge like cancer and skills. Clinicians can proactively align resources and tailor support depending on a patient’s level of activation.…
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Get to know: Lyndall Fleming
#WeAreNorthern Meet Lyndall Fleming, Receptionist and Switchboard Operator, Northern Hospital Epping. Q: What was your first job? A: My first job was as a Girl Friday with John Brown Knitwear in Collingwood, relieving switchboard and filing. It was my first job where I had to travel on the train to and from Collingwood from Reservoir. I remember everyone talking on the train and making many conversations. On one of those train trips, l met my husband. We’ve been married for 48 years.  Q: Who made a difference in your life as a child? A: My father made a difference in…
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Executive Yarning Circle empowers Aboriginal staff
This week is National Reconciliation Week. A time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements. Northern Health has recently established an Executive Yarning Circle, specifically designed to support and empower Aboriginal staff members, in a newly refurbished Aboriginal Cultural Space. This initiative aims to create a safe and culturally sensitive space where Aboriginal employees can come together, share their experiences and contribute to decision-making processes. The Executive Yarning Circle serves as a valuable platform for fostering meaningful connections, promoting cultural awareness and driving positive change within the organisation. It also provides a unique opportunity for…