#WeAreNorthern

Today we chat to someone keen to make a positive impact on our consumers lives, however small. Meet Joby Philip, Manager of the Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology team (APT), and Project Manager Alcohol and Other Drugs, (AOD) Mental Health Division.

Q: Firstly, your coffee order please, Joby?

A: I love a medium skinny flat white with no sugar- it’s a must in the morning!

Q: What does your role as Manager APT and Project Manager (AOD) entail?

A: As programme manager of Addiction Psychiatry and Toxicology team (APT), I provide leadership in the operational management of APT to deliver evidenced based quality integrated assessment, treatment and support for individuals presenting with co-occurring mental/ physical health and substance use disorders.

The project management part of the role works in partnership with the Mental Health Executive to develop and lead the implementation of AOD model of care across all mental health division programmes. In practice, this involves partnering with Northern Health leadership and external stakeholders in service development, develop policies, procedures and systems required to safely provide integrated care.

Q: Your role sounds very challenging – what satisfaction does it give you?

A: Substance use disorder is a very common health condition but the stigma and marginalisation our consumers face can make it tough for them to get the support they really need. That’s why, leading a service that not only supports our consumers but also listens to and helps their carers and family members, gives me such a strong sense of purpose.

It’s all about teaming up with colleagues and other services to tackle these issues together. Making a positive impact on someone’s life, however small, is what keeps me going!

Q: What are your plans for 2025?

A: As APT marks one year this month, we are committed to further strengthening our service delivery to enhance care for our consumers. Our focus areas for the year includes:

• Capacity building of our staff in harm reduction approaches
• Actively contributing to policy and procedure reviews to strengthen AOD-integrated care within our services.
• Strengthening partnerships across health services to ensure continuity of care for consumers.
• Promoting our newly launched specialist outpatient clinic to hospital treating teams, mental health services, and other key stakeholders.

By focusing on these key areas, APT aims to build a more responsive, well-integrated service in 2025.

Q: What are the best things about working at Northern Health?

A: I love the collaboration with passionate colleagues who share a commitment to make a real difference to the lives of people. Other rewards include the convenience of working locally, reducing travel time and maintaining a better work-life balance.

Q: How do you unwind after a day’s work?

A: I love spending time outdoors in the garden, taking care of my plants and just enjoying the fresh air. There’s something so relaxing about tending to both my outdoor garden and indoor plants—it’s my little escape!

I also love cycling with the kids whenever we get the chance. It’s such a fun way to stay active and spend quality time together. Nothing beats just unwinding with family, whether it’s a simple meal, a good chat, or just being together. It’s the perfect way to end the day!

Q: What is something not many people know about you?

A: Hiking brings me so much peace—each hike feels like an adventure, and I genuinely enjoy the sense of achievement that comes with it. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by towering trees, breathtaking landscapes, and the crisp, fresh air of the hills.

Featured image shows Joby hiking in The Western Ghats of Kerala, South India.

Since 2012, the Early Careers Mentoring Program at Northern Health has been a cornerstone in nurturing the growth and development of young doctors. Designed to guide interns through their first year of practice, this initiative pairs each intern with an experienced consultant who offers invaluable support, guidance, and mentorship.

This year, the program was launched again by the Northern Doctors Education team lead by Ms Susie Sangas, Medical Education Manager and Dr Carol Chong, Supervisor of Interning Training, whose combined vision led to the program’s creation and who continue to oversee it today.

“The response this year has been really overwhelming. We had 130 consultants volunteer to mentor our 61 interns. The program’s success is a testament to the incredible commitment of these consultants, who willingly devote their time to help shape the careers of the next generation of doctors,” said Dr Chong.

“What truly stands out is the inspiring journey of the mentors themselves. Some of the consultants who volunteered this year, have been mentors for many years assisting us with the program,” Susie said.

Three such consultant mentors are Dr David Crosbie, A/Prof Jaclyn Yoong, and Dr Pip Wills.

“I have been privileged to be a mentor since the outset of the program,” said Dr Crosbie.

