At the recent Victorian Prevocational Medical Training Awards, Northern Doctors Education won the Award for Health Service Innovation and Excellence (Metro) for their Introduction to Clinical Governance Program.

The program encourages junior doctors to become involved in Quality, Safety and other governance processes. The program is overseen by Northern Doctors Education in conjunction with Dr Kristen Pearson, Medical Lead for Clinical Governance, creating both a centralised contact point for junior doctors and a means to promote clinical governance activities. Junior Medical Doctors (JMOs) are matched with mentors who will assist them to participate in National Standards or other Clinical Improvement Committees, complete audits and quality improvement projects, and to be involved in patient safety reviews such as Mortality and Morbidity audits and Clinical Incident reviews. Participants are required to write a report and/or reflection on the activity to demonstrate their learning. Whereas these activities previously occurred on an ad hoc basis, there is now a central record of participants that can provide certification of their involvement and provide advice as to how to incorporate these experiences in building CVs and applying for roles.

Dr Kim Jeffs, Director, Northern Doctors Education, said, “Previously junior doctor involvement in clinical governance relied heavily on serendipity of meeting an appropriate mentor, which limited Northern Doctors Education’s ability to support the JMOs and to maximise their learning and career benefits of their work. Northern Health was also missing out on the incredibly valuable perspectives of junior doctors. The program has the potential to lead to immediate improvements in the quality of care delivered to patients, as was evidenced by one audit of patient handover meetings which has already led to improvements. We hope that the program will inspire future leaders in healthcare and provide basic skills to start them on the path to continuous improvements in patient care.”

She added, “Although the Introduction to Clinical Governance Program only began in March 2025, we have seen considerable interest from junior doctors wishing to develop skills and apply an organisation lens to improving patient safety and quality of care. These are the doctors who will ensure that hospitals are even better places in the future.”

Dr Pearson said, “It is wonderful to formalise this program which gives me the opportunity to work closely with junior doctors on important topics such as documentation, deaths and clinical handover.”

Northern Health also congratulates our other nominees: Dr Jessica Gu (Prevocational Doctor of the Year, Health and Safety Representative of the Year), Susie Sangas (Lifetime Achievement Award), and Dr Carol Chong (Lifetime Achievement Award).

Featured image shows Dr Jeffs accepting the award.

#WeAreNorthern

Today, we chat with Melanie Bullock, McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse at Northern Hospital Epping.

Q: Let’s start with your coffee order.

Not being a coffee drinker, it’s a skinny hot chocolate if I feel like a hot drink.

 Q: Tell us about your role as a McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Consultant, what does this entail?

As a McGrath Metastatic Breast Care Nurse, I support both women and men who have been diagnosed with advanced (stage IV) breast cancer from diagnosis through the entire care continuum ensuring that the complex needs of patients are being met.

My role provides clinical, psychosocial and emotional support to not only patients but their families and support network. I identify potential and realised barriers to a high level of patient focussed care and facilitate referrals as  recognised.

The McGrath Metastatic Breast Care role ensures that all patients and their  loved ones have access to a familiar and consistent point of contact to aid with the navigation of the public health service during their at times complex pathway of appointment, scans, treatments and wider multidisciplinary teams involved in their care.

 Q: What do you enjoy most about your role?

There are so many aspects of my role that I enjoy. Mostly it would be the relationships that are built with patients, their loved ones and their support networks. To support someone during such a difficult diagnosis through to end of life care and know that you have made a difference to enable a patient focussed approach and flexibility to individualised care needs. Working as part of the wider multidisciplinary teams at Northern Health from Medical Oncology, Day Oncology, SURC, NOAH, Ward staff and the Palliative Care team.

Q: Tell us about your career leading up to where you are today.

I initially starting in my nursing career working across both Paediatrics as well as Oncology. I actually came to nursing with the aim to be a midwife but became passionate about Cancer nursing.

This led me to stay on the Oncology ward whilst becoming accredited to administer chemotherapy and also work in our Day Oncology unit. During this time I completed a Grad Cert in Oncology & Palliative Care.

