Northern Health staff and volunteers are now able to receive their annual influenza (flu) vaccination.

As Melbourne’s cold winter months approach, now is the time for staff and volunteers to come forward, roll up their sleeves and boost their immunity with the flu vaccine.

It is recommended by the Department of Health that individuals receive their annual flu vaccine from mid-April onwards to ensure protection against the flu when it is at its highest during the peak flu season, typically between June and September.

Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive, received his flu shot this morning. He said the vaccine was an important step in boosting your immunity this winter.

“It is that time of the year when we roll up our sleeves to protect ourselves, our community and our loved ones. The flu vaccine is our best defence in preparation for the winter season ahead,” he said.

It is mandatory that all staff members and volunteers at Northern Health receive the flu vaccine. Staff with contraindications with flu vaccination are required to send an exemption form to staff.health@nh.org.au

Influenza immunisers will be available to staff in the following formats:

Nurse immunisers in the wards.

Flu Pop up clinic at Northern Hospital Epping located outside Ward 21, between 9 am and 2 .30 pm. These sessions will occur every Monday/Wednesday/Friday for eight weeks, from 22 April to 14 June. Please ensure all clinical or non-clinical staff utilise this service as it will only run for a limited time.

For staff members who have had the vaccine elsewhere, you will be required to email evidence to staff.health@nh.org.au so we can ensure your Northern Health record is updated.

Community members are encouraged to speak to their local doctor or pharmacy to access flu vaccinations.

For more information, please visit the Intranet.

Featured image (L-R): Graham Wilson, Director, OHS, Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer, Siva Sivarajah, CE and LIsa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. 

The conference ‘Right Care, Right Time, Right Place’ organized by the Northern Health Mental Health Division held at The Ibis Melbourne brought together experts to discuss alternatives to the Emergency Department (ED) admission pathway for mental health consumers. Over 150 professionals from across metro, regional, and rural services, both from Victoria and interstate, attended the conference.

The conference was opened by Anna Love, the Chief Mental Health Nurse of Victoria, who spoke about strengthening pathways for direct admission and supporting the Royal Commission findings.

The event facilitated valuable discussions and conversations among staff from Victoria Police, Department of Health, Ambulance Victoria, mental health clinicians, medical staff, and individuals with lived experience. Together, they explored new viewpoints, strategies, and approaches to redefine admission pathways for mental health consumers.

Director of Nursing, Gary Ennis, said “As healthcare services across Australia continue to struggle to meet the demands of mental health presentations to emergency departments, this conference aimed to increase the dialogue about how we shift back to direct admission when possible and not see emergency departments as a default admission pathway.”

Several speakers from Northern Health shared their expertise and insights at the conference. Dr. Daniel Crompton, Director of Emergency Services, discussed the concept of medical clearance and its impact on timely and appropriate care. Christopher Ferguson, Manager, Consumer Lived Experience Workforce, emphasized the importance of engaging with consumers to understand their experiences and design solutions that meet their needs. Shaveta Sood, Program Manager, provided insights into the intricacies of direct admission from the perspective of an inpatient unit.

Dr Danivas presentation on the concept of medical clearance and how it impacts on access to timely and appropriate care provoked lots of discussion. The conference audience were particularly interested in the SMART medical clearance protocol that Dr Danivas discussed.

Sergeant Brad Turney from the Northern Hospital Police Liaison, Victoria Police, presented on the role of Police and Clinician Emergency Response (PACER) and emergency services. The conference also featured a panel discussion with senior clinical, operational, lived experience staff, and legal counsel, which further enriched the conversation.

Mr Ennis said, “This conference has sparked conversations with key stakeholder including the Department of Health, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police. We will get feedback from conference attendees before planning our next conference in 2025.”

“Thank you to all of the Northern Health staff who shared their thoughts and vision for how we move forward in ensuring the right care, at the right time, in the right place, is an option for our consumers. A special thank you to Belinda Scott and Vinay Lakra for supporting this important initiative,” he said.

Mr Awash Prasad, Director of Legal Services and one of the speakers at the conference, said he was very proud of the mental health team for organising this event. “It was a sold-out event – not an empty seat to be seen. There was a lot of productive and helpful discussions,” he said.

Belinda Scott, Executive Director, Mental Health said, “A big thank you to Gary for his vision, hard work and passion to make the conference the success it was.”

Overall, the conference provided a platform for meaningful discussions and productive exchanges, contributing to the ongoing efforts to ensure the delivery of the right care, at the right time, and in the right place for mental health consumers.

 

#WeAreNorthern

Meet Nivein Yenis, Clinical Trials Pharmacist Lead, Northern Hospital Epping.

 

Q: What is your coffee order? 

