Northern Health is committed to promoting a sustainable and healthy community, and recognises the need to reduce its environmental footprint.

The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 addresses Northern Health’s environmental impacts in its operations, and sets out planning, policies and procedures to support this commitment in the future.

Through this plan, Northern Health has set bold targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040, ahead of the 2050 target set by the Victorian Government.

Northern Health’s greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 120,660 tonnes of carbon for the financial year ended 30 June 2022. This represents a decrease on the previous financial year of 1,450 tonnes of carbon, this was despite the expansion of our services and the opening of additional beds. The decrease is largely due to more renewable energy being passed through the
grid (approximately 30 per cent) which has reduced our Scope 2 (indirect) emissions.

This figure is set to reduce even further with the installation of solar panels across Northern Health sites. By mid-February, the final two solar arrays will be installed and operational at Bundoora Centre and Northern Hospital Epping. When combined with arrays already harvesting electricity from the sun at Broadmeadows, Mclellan House, NCHER and the new Mental Health Building, it’s expected to be able to generate in excess of 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.

The benefits of a more sustainable operation aren’t just restricted to environmental concerns. Alex Jovanovski, Director of Engineering & Building Services, said “The system has the potential to save Northern Health up to 20 per cent off it’s electricity bill annually.”

The solar panels also relay information from across all sites which can be used to generate reports on energy collected and savings made.

“This is a great innovation,” Mr Jovanovski continued, “as you can see real time updates on how we are tracking over time.”

Siva Sivarajah, Northern Health Chief Executive, shared this encouragement in his message from the opening pages of the plan. “Northern Health continues to embrace its environmental responsibilities and I encourage staff, patients, contractors and suppliers, and our community to actively participate in creating a healthier and more environmentally sustainable Northern community.”

If you would like to read The Northern Health Environmental Management Plan 2023 – 2028 it is available here.

The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world. The race is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world. Because of the popularity of the race, participants are chosen largely by a lottery system.

Lorinda McPherson and Enisa Birdahic, both from our Acute to Community Coordination team, were two such lucky participants last year.

Says Lorinda, “I wanted to run an iconic world major marathon; there is none more iconic (in my opinion) than the New York marathon!”

“The New York City Marathon was incredible and surpassed my dreams. The streets were lined with thousands of supporters, almost across the entire 42.2km course. The course in itself is iconic, covering all five Boroughs of New York and crossing five bridges.”

Enisa ran the Tokyo marathon in 2015. She says the atmosphere and support from the crowd at the New York Marathon was “unparalleled.” She estimates there were over two million spectators.

Enisa started running in her forties and was attracted to marathons, “as I wanted the challenge it offered.” She trained six days a week, “sometimes in rain, in the dark, and almost always on my own.” She says she is known in the local neighbourhood as the ‘crazy running lady’.

Lorinda on the other hand, was kept company by training partners, on bikes or running alongside her. She trained for over six months, with a run of 38km, being her longest training run.

She ran her first Melbourne Marathon at 28 years of age-the same age her father was, when he ran the first ever Melbourne Marathon in 1978. “I decided to run them for the challenge of both mind & body. It’s hard but worth it!” says Lorinda.

Lorinda is now training for the Gold Coast Marathon in July and says, “I would love to run another overseas marathon in 2025.”

Says Enisa, “I would love to run another marathon but suspect that being treated like a rock star by the people of New York is hard to top.”

Pictured from left to right: Enisa Birdahic and Lorinda McPherson

Welcome to the realm of the Northern Health’s Public Affairs team – where words mingle, stories dance, and quirks are our favourite accessories. Meet the wizards behind the scenes who work tirelessly to share the heart and soul of Northern Health and turn everyday news into a symphony of smiles. Get ready for a journey with the coolest crew in communications!

Pina Di Donato: As the Executive Director of Public Affairs and Foundation, I get to fulfill my passion for both philanthropy and communications, fields I have worked in over many years. I have a love of storytelling and content production, but most of all, I enjoy leading teams. It is my goal to raise the profile of Northern Health through our communications, and I believe the Public Affairs team are equipped with the skills to do that.

I am privileged to be the leader of this dedicated, passionate and hardworking team. They make every day a joy to come to work. For this, I thank them.