An opportunity arose to work in a new area of Day Oncology, NOAH (Northern Oncology & Haematology at Home) to administer chemotherapy and other cancer treatments in patients homes.  Which was a fantastic experience (& during COVID a great opportunity to have some time without a mask on whilst in the car!)

I completed Grad Cert in Breast Cancer Nursing and when the McGrath Foundation saw a need for a Metastatic Breast Care Nurse within our service, we were fortunate to receive funding for this new role at Northern Health.

 Q: Do you have a favourite travel destination, or some place you have always wanted to visit, and why?

I really enjoy to travel and like to try somewhere new if possible each time. My dream would be a trip to Antarctica.

 Q: What is something many people mat now know about you?

I was a disability support worker for 15 then moved to Dubai for 4 years when my children were young.  While there decided it was time for a change of career when returning to Australia. I was accepted into Nursing and actually turned 40 in my Grad year. Just slightly order than most other grads!

Northern Imaging Victoria and Northern Health clinicians have achieved another milestone, taking centre stage at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) 2025, the largest radiology conference ever held in Australia and New Zealand.

Hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 23–25 October, the event welcomed over 2,000 delegates to celebrate 90 years of RANZCR and explore the future of imaging across clinical practice, education, innovation, and technology.

Dr Rose Thomas and Dr Jyothirmayi Velaga, Consultant Radiologists at Northern Imaging Victoria, played pivotal roles in the success of this landmark event, co-chairing the Clinical Radiology stream. Their leadership helped deliver a world-class program featuring 41 international speakers from 20 countries, including Nepal, Morocco, Ukraine, Indonesia, and the UAE — each bringing fresh perspectives on the science, art, and future of imaging.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr Jyothirmayi Velaga, one of the four conveners of the ASM, described it as “a defining moment for radiology in Australia and New Zealand — one that brought together clinicians, educators, and innovators from every corner of the world to imagine the future of our field together.”

The Diagnostic Imaging stream offered a rich and diverse array of topics, including:
• Radiologists branching into business beyond medicine
• Advances in post-mortem imaging
• Imaging’s vital role in recognising intimate partner violence
• The wellbeing of clinicians and trainees
• Hot-topic updates and exam preparation for future specialists

Together with the Interventional/Neurointerventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology streams — led by experts from Monash Health and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre — the program catered to every discipline, reaffirming the RANZCR ASM as the jewel in the crown of the College’s annual calendar.

Conference highlights included:
• The Nisbett Oration by futurist Anders Sorman-Nilsson, exploring the future of medicine and imaging
• A commemorative session celebrating RANZCR’s 90-year legacy
• Hands-on workshops showcasing cutting-edge technologies and case-based learning
• Sessions on AI, sustainability, and the future of radiology education
• A lively finale — the inaugural Closing Quiz, curated by Northern Radiology Registrars Drs David Duong, Nathan Ng, and Sebastian Seah

The record-breaking event was further strengthened by the support of 40 sponsors and 92 exhibitors, contributing to an engaging, globally relevant, and future-focused conference.

Reflecting on the event’s impact, Dr Rose Thomas, Co-Convenor of the Diagnostic Imaging stream, said,
“It was inspiring to see the breadth of ideas and expertise come together under one roof. From technical innovation to trainee wellbeing, the conversations were forward-looking, inclusive, and full of energy. What made it truly special was the spirit of collaboration — radiologists, radiation oncologists, and industry partners all working together to shape what’s next for our profession.”

Northern Health extends warm congratulations to Dr Rose Thomas and Dr Jyothirmayi Velaga, and to all Northern Hospital Radiologists and Clinicians who contributed to this historic event, proudly showcasing the innovation, leadership, and collaborative excellence that continue to define our organisation.

Since 2005, Kilmore District Hospital Op-Shop has stood as a cornerstone of community generosity, a place where second-hand treasures find new homes, friendships are formed, and every sale makes a real difference to local healthcare.

The shop story began over twenty years ago, when Ian and Denise Lee decided to make good use of the leftover donated goods from a Garden Party fundraising drive they helped to organise for Kilmore Hospital. What started as a simple pop-up shop quickly grew into something much bigger. Thanks to the incredible support from the local community, the temporary shop became a permanent fixture, and the Kilmore District Hospital Op-Shop was born.

