Today is R U OK? Day, a national day of action to remind us all to check in with the people around us – our colleagues, friends, and ourselves. It’s about starting meaningful conversations and showing that we care, especially in high-pressure environments like ours.

It’s not about having all the answers or being a mental health professional. It’s about listening without judgment and encouraging others to seek support when needed.

At Northern Health, our values of safe, kind, together mean that checking in with each other goes beyond R U OK? Day itself. Our values drive us to check in with each other any day.

Casey O’Brien, Manager, Staff Wellbeing, said R U OK? Day is a timely reminder that a conversation could mean many different things to many people.

“For some of us, talking and chatting is the natural way to check-in. But equally, some may feel comfortable just sitting in silence, providing comfort to someone,” she said.

“Taking a walk side by side or offering to make someone a cuppa – there are many ways to show we care and connect with someone.”

In addition, our newly appointed Psychosocial Safety Consultant, Bianca Fazzari, said meaningful conversations can make a real difference in the workplace.

“In the busy, high-pressure environment of healthcare, we give our all and focus on our patients. But it’s just as important to check in on our team,” she said.

“Whether you’re asking the question or answering it, know that you don’t have to have all the answer. Just being there, listening, and showing you care is a powerful step. And remember, you’re never alone. Support is available, and your wellbeing matters – not just today, but every day.”

Our dedicated Director of OHS & Wellbeing, Graham Wilson, speaks with authenticity, vulnerability and courage, when reflecting on R U OK? Day.

“Unfortunately, I’ve lost close friends to suicide, and each loss has left me wishing for one more chance to listen and to be there for them. This is why World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) and R U OK Day? matter,” he said.

“Reaching out and asking, “R U OK?” can make a big difference for someone struggling.”

We also want to acknowledge that R U OK? Day can be difficult for some. If this is you, we also support you to engage in the day in whatever way feels comfortable for you – this might look like asking or answering the R U OK? question, or reflecting on your own.

Today, let’s take a moment to check in with our colleagues. Ask, listen, encourage, and follow up. Because in healthcare, we care for everyone—but we also need to care for each other.

R U OK? Day 💛 A conversation could change a life.

Wellbeing Wall Competition

In support of R U OK? Day, Northern Health launched a Wellbeing Wall Competition, encouraging staff to create a wellbeing wall to promote connection, support, and positive mental health wellbeing in the workplace. The winner of the competition was Ward 7 Women’s Mental Health. Thank you to all staff who submitted an entry.

This week marks Malnutrition Week ANZ, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of malnutrition and encouraging action across healthcare settings in Australia and New Zealand.

Malnutrition occurs when a person’s dietary intake does not meet their body’s needs, leading to loss of muscle and strength, impaired wound healing, reduced immunity, and poorer recovery from illness. It can present from undernutrition which remains a significant concern for hospitalised patients.

Nadia Obeid, Dietitian, said Northern Health staff are committed to reducing the impact of malnutrition through early screening, timely referral and multidisciplinary care.

“Northern Health inpatients are screened for malnutrition risk within four hours of admission to hospital, and re-screened weekly,” she said.

“When a risk is identified, patients are referred to a dietitian for assessment and management. The referral is autogenerated in areas using the EMR.”

Northern Health undertakes an annual Malnutrition Point Prevalence Study to monitor malnutrition rates. This year, one in five Northern Health inpatients were found to be malnourished, with the rate higher in subacute settings, where one in four patients were affected.

“We were pleased to find nurses have been doing an amazing job meeting KPI targets with 94 per cent of patients screened for malnutrition risk on admission. It was also very reassuring that all malnourished patients were receiving nutrition care from a dietitian,” Nadia said.

At Kilmore District Hospital, the Dietetics team is leading a new quality improvement project to strengthen malnutrition management.

“In addition to individualised strategies to modify food intake, oral nutritional supplements play a key role in supporting patients who are malnourished to meet their energy and protein requirements, aiding recovery and reducing length of hospital stay,” said Cat Li, Dietitian at Kilmore District Hospital.