A: Skinny Latte, extra hot 😊

 

Q: You are known as ‘Mother of Pharmacy” amongst your colleagues. Tell us why? 

A: Firstly, I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me the title of the “Mother of Pharmacy”. This title is not just a recognition of my role, but a reflection of the bond we have built as a team in the Pharmacy Department.

In my role, I’ve strived to cultivate an environment where each member is supported and empowered. My goal has always been to care for and assist everyone in the department. Just as a mother looks after her family, I’ve aimed to create a sense of unity, understanding and cooperation among us all.

Together, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated victories and grown as individuals, and as a collective force. The pharmacy department is not just a workplace, it’s a family, and I am proud to be a part of it!

 

Q: You have been with Northern Health for 25 years now. Tell us what major changes have you seen since you first started working ? 

A: I started working at Northern Health in 1999 as a pharmacist intern. I was so lucky and blessed to have been given that opportunity. After successfully completing my internship, I was offered a full-time position as a clinical pharmacist, and I have been working here ever since. During my career, I was fortunate enough to cover multiple areas in pharmacy including medical, surgical, emergency, inpatient and outpatient dispensary, manufacturing, clinical trials, HARP outreach. Since 2017, I have held the position of a Clinical Trials Pharmacist Lead, one I truly enjoy!

When I reflect on the 25 years of being a part of this incredible healthcare institution, I feel like it hasn’t been just a job; it’s been a journey of growth, dedication and commitment to the wellbeing of our community.

Over this time, I have witnessed the evolution of our hospital, and it fills me with joy to see how much we have grown, not just in size, but in the difference we’ve made in the lives of our patients. When I first walked through these doors, Northern Health was just a fraction of what it is today. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy played a key role in stock management, COVID vaccines and anti-viral medications. We also had to adapt to the government and local policies fast, by implementing a safe work environment, including team segregation – something we had never done before!

Furthermore, there has been a significant expansion of home services over the years, something I hadn’t encountered early on in my career. The ability to bring hospital-level care to patients’ homes is remarkable and showcases the excellent work we do as clinicians, of which I’m immensely proud of!

 

Q: What is your favourite place to travel to? 

A: I particularly love travelling with my family and visiting different parts of the world. I have been fortunate to visit multiple continents, including Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. That being said, Egypt holds a special place in my heart as my favourite country and the place of my birth. It is filled with all my childhood memories, making it a destination I am eager to visit again very soon!

 

Q: What is on your bucket list for 2025? 

A: As a hospital pharmacist and a dedicated volunteer at my local church, the following are on my bucket list for 2025 (I have a long list!):

• Professional Development: Attend a wide range of pharmacy-related conferences to keep me updated on the latest advancements in pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
• Networking: Build strong connections within hospital clinical trials pharmacies.
• Mentoring: Offer my knowledge and experience to mentor young and aspiring pharmacists.
• Personal: Combine my passion for volunteering with my faith and explore opportunities for missionary work.
• Wellbeing: Travel more!

In 2022, Northern Health, in partnership with Swinburne University and Medibank, were successful in obtaining a Workforce Training and Innovation Fund (WTIF) grant from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions for close to $2.4 million to create a new Certificate III in Community Services (Health Navigation).

In a 2022 policy brief on patient navigators, the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted key programs globally where peer health navigators have not only overcome barriers to care for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, but have increased prevention and health promotion within hard-to-reach communities. However, the policy brief also highlighted that existing programs varied in terms of context and setting, overall aims, practical implementation, the role itself, and the skills and training required.

The WTIF grant has provided Northern Health an opportunity to position itself as a leader in a field that is fast becoming recommended practice. The 2023-2033 Australian Cancer Plan identified health navigation as a priority area for action. At the same time, Northern Health was developing a similar initiative with colleagues from Peter Mac. In December 2023, the final report of the Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) also identified the need for all people with disability to have access to a health navigator.

Dr Rebecca Jessup, Director of Research and Evaluation of the Staying Well Program and Principal Investigator on these projects, says, “Integration and cooperation within the health system and employment within health care services have been identified as one of the most important enablers for these roles. Positioning this work within a health care organisation is critical to ensuring adoption of the roles into practice.”

Peer health navigator roles may include providing patients and communities with information about their conditions to support self-management, providing more holistic patient-centred care, identification and resolution of barriers to health care, and linking individuals and communities into health and social services. Peer health navigators may work in disease-specific e.g. cancer, HIV, cardiovascular disease, mental health, setting-specific e.g. emergency departments, primary health care, or more general navigation roles.

Internationally, health navigator roles have been found to reduce emergency department presentations by 23–51 per cent and hospitalisations by 21–50 per cent.  Studies in migrant communities have found that peer health navigators improve adherence to chronic disease care, increase cancer screening up to 24 per cent, and result in significant improvements in exercise and dietary habits.  Shared experience, culture and language are key contributors to the impact of peer health navigators on health care engagement and improved patient outcomes for migrant communities.