Emma Cutajar: I’m Emma, Director, Public Affairs at Northern Health. I am passionate about creating engaging and impactful communications through forming meaningful connections with our staff, patients and community, and sharing their inspiring stories.

I am extremely proud to lead the Public Affairs team at Northern Health, which consists of an extraordinarily talented group of individuals. Together, the team supports all internal and external communication activities across Northern Health. My role is also responsible for the management of media issues, crisis communications and reputation.

I love working at Northern Health and continue to be inspired by the commitment of our staff, resilience of our patients and support from our community.

Christina Xavier: Hello there! I’m Christina, Senior Communications Coordinator and your go-to gal for all things external comms, especially social media, at Northern Health. My passion lies in uncovering stories and transforming them into visually stunning narratives. Working closely with my incredible team, I collaborate across departments, guiding impactful creatives and marketing campaigns. Creativity is my heartbeat, I live and breathe it. From perfecting branding to exploring design intricacies, it is my creative playground. A genuine people enthusiast, connecting with you is where the magic happens!

I absolutely love my job and my awesome team, brainstorming with them is a pure joy! A couple of years ago, I jumped on the Artificial Intelligence bandwagon, turning it into our digital productivity powerhouse and I’m thrilled to see it soar higher.

Jessica Micallef: Hey there! I’m Jessica, Senior Communications Coordinator. In my role, I am responsible for leading internal communications for Northern Health, which involves working closely with many departments to promote their work internally within Northern Health. Anything that involves communicating a message to staff, I’m your girl.

Internal communications don’t just mean all staff emails, iNews stories and a banner on the Intranet. I also get to work on many events throughout the year like Quarterly Awards, Length of Service Awards and my personal favourite, the ANZAC Day Service at Bundoora Centre.

Mike Masilamani: I am the one in need of a shave in the picture. I believe, “With a great beard, comes great responsibility.” I have been here long enough to know where the bodies are buried.  I have been called, ‘Magic Mike’, ‘Uncle Mike’, ‘Mikey’, ‘Mick’ and a whole lot more.

Together, we get to work on some great projects and meet some incredible people. Of the many projects from last year, undoubtedly the most heart-warming was the amalgamation of Kilmore District Hospital. This year, I am looking forward to working on special projects with my illustrious Exec Director, Pina. This includes a ‘new look’ to our Women and Children’s Unit and my very own cancer survivorship program. Look out for the launch of ‘WellAhead’, a wellbeing program, for those living with and beyond cancer.

The team I work with, has some amazing talent. So, here’s some advice. DON’T ask us to come and take a photograph. That’s the least of our skills. Tell us instead of the project you have in mind. We are here to add value to your project – not just make you look pretty. In fact, the former might be easier than the latter. Just saying.

Danche Trajkovski: Hello! I’m Danche, your friendly Communications Advisor at Northern Health. With a passion for storytelling, I traverse the realms of both internal and external communication, curating captivating iNews stories and crafting social media captions that resonate with our diverse audience.

In this dynamic role, I’m weaving the threads that connect us all. From unravelling the inspiring tales within the hospital’s walls to ensuring our online presence sparkles, I’m here to bridge the gap and keep you informed with a dash of flair! #ilovemyjob

Steve Carnell: Hey there. I’m Steve, Content Producer. Although I’ve only been with Public Affairs for a short time, my love of conveying stories and emotion through sound has been part of me forever. My primary focus is on our Northern Health podcast Visiting Hours with a skosh of video production thrown in for good measure, but I’m happy to jump into other projects as they present.

There is a truly collaborative spirit within our team, with an ebb and flow of ideas, suggestions and assistance, but it’s you guys that are the real heroes! We hope to see more of you across all sites, as we seek out new stories and innovations to share.

Christopher Alory: Hi, I’m Christopher, or Chris for brevity. I’m the Digital Communication Advisor and the newest member of the team. I joined in October, and since then, I’ve been energetically updating websites, overseeing the design of most visual communications, indulging in casual photography, and, last but not least, managing VVED socials.

Working at Northern Health provides an excellent opportunity to apply my skills in serving people, facilitating connections, and navigating the digital world seamlessly.