“It has been a valuable opportunity to guide junior doctors right from the beginning of their career and hopefully provide some advice on what to both do and not do! I also think that the program exemplifies the culture of Northern Health, in that we look after each other and everyone feels respected and supported whilst being empowered and challenged to develop as excellent clinicians.”

A/Prof Jaclyn Yoong, Palliative Care Physician and Oncologist, said the mentoring program was a great initiative for new interns to be able to connect with a senior doctor in the organisation, as a sounding board and a safe space in their first year as doctors.

“At Northern Health, I think I can proudly say we try to provide a nurturing environment for junior doctors and aim to support and encourage their pursuits and endeavours as best as possible! I will draw the line, however, at being coerced into doing any more 15 km so-called fun runs, as I discovered they are not so fun,” she said.

Dr Pip Wills, Emergency Physician, said, “I hope the mentees get as much out of the program as I do. I love the new perspective each mentee brings – it allows me a glimpse of how they view life at the Northern, and medicine in general today.”

“It’s quite different to the world when I was an intern. Back then, I had never met an emergency specialist, I didn’t know any women specialists who were (still) married, or with kids. There was often no mentoring so some of us took a very long and winding path. I hope I can share some of the lessons learned from that and to show them the possible pathways they may wish to take. Or to just be there to listen when needed.”

Susie said the Early Careers Mentoring Program was much more than just a way for young doctors to navigate the complexities of their first year.

“It’s a community built on mutual support, compassion, and a shared passion for helping the next generation thrive,” she said.

“The enthusiasm and dedication of the consultants volunteering their time ensures that each intern has the tools and confidence they need to embark on a successful career in medicine.”

Featured image: Interns at the Early Careers Mentoring Program

The potential impact that Northern Health’s values of ‘Safe, Kind, Together’ can have on our patients and colleagues, reaches far deeper than you might expect. While delivering outstanding healthcare is at the forefront of what we do, sometimes seemingly insignificant actions are what remain as an indelible impression. A nervous hand held, a calming word of reassurance, or an attentive ear that hears what is actually important to a patient in the moment, are all precious, practical applications of our values.

A little over a year ago, Harjaspreet Kaur, one of Northern Health’s new cohort of graduate nurses, had just finished her student placement when she found herself back at the hospital a week later, this time as a patient. At 33 weeks pregnant, she had developed some serious complications, and an emergency caesarean section was undertaken.

“I believe I would not have survived this trauma had it not been for the care I received,” Ms. Kaur said. “The staff were all so kind and patient with me, encouraging me so I would have the strength to eventually hold my baby.”

Her experience here as a patient helped Ms Kaur decide that Northern Health was where she wanted to nurse. In fact, she cradled her baby boy on her lap as she wrote the cover letter as part of the graduate program application, recalling all the feelings she had as a result of her time here.  “I knew I wanted to be part of this beautiful team and was so excited when I was accepted”, she added.

“We are so happy to hear that the interactions of Harjaspreet as a healthcare consumer has led to her choosing to begin her nursing career with us at Northern Health,” commented Kate Duggan, Graduate Program Co-ordinator, Nursing and Midwifery Education Unit. “To personally experience our staff portraying Northern Health’s values Safe Kind and Together is heart-warming and makes me remember just how important our values are in our everyday practice.”

Those three simple words, that encapsulate our values so succinctly, seem to resonate with our staff and community.  So much so that Northern Health intend to carry them into our new Strategic Plan for 2025-2029, which will be launched soon.

Stories like this happen every day, and we’d love to share them beyond the bedside. If you’re interacting with a patient that would like to say thanks for the care they’ve received, please encourage them to get in touch with Patient Experience. Alternatively, if you have a special patient story, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Public Affairs publicaffairs@nh.org.au so we can lift up the wonderful work being done here for the world to see.

#WeAreNorthern #SafeKindTogether

Pictured in the featured image: Harjaspreet Kaur, Graduate Nurse.  Inset image: Ms Kaur and her beautiful baby boy.