Over the years, this small but mighty shop has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund vital hospital equipment and improvements. From helping purchase essential diagnostic tools to enhancing patient comfort, every dollar spent in the shop has directly contributed to better care for patients at Kilmore District Hospital.

In the last financial year alone, the Op-Shop raised an incredible $44,000, despite operating only 2.5 days a week. Those funds helped purchase an ultrasound machine for Kilmore District Hospital, a life-changing piece of equipment that supports faster, safer diagnosis and treatment for patients.

Behind the counter, the Op-Shop has always been powered by the energy and kindness of its volunteers. Current coordinators Elizabeth Stewart and Annie Brooks, along with their small but mighty team, have been the heart of the operation, sorting donations, managing sales, and welcoming every customer with warmth and good humour. Their tireless work has built more than a successful retail outlet – it has created a true community hub. With classic rock ’n’ roll tunes playing in the background and a welcoming atmosphere, customers often comment on how much they love visiting.  It’s as much about the friendly faces as it is about the bargains!

As the Op-Shop enters a new chapter, with both Elizabeth and Annie stepping down as coordinators, there is an exciting opportunity for new volunteers to take the reins and continue this proud legacy of giving.

If you are interested in volunteering your time to help with the coordination of the Kilmore Op-Shop, please email your interest to volunteer@nh.org.au

The Australian Government is reforming in-home aged care to help older persons live independently at home for longer.

These changes stem from the recommendations made from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and include

• A rights-based approach to providing care to older persons;
• Enhancing quality and safety standards with the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards;
• Greater choice and control for older persons to make decisions about their life and the services they receive; and
• Stronger advocacy and complaints processes with increased protection for whistleblowers.

From November 1 2025, current in-home aged care services will form a single program called Support at Home. It will replace Home Care Packages (HCP) and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programs from this date, with Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) being combined no earlier than July 1 2027.

As a result of these changes, Northern Health Home Care Packages will now be known as Northern Health Support at Home. Their experienced Health professional Case Managers will know be known as Clinical Care partners.

The Support at Home program will improve access to services, equipment and home modifications to enable older people to remain healthy, active and connected to their communities.

Support at Home includes:

• Better access to assessment and reassessments as older persons needs change
• More funding levels available for complex needs
• The Restorative Care Pathway, to maintain and improve older persons independence through allied health services and support of up to 12 weeks.
• The Assistive Technology and Home Modifications Scheme for access to equipment and home modifications to meet older persons assessed needs.
• The End-of-Life Pathway, with extra funding to support older persons to stay at home in their last three months of life.

“This is a once in a generation reform, which will improve the quality of support for older people wanting to remain at home,” said Julie Williams, Northern Health Support at Home Program Manager.

The Support at Home team in Hospitals Without Walls Division at Northern Health have been working hard to ensure this transition is seamless for older persons receiving services under this program.

October is World Menopause Month, a time to raise awareness and start conversations about midlife health.

While menopause is a natural transition and experienced differently by every woman, the way women approach their lifestyle during these years can have a profound impact on their wellbeing – both now and in the decades to come.

Dr Nikki Chambers, Women’s Health GP, Menopause Clinic VVSC, said menopause marked the end of menstrual cycles, typically occurring between the ages of 45-55.

“Hormonal changes can often begin years earlier during perimenopause. Fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels can bring symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and brain fog,” she said.

“Other less recognised, but common symptoms, include joint paints and muscle aches. Oestrogen is an anti-inflammatory hormone so it’s no wonder that conditions such as frozen shoulder and hip tendinopathy can worse.”

“Perimenopausal symptoms can come and go, which can leave women wondering what they’re experiencing. Add to this an often busy stage of life, with competing demands from family, work, and health, and it’s easy to see why focusing on lifestyle can feel overwhelming.”

“Beyond symptom management, menopause is a critical window for long-term health, particularly for the heart, bones, and brain.”