Now that you’ve met our wonderful team, please come and say hi and share with us your inspirational stories, professional triumphs, moments of pride and aspirations for a bigger and brighter future at Northern Health and let us work our magic!

Email: Publicaffairs@nh.org.au

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Jessica Micallef, Steve Carnell, Christina Xavier, Danche Trajkovski, Emma Cutajar, Christopher Allory, Silvia Zanon (photographer), Pina Di Donato, Mike Masilamani. 

Each week in the lead up to Accreditation, Northern Health will focus on a different Standard. You will hear from the Chair of each of the Standard Committees about the key points you need to know.

This week, we speak with Dr Bill Shearer, Executive Director Quality, Safety and Transformation about Standard 1: Clinical Governance.

What is this Standard about?

Standard 1: Clinical Governance is the way we ensure safe, quality care for our patients. Put simply, it’s about the processes we undertake to assure ourselves, our patients and the community that we are delivering on our vision of “A healthier community, making a difference for every person, every day”.

We tend to see the Accreditation standards as an external check on what we are doing, but realistically it’s just a statement of the things we are doing and a reminder of the things we can improve on.

At Northern Health, this Standard involves a Quality and Safety Performance Management system that is built around two systems, for collection of information about clinical performance:

• A continuous system where we collect information about clinical performance (sometimes people use the term clinical indicators). This is also the system that allows us to compare our performance with others, or with established standards of care such as Commission clinical guidelines.
• A reactive system where we collect information about times when care hasn’t gone as we would wish, such as deaths, adverse events, and complaints.

We have very specific rules about both systems to help us decide where we should concentrate our efforts at improvement. We use a risk/opportunity lens to help with that decision.

Our focus is very much on reducing unwarranted clinical variation, that is, care that is appropriate for our patients’ needs, and informed by the best evidence available.

We have designed specific tools to investigate variance in performance or incidents, and a structured way of designing improvements in the quality and safety of care.

What are the top five ways staff can be prepared for Accreditation against this Standard?

1. Read the simple procedures to the quality and safety performance management system and clinical governance and patient experience – trusted care.
2. Understand how the area you are working in actively manages clinical performance – particularly local area audits, incidents, and deaths.
3. Know what the most important quality and safety issues are in your area and what is being done to improve them.
4. Know how to report any quality and safety concerns you have and how those concerns are handled.
5. Know what the health service is focusing on improving and how you contribute to that?

What are the top five questions staff need to be able to answer about this Standard?

1. What is your role in clinical governance?
2. What are the steps in managing an adverse event?
3. What happens when a patient dies in your area?
4. What are the things that are improving in your area?
5. What does your team need to do better?

Is there anything else you would like staff to know about this Standard? 

This is just how we do our jobs properly!

Click here to lean more about Standard 1: Clinical Governance.

As we reflect on last year’s fundraising efforts of Northern Health Foundation, we are proud of the remarkable sense of community achievement. In 2023, the Foundation worked tirelessly throughout the year, alongside individuals, businesses and organisations to support the growing healthcare needs of the north. The stories of resilience, generosity and unity are what constantly inspires the team to support these important initiatives within our health service.

The Foundation will continue with its innovative approach to fundraising, including the ongoing support from our Workplace Givers and Northern Health Foundation patrons: Josie Minniti, Bev Carman and Trudi Hay. In 2023, the combined fundraising efforts of our patrons and workplace givers contributed to the renovations and upgrades of the Palliative Care Unit and its courtyard, where patients and their families can now enjoy the beautiful space and artwork.

As the Foundation takes a collective breath to celebrate the achievements of the past year, it is clear that the journey does not end here. Looking ahead to 2024, there is a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. Plans are underway for expanding healthcare initiatives and floating innovative ideas, focusing on the wellbeing of our staff and consumers. A major part of this will be the beginnings of a Cancer Wellness Centre right here in our hospital, with a broader vision for cancer services in the north.

To begin the process, the Foundation is hosting its upcoming Gala Ball in May, where sponsors, corporate partners, Northern Health Executives, board members and guests will gather to raise funds for this project. In 2023, over $70,000 was raised in support of research, planting the seeds of what can be achieved when we come together for a worthy cause. This year, the Foundation is hoping to surpass this amount by asking guests to imagine the possibilities of a new cancer centre and what this can mean for our community. The Foundation is hoping to support the research that underpins this exciting project.