“On the GEM Ward, older adults are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition due to factors such as reduced appetite, multiple health conditions, swallowing difficulties and reduced independence.”

Cat’s project focuses on aligning oral nutrition supplement management at Kilmore District Hospital with other Northern Health sites. The initiative aims to ensure patients at Kilmore District Hospital have timely access to nutrition supplement drinks to support patients with malnutrition and those at risk.

Northern Health’s Dietetics Department continues to monitor malnutrition prevalence, support education across teams, and lead initiatives to ensure best-practice nutrition care for patients.

“For Malnutrition Week, we thank our nursing, medical and allied health colleagues for their ongoing collaboration,” said Cat.

“Recognising malnutrition risk and supporting nutrition care is truly a team effort.”

Featured image: Aaron Henderson, Allied Health Assistant, and Cat Li, Dietitian at Kilmore District Hospital.

Every year on 8 September, the global community comes together to celebrate World Physiotherapy Day – a day dedicated to recognising the hard-working, kind and knowledgeable physiotherapists who play a vital role in keeping people well, mobile and independent.

At Northern Health, we are proud to have more than 120 physiotherapists working across all our campuses. Their work spans the entire health journey, from newborn care to aged care, from the Emergency Department to community services, and from ICU to wellness programs.

Physiotherapists work side-by-side with Exercise Physiologists and Allied Health Assistants to support patients through personalised exercise therapy, manual treatment and education.

Whether it’s helping someone recover after surgery, manage a chronic condition, or simply regain confidence in their mobility, our physiotherapists are there every step of the way.

This year’s theme, ‘Healthy Ageing’, highlights the important role physiotherapy and physical activity play in preventing falls and frailty – helping people maintain independence and quality of life as they age.

The impact of our physiotherapists is best told through the voices of our patients:

“My physio is an excellent physiotherapist who follows up on the wellbeing of her patients and makes recommendations for their treatment and prosperity”.

My physio was “happy, courteous and thorough.”

“I was very surprised with the level of care we got because physio staff went above to make a difference.”

My physio was “very patient & explains really well.”

My physio “looks after me brilliantly.”

“They paid attention to my need, personalised treatment targeted my needs. There was information, education and handouts of great benefit. Also, the feedback on progress was very good.”

“Gave me more confidence.”

These words reflect the profound difference our physiotherapists make in the lives of patients and their families each day.

On this World Physiotherapy Day, we say thank you to our physios for their compassion, expertise and dedication and for helping our community live healthier, more independent lives.

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Hannah Bisignano, ANUM Team Lead of the Ash Team in Antenatal Clinic.

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

I love a large latte to fuel my caffeine addiction.

Q: Tell us about your role at Northern Health

I am the ANUM Team Lead of the Ash Team in Antenatal Clinic. On a Wednesday, at Craigieburn Community Hospital, the Ash Team provides a midwifery-led model of care. My wonderful team of midwives empower families through their pregnancy journey with education, continuity of care and a safe place for open discussions.

On Thursdays, at Northern Hospital Epping, our Obstetric and Midwifery Team work together with Maternal Fetal Medicine, Genetics Counseling and our OPAL clinics to provide individually tailored care for complex pregnancies.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

My favourite part of my job is facilitating a growth driven environment. I am very passionate about empowering people. Whether that is through educating and encouraging patients or supporting and upskilling staff.

Q: How do you resonate with Northern Health’s values of Safe, Kind and Together?

We are always striving to uphold Northern Health’s values. The structure of our care model perfectly demonstrates working together to create a safe environment for all. And a key aspect to achieving this is through using open and kind communication with all involved in the pregnancy, birthing and postpartum experience.

Q: Favourite place to travel and why?

My favourite place that I’ve ever travelled is Venice. I love the romanticism and architecture within the city. As well as being surrounded by water.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, real or imaginary, who would it be and why?

I would have dinner with my favourite musician, Vessel. He is the lead vocalist of Sleep Token and I find their music haunting. I would love to discuss the bands lore, musical processes and inspiration.