Dr Nikki encourages women experiencing perimenopause and menopause to engage in healthy lifestyle choices to manage symptoms and reduce future health risks. This includes, movement, exercise, balanced nutrition, prioritising sleep, stress management, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking. Another option is menopausal hormone therapy.

“Menopausal hormone therapy can be transformative for many women, particularly with healthy lifestyle foundations,” said Dr Nikki.

“Hormones can easy symptoms and support long-term health, but lifestyle will not only increase the gains, but also promote longevity and feeling strong and healthy in the later years.”

Dr Nikki encourages women to view menopause as a “time of renewal and reprioritisation, rather than an end.”

“It is an opportunity to focus on wellbeing, deepen social connections, and set new health goals,” she said.

“Acceding reliable information and evidence-based care, through GPs, specialist menopause clinics, or trusted resources, can make this transition empowering rather than overwhelming.”

Northern Health’s Ready Steady Home team, Rachael Walsh, Senior Physiotherapist, and Jess Viergever, Occupational Therapist, are ready to hit the road for another day of home visits.

Falls are one of the leading causes of hospital presentations among older adults, often resulting in extended stays and repeat visits to the Emergency Department. The Ready Steady Home program, a rapid response allied health initiative, is designed to change that trajectory.

Targeting patients aged 65 and over (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) who present to the Emergency Department following a fall, the program delivers short, targeted interventions, typically one or two visits. These focus on falls prevention strategies tailored to each person’s home environment, with the aim to:

• Prevent hospital admission
• Reduce length of stay
• Minimise re-presentations to the Emergency Department related to falls and frailty

Occupational Therapist Jess Viergever, a key member of the program, says, “Ready Steady Home is about more than just preventing falls — it’s about empowering patients to stay safely and confidently in their own homes.”

Dr Sarah Thomas, Medical Deputy Director, Hospital Without Walls, adds, “This is such a great initiative to care for our vulnerable yet impactable older patients — keeping them home first, preventing hospital-acquired functional decline and providing rapid access to targeted, specialised allied health interventions. By bringing expert care directly to patients at home, Ready Steady Home helps prevent prolonged admissions, reduces hospital-acquired complications, and supports independence and recovery.”

The Ready Steady Home team is dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults — delivering timely, tailored care that helps people live safely, independently, and well at home.

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Rachael Walsh, Senior Physiotherapist and Jess Viergever, Senior Occupational Therapist.

Well, Research Week has come and gone for another year. What a week!

This is my third Research Week since starting at Northern Health and I have to say, each year the event seems to build on the one before. This year, we received 96 abstracts – a 23 per cent increase on 2024 – a lovely indication of how research activity is growing at Northern Health. These abstracts were received from a wide variety of areas across Northern Health, and represented clinical and laboratory, quantitative and qualitative projects. I think you will agree that through oral presentations, poster presentations, and the digital poster gallery, Northern Health really showed up for research!

Alongside abstract presentations, we had the pleasure of hosting a number of keynote speakers and special focus sessions. Daily scientific highlights included:

• Monday’s special opening ceremony with presentations from Chief Executive Debra Bourne and Acting Director of Research Mayur Garg, on the importance of research to continued improvement to the care we deliver to our community. This was followed by a keynote presentation from Professor Vassilis Kostakos (University of Melbourne) where he provided examples of how human-computer interactions and big datasets can improve health care. He finished by reassuring us that robots won’t take over the world!
• Tuesday’s showcase of Health Research in the Digital Age, with a keynote from Professor James Boyd (La Trobe University) outlining the drivers, barriers and enablers of digital health, along with the opportunities it presents to drive equity. This was followed by rapid-fire presentations from the VVED team with some really exciting data on VVED uptake, economic benefit, reach into vulnerable populations, and a case study of the power of the virtual healthcare approach. Also on Tuesday, some outcomes of the Allied Health Stepping Into Research program were presented, demonstrating the power of structured learning and mentoring in helping our staff get started on their researcher journey. The SIR ‘graduates’ commented that “you need a team to succeed” and I couldn’t agree more.
• Wednesday’s keynote from Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos (RMIT University), which showed us just how much ‘bench to bedside’ can be achieved across decades of dedication to research. Prof Apostolopoulos described key contributions to cancer, autoimmunity and infection care that span greater understanding of disease mechanisms, development of drugs and vaccines, the value of some natural bioactive compounds in healthcare, and the importance of community engagement in defining research directions.
• Thursday’s keynote from our own Dr Katharine See, was a real standout. Katharine and her CLEO team are working hard to ‘measure what matters, use what matters, and do what matters’ across our health service via digital care pathways co-designed with consumers. Also on Thursday, the Surgical Research Forum showcased the breadth and depth of research being undertaken across our surgical units, from laboratory-based investigations, through to generation of data aimed at saving dollars, and our planet.
• Friday’s Northern Health Foundation Research Breakfast, where keynote speaker Associate Professor Sam Forster (Hudson Institute of Medical Research) described how research is quickly growing our understanding of the microbiome, and how we can harness this understanding for improved health. This was followed by a joint presentation with our RMIT University colleagues on our Clinical Translation Partnership, and presentations from Northern Health researchers who have successfully attracted external funding for new research endeavours.