Pina Di Donato, Executive Director Public Affairs and Foundation, touched on the upcoming event, saying,” these are exciting times at Northern Health as we grow as a health service, continuously innovating and advocating for better outcomes for our diverse community. Northern Health Foundation is proud to support our staff and researchers as they explore the possibilities.”

“While the challenges of the upcoming year are acknowledged, the Foundation and its supporters remain hopeful and undeterred, with a shared vision for a healthier and more resilient community.”

If you would like to support the Foundation in their 2024 fundraising efforts, please contact foundation@nh.org.au or on 8405 2897. Similarly, you are welcome to visit the Foundation office located in the main foyer of Northern Hospital Epping.

 

Summer is the best season of the year, they said. Except for the occasional slithering snakes and the abundance of mosquitos!

During the hot summer days, snakes are becoming increasingly active and put both humans and pets at risk of snakebites.

According to The Australian Snakebite Project, in over 10 years, approximately 1,500 people were bitten by snakes – with approximately 87 people a year being envenomed. Brown snakes are the most common, followed by tiger snakes. Luckily, in Victoria, we only have three overall snake species that are endemic – brown, tiger and red-bellied black.

It’s important to know that snakes only bite when they feel threatened, so prevention is key. Avoiding situations where you might encounter a snake, especially if there is signage suggesting they are around, is highly recommended.

“If you are traveling around areas with long grass, wear closed toed shoes and try to stomp a bit – snakes have poor hearing, but the vibrations will let them know you are nearby. If you have wood piles on your property, move them carefully, as these are often popular places for snakes to reside in. Snake venom is not great for humans but can be far more lethal for dogs. Investing in snake avoidance training or avoiding parks where snakes are known to frequent is a must during snake season,” says A/Prof Joe Rotella, Emergency Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Department of Emergency Medicine, Northern Health.

Knowing what to do if you or someone you are with is bitten, is critical. Most snakebites are treatable and can be managed effectively. Here are some simple steps to follow:

• Stay calm – movement spreads the venom. Lie down and do not move the affected limb.
• Call Triple Zero (000) ASAP
• If you have a pressure bandage (these can be bought from your local chemist), apply from above the suspected bite site down (with some extra layers around where the bite is).
• Prepare to spend the night in the Emergency Department, as several blood tests will need to be taken a few times over a 12-hour period.

“Most people will feel pretty scared and anxious when they have been bitten by a snake or they think they may have, but the symptoms we look for that suggest envenomation include severe nausea and vomiting, severe headache and/or abdominal pain, difficulty holding eyes open or difficulty moving your eyes as required, bleeding from puncture sites or from your nose or gums,” says A/Prof Rotella.

While snakebites can be a terrifying and potentially life-threatening experience, knowledge and preparedness are key factors in minimising their impact.

“‘A rather sad myth about snakes is that they are morally typecast as evil due to certain representations, so people often seek to kill them. This is not actually the case- snakes only bite to defend themselves,” says A/Prof Rotella.

The summer season also brings a plenitude of mosquitos, especially with the recent receding floodwaters happening across many parts in Victoria. Although rare, even for people living in affected areas, this increases the threat of serious, potentially life-threating, mosquito-borne diseases, such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, Japanese Encephalitis, Murray Valley Encephalitis and West Nile/Kunjin virus.

“Most mosquito bites – despite being very itchy – don’t need medical treatment. Occasionally, adults or children will develop a large local reaction with swelling or ongoing pain. At other times the bites may become infected with increasing redness, swelling, warmth or crusting around the bite. Signs of more severe illness include fever, vomiting, progressive rash or joint pains. See your local GP, Urgent Care Centre or Priority Primary Care Centre, or consider contacting the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department if you have any of these features,” says Dr Daniel Engelman, Paediatrician and Research Fellow in Tropical Diseases, Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, Northern Health.

Mosquito bites can put a damper on your summer fun, but with a few simple strategies, you can keep these tiny assailants at bay and enjoy a bite-free summer:

• Apply repellent regularly and evenly to all exposed skin on top of your sunscreen.
• Wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, and enclosed shoes.
• Empty or remove buckets and containers from around the home to reduce mosquito breeding.