If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise
…Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic

Every teddy bear who’s been good is sure of a treat today
There’s lots of marvellous things to eat and wonderful games to play

 

If you wandered into the Rose Garden at Kilmore District Hospital on Sunday, 16 February, you would have stumbled upon an enchanting garden party.

Bev Carmen, Patron of the Northern Health Foundation and local resident, shared, “The purpose of today was to let the local people realise that being amalgamated with Northern Health means we can all work together. It was to raise money too, but mostly to raise awareness.”

Local residents (and courageous teddy bears) who braved the rain, were treated to a sausage sizzle, Devonshire tea, a coffee van, a bouncing castle, market stalls, face painting, live music, and yes, a teddy bear hospital!

Kerrie McWilliam, from the Northern Health Foundation, said “The Garden party held at Kilmore Hospital was a great success. The community’s support was wonderful, and my favourite moment was the choir. The music selection was outstanding, and their voices brought me to tears many times throughout their session. Thank you to all of you for making it such a special day!”

Kim Berger, Community Engagement Coordinator, thanked all our incredible volunteers, Northern Health patrons, their families, Engineering, Assumption College Kilmore, the Northern Health Choir, Kilmore, and Northern Health staff members, saying, “This event wouldn’t have been possible without you. Your support and dedication are truly appreciated!”

So, if you ever hear whispers of teddy bears and picnics, remember that Kilmore District Hospital knows how to throw a party that’s full of heart and charm!

Northern Health is proud to invite staff and community members to our 2025 International Women’s Day Breakfast at Mantra Epping, celebrating the achievements of women and advocating for gender equality.

This year’s theme, March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls, encourages inclusion and the removal of barriers to equality.

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world to recognise the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

At Northern Health, we continue to support and uplift both current and future leaders, fostering a workplace that champions diversity and progress.

As part of this special event, we are honoured to welcome Professor Sue Walker AO as our keynote speaker.

A trailblazing maternal fetal medicine specialist, academic researcher, and leader of Mercy Perinatal, Professor Walker has dedicated her career to shaping the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology.

As the Sheila Handbury Chair at The University of Melbourne and an Order of Australia Medal recipient, her work in high-risk pregnancy care, teaching, and research continues to inspire and impact generations to come.

Join us in recognising the remarkable contributions of women in our workforce and community.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with you!

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Brian Liu, Pharmacist, Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Northern Health.

Q: First, let’s start with your coffee order?

A: Unfortunately, I don’t make the most of living in Melbourne when it comes to coffee as I don’t drink it. I will, however, order a matcha latte, milkshake or juice when I am out.

Q: Tell us about your journey at Northern Health?

A: I joined Northern Health in April 2021 to help build and design the EMR as a Medications Analyst. After supporting our Go-Live, I have continued to work closely with our Northern Health staff to maintain and further improve the workflows within the EMR.

Q: What’s the best thing about working at Northern Health?

A: It’s the people that I work with on a day-to-day basis that keeps me coming back, but I also enjoy the intellectual stimulation my role gives me as well as the freedom to be a little creative.

Q: If you weren’t in your current role, what would have been instead?

A: Since I love to travel and food, and in this age of social media, I would love to combine these two into a travel and food channel/handle on social, or maybe I could be an international food critic, travelling and tasting the food of the world.

Q: What’s your favourite book character and why?

A: I don’t think I have a favourite character, however, I am always fond of and drawn to strong, intellectual and independent female characters in stories. I do have “The Wheel of Time” series on my to read list and hopefully will love the character Moiraine Damodred in the pages of this epic series, as much as I enjoy watching Rosamund Pike’s portrayal of her in the Amazon Prime series.

Q: Sweet or savory?

A: Both? I’m your classic Gemini when it comes to being indecisive at times, and why not both, we all know there is a second stomach for dessert.

Friday, 14 February, is Library Lovers’ Day and Northern Health Library is celebrating by listening to the voices of our newest medical professionals. In late 2024, the library conducted a survey to find out what the interns wanted and valued from their library. The response was fantastic, with interns sharing their thoughts on how the library can best support them during their first year as doctors.