The week wrapped up with a bit of light-hearted fun – The Great Debate 2025. Affirmative (Karen Barclay, Don Campbell, Russell Hodgson) and Negative (Ravinder Kumar, Rebecca Jessup, Shekhar Kumta) teams battled it out over the topic “Robots will replace clinicians by 2050”. There was laughter, tears, plenty of robots, and a surprise harmonica, but in the end the Negative team took the win to thunderous applause (and reconfirmed Vassilis Kostakos’s sentiments from Day 1!).

Finally, awards for best abstract presentations were announced. Congratulations to the following researchers:
Best Printed Poster Day 1: Dr Jordan Kahn. Title: What is the correct duration of antimicrobials in infected, obstructed nephrolithiasis?
Best Printed Poster Day 2: Anabelle Shimmins. Title: Mental Health Nurses burnout and implications upon recovery-orientated care within the inpatient mental health services.
Best Printed Poster Day 3: Vince Chen. Title: Perioperative Outcomes in Smokers Undergoing Major Surgery: A Retrospective Audit at Northern Health.
Best Printed Poster Day 4: Dr Chamani Kodikara. Title: Patient experiences of Medical Obstetrics at Home (MOAH) care at Northern Health: A qualitative study.
People’s Choice Award for Best Poster: Satnam Kaur. Title: From Lipid Extraction to Analysis: The Clinical Potential of Vibrational Spectroscopy-Based Lipidomics of Human Plasma.
Best Abstract Oral Presentation – 3rd Place: Dr Swapna Gokhale. Title: Delirium risk prediction from routinely collected electronic health records: model development and internal validation.
Best Abstract Oral Presentation – 2nd Place: Dr Roy Wong. Title: Large Bore Mechanical Thrombectomy for Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism: Northern Health Experience.
Peter Brooks Research Award 2025 (Best Abstract Oral Presentation – 1st Place): Ella Francis. Title: Pre-operative fasting times and the incidence of regurgitation and aspiration – a single-network retrospective data analysis.

Thank you to all who contributed to Research Week – our keynote speakers, abstract submitters, oral presenters, poster presenters, abstract reviewers, judges, MC’s, debate participants, and session attendees. A special thanks to Public Affairs for working alongside us to keep you informed of all the activities and telling the world about it through social media.

A HUGE thanks to the entire Research Development and Governance Unit (RDGU) Team for delivering Research Week 2025. It’s a very big event to deliver, with planning commencing more than six months prior, and your organisational skills are second-to-none. Particular shout-outs to Britt Szabo and Pree Holman, our exceptional admin team, who have worked tirelessly for months, and to Dr Tilini Gunatillake for gluing it all together as we moved through the week.

The RDGU team organises Research Week on behalf of our Northern Health Researchers – that’s you! If you would like to let us know how we can improve next year, or deliver activities that better meet your needs, please complete our Feedback Survey! We have a $50 Henry’s voucher up for grabs for a randomly selected respondent. The survey closes on Friday, 31 October.

Until next year!

Associate Professor Justine Ellis
Research Operations Manager