June 2025

This week marks Refugee Week 2025, Australia’s annual opportunity to raise awareness of the experiences, challenges and contributions of refugees within our communities. Refugee Week is not only a time to reflect on global issues of displacement, but also to recognise the courage, determination, and strength shown by those who have sought safety and built new lives in Australia. This year’s theme, ‘Finding Freedom’, highlights the importance of welcome and belonging in the refugee journey. For many refugees, freedom is not just the absence of conflict or persecution, but the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a safe, supportive environment…

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Our very own Laura Prendergast, Health Psychologist with the Broadmeadows Persistent Pain Management Service, and Tom Collins, Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at Northern Hospital Epping, demonstrated exceptional organisational and public speaking skills at the recent Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting (APS ASM) held in Melbourne this April. Their involvement provided a strong conclusion to Northern Health’s impressive Allied Health contributions to the conference. These efforts complemented the valuable input from our medical, nursing, and pharmacy teams throughout the event. Laura played a pivotal role in organising the Psychology Pre-Conference Workshop: Navigating the Complexity of Neurodivergence and Pain. This thought-provoking session…

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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) occurs annually on June 15 and is celebrated globally to provide an opportunity for communities to stand together against the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people. Elder abuse is a recognised form of family violence and comes in many forms. It includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, financial and social abuse. Elder abuse can occur once or repeatedly and can vary in severity from subtle through to extreme. It can include one or a combination of the different types of abuse.  Elder abuse can also lead to serious physical injuries, long-term psychological consequences and…

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#WeAreNorthern Meet Tim Butters, Podiatrist, Foot Procedure Unit, Craigieburn Centre, Northern Health. Q. Tim, could I start with your coffee order, please? A: Latte with full cream milk, no sugar. Q. Tell us about your journey at Northern Health. A: I began my journey with Northern Health Podiatry in 2004, when we were a small team of just five clinicians based at Bundoora Centre, back when our office was located outside PCW (Percy Cleland Wing), in the area that is now home to the X-ray department and orthotics workshop. Over the past 21 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching…

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Northern Health is excited to announce Simone Jervies, Acting Unit Manager for Birthing Suite and Maternity Assessment Care, as the winner of the BankVic Nursing Scholarship. To celebrate International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May), Northern Health Foundation partnered with BankVic to provide a $5,000 scholarship to a Northern Health nurse or midwife. This scholarship was in recognition of valuable service and dedication to the role of a nurse or midwife. The scholarship could be used towards further education, attending a national based conference, or a professional development activity. Simone said she will use…

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Northern Health was proud to welcome 76 new graduate nurses and midwives on 26 May, joining the 73 graduates who commenced in February – bringing the total to 149 for our 2025 Graduate Nurse and Midwifery Program. These fresh faces are spread across our campuses at Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, and Bundoora Centre, and are participating in one of four tailored program streams. While some are familiar with our health service, with five having previously worked at Northern Health, the vast majority are stepping into our organisation for the very first time – and we couldn’t be more excited…

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Northern Health’s Residential In-Reach (RIR) service hosted a highly successful Education Day on 30 April, bringing together 81 nursing staff from Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across the Northern catchment. As part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing aged care, the RIR team, a seven-day service supporting 37 RACFs, provides rapid, in-home medical responses aimed at reducing avoidable emergency department presentations. In 2023, the service expanded with a virtual model (VRIR), extending support to aged care facilities across the Hume region and other parts of regional Victoria. The Education Day featured a series of engaging presentations and practical workshops led…

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#WeAreNorthern Meet Don Goonesekera, Manager, Cleaning and Waste Management, ISS Facility Services at Northern Hospital Epping. Q. Don, could I start with your coffee order, please? My mornings typically begin with a medium almond latte, it’s my go-to before the day gets going. Q. Tell us about your journey at Northern Health? I first began working at Northern Health in 2016 when ISS was awarded the contract. Shortly after, I relocated to Hamilton Island to pursue my career as a chef. In 2020, I returned to Northern Health and took on a variety of roles across several sites, including Food…

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