October 2023
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National Safe Work Month: For everyone’s safety, work safely
Imagine a workplace where there are no risks, and no one is injured. Sounds like a dream. However, the reality is that there will always be risks present in the workplace and someone will inevitably get injured. Safe Work Australia runs an annual national campaign in October – National Safe Work Month, to raise awareness of occupational health and safety (OH&S) and to encourage all individuals and organisations to prioritise safety in their workplaces to reduce number of work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Being healthy and safe means being free from physical and psychological harm. A safe and healthy workplace…
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Why Research Week matters
Professor Shekhar Kumta, Chair of the 2023 Northern Health Research Week Working Group, believes “continuous improvement in quality of care comes not only through optimizing one’s work, but also by incorporating novel research applications towards better and efficient patient care.” He is keen that this year’s Research Week does more than just acknowledge the research achievements of our colleagues and research partners but is also “promoting a culture that is necessary to sustain, promote and inspire future generations of healthcare workers.” Click on image below to learn more. “Given the increasing volume of patients that depend on Northern Health to…
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Get To Know: Shekhar Kumta
Professor Shekhar Kumta, the University of Melbourne’s Academic Lead, Department of Surgery at Northern Health, is most emphatic when speaking of his patients. When he says, “It is THEIR stories that drive me”, you know he means it. Besides being Professor of Surgery, Shekar is also a member of the Northern Health Research Executive Committee, tasked with promoting, coordinating, and supporting research activities across our health service. He is also the Chair of the 2023 Research Week Working Group. Click on image below to learn more. Q: How do you like your coffee? I like to brew my own coffee,…
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Northern Imaging Victoria is live!
As of 5 October 2023, Northern Imaging Victoria (NIV) is officially here! Northern Health’s very own imaging service is now operating at three campuses: Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre. The team is also excited to welcome more than 100 new and transitioning imaging staff who will be joining Northern Health. “Since the crack of dawn yesterday, up until late last night and early this morning, the team has been working incredibly hard to bring all imaging systems onto the Northern Health network. We could not have done it without the hard work of the Northern Health ICT…
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which helps to raise awareness of the disease, educate about its symptoms and prevention and fund research into causes, treatment, and cure. Since the campaign’s inception in 1985, rates of diagnosis have been increased, while mortality rates have continued to fall. Northern Health’s Breast Care Nurse Consultant, Cheryl Murray, noted, “Early detection is key. The sooner the cancer is identified, the sooner treatment options can be explored.” Advancements in imaging and treatment have meant that patients receive a truly tailored care plan allowing patients to live longer and fuller lives, with overall figures sitting…
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We are Northern: This is the Lived Experience Workforce
October is Mental Health Awareness Month. Today we showcase our Lived Experience Workforce, a key service and feature of our Mental Health Division. It comes from the recognition that those who are living with or lived through mental illness, have a unique insight that can help others going through it. Olivia Hatchman and Christopher Ferguson manage the Consumer Lived Experience Workforce. Says Olivia, “Lived experience workers have had life-changing personal experiences with mental health and/or alcohol and other drug use. After a period of healing and recovery, they are now employed in diverse roles to use their ‘lived’ expertise to…
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Mental Health Month: 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Mental Health Month is a national event that happens every October and aims to improve community awareness and interest in mental health and wellbeing.* As one in five Victorians experience mental health issues in any given year, community mental wellbeing is fundamental to our quality of life. Today we highlight, ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’, an international awareness-raising and action orientated health literacy campaign to spread the word about five simple and effective things individuals can do to help protect and promote their mental wellbeing. These evidence-based actions are: Connect Be Active Keep Learning Be Aware Help Others. Nicola McKay, Community…
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The Green Team at Northern Health
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it,” – Robert Swan, British author, explorer and activist. In the heart of Northern Health, a dedicated team of healthcare professionals has embarked on a journey that transcends the boundaries of healthcare and resonates with the very essence of our planet’s wellbeing. The Green Team is a self-organised, multidisciplinary group with a focus on improving green practices within various departments. The team involves medical practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, occupational therapists, as well as clerical and administrative staff with a high interest in sustainability. It currently…