From quiet study spaces to access to the latest medical research, the survey revealed that interns highly value the library’s role in their learning and professional development. Many emphasised the importance of ease of access to medical literature, literature search services, research consultations and having a welcoming space to unwind between shifts.  These insights will help shape the library’s services to ensure they meet the needs of our junior doctors.

To encourage participation, all interns who completed the survey went into a draw to win a $100 Oxford University Press book voucher, sponsored by Oxford University Press. We are delighted to announce that Dylan Cornish, one of our Junior Medical Officers, was the lucky recipient! Their prize will help them expand their library of essential medical texts.  All the Oxford Handbooks are also available to freely access here (use your staff ID if you are off site).

The second prize went to Lauren Pollock, JMO, and comprised a powerbank and notebook sponsored by McGraw Hill and a pen sponsored by Elsevier.

Library Lovers’ Day is about celebrating the role of libraries in our lives, and at Northern Health, we take pride in being a vital resource for our staff. Whether it’s through research support, evidence-based practice tools or offering a quiet place to recharge, we are here to help our healthcare professionals thrive.

“Thank you to all our interns who took part in the survey – we look forward to using your feedback to enhance our services. If you haven’t visited the library yet, Library Lovers’ Day is the perfect opportunity to drop by and discover how we can support you throughout your career!” said Tania Barry, Director, Library and Information Services, Northern Health.

Pictured in the featured image: Dylan Cornish, JMO. 

On Monday, 10 February, we proudly welcomed our newest cohort of Graduate Nurses and Midwives to Northern Health. This year’s intake includes:

• 64 Registered Nurses (Graduate Nurse Program)
• 4 Registered Nurse/Registered Midwives (Combined Program)
• 2 Registered Midwives
• 3 Registered Nurses for our brand-new Care of the Older Person program

Over the next 12 months, these graduates will embark on a structured program designed to enhance their clinical skills and knowledge consolidation. After completing a three-day orientation, they will begin their rotations across three of our campuses, Northern Hospital Epping, Bundoora Centre and Broadmeadows Hospital, where they will be supported by dedicated educators, preceptors, mentors, and experienced clinical staff.

Thirty-two of our graduate nurses have previously worked with Northern Health in various capacities:

• 16 as Enrolled Nurses (ENs)
• 14 as Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSONs)
• 1 as a Clerk
• 1 as a Patient Services Assistant (PSA)

Many of our new graduates also gained experience at Northern Health as undergraduate students and, having built strong connections with our teams and patients, chose to officially begin their careers with us.

Our Registered Nurse graduates will gain experience across a range of areas, including:

• Acute wards at Northern Hospital Epping and Broadmeadows Hospital
• Specialty areas, such as:
  • Renal dialysis
  • Children’s Unit
  • Neonatal Unit
  • Emergency Department & Short Stay Unit
  • Chest Pain Evaluation Unit
  • Cardiology
  • Transit Lounge

Our dual-qualified Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife graduates will rotate through:

• Antenatal Clinic
• Birth Suite
• Postnatal Ward
• A chosen area of nursing (either the Neonatal Unit or an Acute Surgical Ward)

We are especially excited to launch our Care of the Older Person Graduate Program in 2025. Three graduates have commenced this stream in February, with another four scheduled to start in May. These graduates will be based at Broadmeadows Hospital (Unit 3) and Bundoora Centre (PCW, KAW, and Ward 1), where they will receive specialised education and hands-on clinical experience in aged care.

“Among our new graduates, four have a particularly special connection to Northern Health – they were born right here at Northern Hospital Epping! Their journey from being welcomed into the world at Northern Hospital to now caring for our patients is a testament to the strong community spirit that Northern Health fosters,” said Kate Duggan, Graduate Program Co-ordinator, Nursing and Midwifery Education Unit, Northern Health.

We extend our warmest congratulations to all our graduates as they begin their careers with us.

Welcome to the Northern Health family!