“The best way to avoid getting sick is to prevent getting bitten. There are lots of ways to manage itch and scratching in children. Apply a cool pack or have a cool bath. Use of lotions or topical sprays can relieve the itch. Oral antihistamines can be effective if the itch is severe and impacting sleep. Use distraction and keep the fingernails short,” says Dr Engelman.

So, gear up, stay vigilant, and savour every moment of your summer without the itchy reminders of mosquito encounters!

For more information on prevention and protection from mosquito-borne diseases visit: https://go.vic.gov.au/48YoOPW

It is wonderful to see the smiling faces of our enthusiastic volunteers at Northern Health again after their Christmas and New Year break.

They returned to duty last week and are all eager to get back to doing what they love to do – gifting their time to make a difference.

“Volunteers are an important part of Northern Health and partner with our staff to extend our capacity,” said Henni Wade, Manager Volunteer Services.

It’s been a busy start to 2024 for our volunteers. Admin volunteers have been putting green books together for Maternity, assembling packs for the Day Procedure Unit, placing stickers on brochures for the Hearing Clinic and assisting the Diabetes Education team with admin tasks.

Volunteers have also been busy sorting lost property and replenishing stock in the Emergency Department, putting together exercise band packs for the Physiotherapy team and counting money for Northern Health Foundation, among other tasks.

The tea-trolley ladies were also back offering patients and visitors refreshments. Patients have been visited on the wards by the volunteers on the goods trolley which offers reading material, puzzle books and miscellaneous items.

Patients have been offered support at meal times where volunteers help with taking lids off containers, patients have been transported to appointments at Bundoora, babies have been cuddled in the Neonatal Unit, and patients in Palliative Care have been visited and gifted beautiful hand-made rugs from our local craft groups.

Our fabulous guides, who help patients, visitors and staff find their way around the hospital, are also back on deck, helping with parking and obtaining a wheelchair.

If you would like volunteer support in your area, please contact a member of our coordination team. Henni Wade manages the volunteers at Northern Hospital Epping. Natalie Carroll supports the volunteers at Bundoora Centre. Kim Berger looks after Broadmeadows Hospital and Craigieburn Centre volunteers. We are thrilled to now have Susan Palmer join our team to coordinate volunteer support at Kilmore District Hospital.

Our team organises all recruitment, ongoing support, daily supervision and role allocation and we also make sure we provide reward and recognition for our volunteers.

For more information about volunteer support, please contact the Volunteer Services Team on volunteer@nh.org.au or call 8405 8971.

Staff at Unit 2 Broadmeadows Hospital are remembering their dear colleague Norma Boyer, who passed away late last year.

Norma began her nursing career with Northern Health during her graduate year, working on the GEM Unit at Broadmeadows Hospital, before she moved to Unit 2 (Rehabilitation Ward).

Unit 2 was where Norma fulfilled her duties as a dedicated registered nurse for more than 10 years. Norma’s strong leadership qualities and compassionate nature saw her become the assistant nurse unit manager of the ward where she was a great role model and advocate for staff and patients.

Even though Norma was in a leadership role, that didn’t stop her from getting on the floor attending to patients needs and helping her colleagues when we needed it most.

Marie Peau, Registered Nurse and ANUM, who works on Unit 2 and also worked closely with Norma, said Norma was a great asset to Northern Health.

“She was well-loved by her patients and colleagues,” Marie said.

“Norma was a wonderful lady and a knowledgeable, hard-working and compassionate nurse, colleague and mentor to many staff. Norma was not only a wonderful role model and a highly capable nurse, but she was also a great support to many other staff members who had the honour to work alongside her.”

“Her patients were blessed to have such a kind, caring, supportive and competent nurse looking after them. She was a shining light to our ward, and we will always remember her beautiful smile and warm nature she brought to Unit 2.”

“Her hard work and dedication to nursing was inspiring and something to look up to. She bought a smile to all our faces and put soul and love into her work. She was the epitome of compassion and something I will always admire about Norma.”

“On behalf of all our Unit 2 staff at Broadmeadows, Norma will be missed but never forgotten.’