On Saturday, 23 August 2025, the Freemason Lodges of Bank Place, Evolution, Garibaldi, and Victorian Naval and Military, came together to host A Touch of Spring Gala at Casa D’Abruzzo Club in Epping, raising vital funds for Northern Health Foundation to continue supporting cancer services at Northern Health, and the overall vision of building a Cancer Wellness Centre, here in the north.

Guests were welcomed into an elegant evening featuring a three‑course meal, live music, and a dance floor alive with energy. The gala also offered a range of ways to participate in fundraising activities on the night, including a table raffle and a silent and live auction with prizes up for grabs including a luxury Bali Stay.

The event not only offered a delightful night out but also reinforced the vital collaboration between Northern Health and local philanthropic organisations. Ticket sales supported the Foundation’s work to enhance patient care and healthcare services.

A heartfelt thanks is given to the support of the event sponsors who made the evening possible; Casa D’Abruzzo Club, Josie and Rino Minniti’s Cancer Fundraising Group, AECS, Forensic Engineers, NorthLink, Care Dental Group, and RMIT University. A sincere thank you is also extended to Josie Minniti OAM, Professor Peter Brooks AM, along with special guest speaker Professor Wanda Stelmach, the Northern Health Community Choir for their joyful preformance on the evening, and the four Freemason Lodges and Freemason Foundation for their support.

Peter McWilliam, Northern Health Foundation Board Chair, spoke on the event saying, “A big thank you to everyone who supported the spring gala dinner, especially the four Freemason lodges, Casa D’Abruzzo, our wonderful event sponsors, and the Northern Health Foundation staff for all their help in making this a very successful evening that exceeded our expectations. Thanks also to Professor Wanda Stelmach, who enlightened us on how we started this journey, and the importance of this for [oncology] patients.”

Through events like this gala, Northern Health Foundation continues to build momentum toward its long-term goals, including the Cancer Wellness Centre, and improved patient services across the northern suburbs. These efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality for local residents.

With the success of A Touch of Spring Gala, Northern Health Foundation looks to the future with optimism, eager to expand its circle of supporters and deepen its impact across northern Melbourne. The generosity shown at the gala underscores the strength of community spirit and the difference that collective effort can make.

Thank you to all four Freemason Lodges for their support in hosting this event and to the Freemason Foundation for their support.

Wound Awareness Week (1 – 7 September 2025) raises awareness about chronic wounds and their impact on individuals and communities. The theme this year of Wounds Affect Every Body, emphasises that every cut, graze, or tear in the skin can become chronic if not treated properly.

To bring awareness to living with a wound, the Foot Procedure Unit sat down with Mr Abdul-Halim Saad (one of our current clients) for a Q and A regarding his experience with living with a diabetic foot ulcer over the past five months. 

Q: What is it like living with a wound? 

I’ve previously had Charcot’s foot, and now this wound has impacted my daily life, requiring regular dressing and limiting my ability to walk both inside and outside the home.

I’ve been going through a challenging time, and it has impacted my ability to work, as I was unable to travel as planned. Even for simple things like going on a picnic, I’ve had to decline because I’m not in a position to attend right now. I’m hopeful that with proper care, I’ll overcome this and be able to enjoy these activities again.

Q: What advice would you give someone else in a similar position? 

If you know what the problem is, in this case diabetes, make sure to keep your blood sugar levels under control, keep the wound clean, always take the advice of your medical team and try to limit movement while the foot wound is healing. Doing so will help the wound heal faster. 

Q: What have you done or what strategies have you put in place to cope with the period you have be managing the wound? 

I have found the management through the podiatry and orthotics team to be very helpful. I have followed the teams’ instructions with the offloading felt and the boots that they have prescribed me. I am hoping that this will help me to get out of this problem soon. So, following the specialist’s instructions has been a big help. 

Q: How has podiatry helped you to achieve your goal/s? 

They have been very supportive, advising me on the wound’s progress and suggesting solutions and ways to offload the area to help improve the healing rate. The podiatry and orthotics team have been debriding and cleaning the wound for me, reapplying the felt to my foot, and using all their available resources to keep the wound healthy and progressing toward healing. I had a new orthotic fitted today, so hopefully, I’ll remain wound-free with this.

Photo caption: Mr Abdul-Halim Saad photographed with Tim Butters (Podiatrist) and Amanda Sergi (Orthotist) from the Craigieburn Centre, Sub Acute Foot Procedure Unit. 

Northern Health’s newest board members were on tour last week, visiting facilities across the network to gain firsthand insight into the organisation’s diverse services and exceptional care.

The comprehensive tour took the new board members to four key sites, providing them with direct exposure to the breadth of services Northern Health delivers to the community.

At Bundoora Centre, board members visited Aged Care Mental Health, Community Therapy services and participated in morning tea with staff and residents at Ian Brand Residential Aged Care. This visit provided valuable insight into Northern Health’s community-based services and residential care programs.

At Broadmeadows Hospital we focused on visited the Surgical Centre, where board members learned about recent same-day surgery improvements that have enhanced patient outcomes and operational efficiency. They also visited the Mental Health BIPU, showcasing facility upgrades and the recently enhanced therapeutic gardens that support patient wellbeing.

At Craigieburn Community Hospital, the board members toured the impressive new facility, witnessing firsthand Northern Health’s commitment to growth and expansion in response to community needs. The visit highlighted the modern infrastructure and capabilities that define the new addition to the network.

The final stop at Kilmore District Hospital showcased the organisation’s heritage in care in the outer northern. With board members visiting maternity, urgent care, and inpatient services housed and the beautiful heritage-listed bluestone building. The timing coincided with the exciting EMR Go Live implementation, demonstrating Northern Health’s commitment to modernised health care and systems.

“It was fantastic to showcase the breadth and quality of services across our network to our new board members, particularly the excellent work happening at Bundoora,” shared Johanna Hayes, Divisional Director.

The comprehensive tour program ensures board members understand the full scope of Northern Health’s operations and the dedicated staff who deliver care across the network.

Featured image L-R: Dr Michael Walsh, Board Director, Debra Bourne, Chief Executive, Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly, Board Chair, Christina Campbell, Director of Nursing/Site Operations Director, Kilmore District Hospital, and Nirasha Parsotam, Board Director, at Kilmore District Hospital.

Northern Health is leading the way in making genomic testing during pregnancy more accessible, culturally safe, and trusted by families from diverse backgrounds.

Professor Lisa Hui, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist at Northern Health and Professor at the University of Melbourne, has been awarded a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Genomics Health Futures Grant for the ImpACT-PG project (Improving Access and Community Trust in Perinatal Genomics for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations.)

Families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, particularly South Asian communities, often face barriers to accessing genomic testing during pregnancy. The ImpACT-PG project aims to address these challenges through a consumer-driven, community-centred approach.

Over the next two years, the team will gather evidence on family experiences, co-design culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, explore ethical and policy challenges, and develop a framework to monitor equity and effectiveness in perinatal genomic screening across Victoria.

The project is delivered in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Monash University, the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health, Safer Care Victoria, Genetic Support Network Victoria, and other community and government partners.

Northern Health serves one of the most culturally diverse communities in Victoria, with more than 160 languages spoken, and one in four babies born to women of South Asian background.

“Northern Health looks after a vibrant, culturally diverse community. It is vital that our genomic care reflects the needs and values of these families, so that all parents can make informed decisions in pregnancy,” says Professor Lisa Hui.

By focusing on South Asian families, the project will directly benefit patients and provide evidence to inform care for clinicians across Victoria. Patients will gain improved access to genomic testing, resources in their preferred language, and greater confidence in genomic care. Staff will benefit from tools, training, and a scalable model to support culturally safe communication, practice, and policy improvements.

By the end of the project, ImpACT-PG will deliver new evidence on the experiences of South Asian and CALD families, culturally tailored communication resources for families and clinicians, and a framework for equitable genomic care that can be scaled across the state.