“In line with the 2022 WHO policy brief, there is a need for an agreed level of capability and competency in the Australian context to develop appropriate training curriculums and vocational programs for these roles, in conjunction with delegation and supervision frameworks” says Dr. Jessup.

“In association with Swinburne University and Medibank, I am excited that we are addressing this gap in Australia and doing work that will genuinely benefit our community.”

The WTIF is a targeted, Skills First funding stream. WTIF creates opportunities for the joint exploration of new ideas and solutions to enhance workplace productivity and employment growth in priority industries identified by the Victorian Government, in collaboration with industry partners and Skills First training providers.

Pictured clockwise from top left: Northern Health peer health navigators for Pasifika and Arabic speaking communities; at the Victorian Arabic Social Services, Broadmeadows; celebrating Pacific Island Women’s Health Equity Day.  

On 29 January 2024, The Mental Health Division officially launched its inaugural Allied Health Early Careers Program.

Belinda Scott, Executive Director, Mental Health welcomed the graduates, saying, “This program is committed to the development of our workforce by ensuring that students and early careers clinicians are provided with the required learning opportunities in a supported and structured manner.”

The program, which is inclusive of the disciplines of Dietetics, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, will actively promote a pathway from student placement through to continued employment. The purpose of this program is to support the learning and development of early career clinicians including;

• students on clinical placements
• pre-qualification positions
• new graduate clinicians
• transition to practice clinicians

“The Allied Health Education Team are excited to welcome a large and robust group of allied health graduates into the first year of the Mental Health Division Early Careers Program,” said Michelle Wines, Co-ordinator Early Careers Program.

“The team has been working hard for the last few months to ensure we are recruiting quality graduates into our teams, as well as designing and developing an education program to ensure our early career clinicians are well supported throughout the program. Our overall aim is to contribute to the development of a resilient and highly skilled mental health workforce.”

The Early Careers Program is a structured two-year program with most positions including two 12-month rotations, ideally from two different clinical areas to optimise the learning opportunities and development of the early career clinician. It features a structured professional development training calendar which includes a focus on both discipline specific and interdisciplinary learning.

It has a strong focus on wellbeing and support for early career clinicians through:

• intensive discipline specific supervision
• support from a discipline specific clinical educator
• monthly multi-disciplinary facilitated peer support sessions
• individualised learning plan linked to Department of Health, discipline specific key competency framework
• supernumerary days designed to facilitate orientation to other practice areas and programs
• support for early career supervisors including peer support sessions and individual support from clinical educators
• structured reviews at four, 12 and 18 months
• an electronic learning passport to support early career clinicians.

John Belanti, Director of Allied Health, Mental Health, said, “Fostering growth and providing our staff with diverse learning opportunities and pathways for career progression is an integral part our program. Thank you to all involved.”

Featured image shows Belinda Scott, Executive Director, Mental Health.

The Kilmore District Hospital Urgent Care Centre (KDH UCC) is a 24-hour a day facility that is available for all urgent care type presentations. Medical coverage is provided between the hours of 10 am to 10 pm, weekdays and weekends. All patients who present at the centre are triaged by one of their experienced registered nurses and assigned a triage assessment. The presentation numbers average 30 presentations per day.

KDH UCC treats patients with a range of medical conditions and is supported by Medical Officers seven days a week, with medical telehealth services available via the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED).

In November 2024, Northern Health and Kilmore District Health joined forces to become a stronger health service, caring together for the growing and diverse needs of the northern catchment. The amalgamation enabled both services to improve access to care for patients in the Northern Growth Corridor – one of Victoria’s fastest growing regions.

“We have already started to see the effects of the amalgamation. Future plans are in place for an increase in services, such as radiology, and there are additional opportunities for professional development through in service education, training session and courses” said Lisa Carlyon, UCC Nurse Unit Manager.

This is also a great opportunity to go across to the Northern Emergency Department, to experience exposure to the acuity and specialty areas such as paediatrics.”

Throughout the pandemic, the UCC took on the crucial task of COVID-19 testing for community members within their catchment area. Despite operating from a small department with only four bays, they navigated the challenge of managing a high volume of patients while upholding stringent infection control measures. To address the surge in demand for testing, they introduced a drive-through Covid testing area, providing efficient testing solutions during both regular periods and outbreaks.

Recently, following a generous $25,000 donation from the Lions Club, the UCC team upgraded their equipment with ECG printout capability, enhancing timely care for patients, particularly those with chest pain. They also established an infusion clinic, addressing community needs for procedures like iron infusions locally, reducing the necessity for patients to travel to the city.

Moving forward into 2024, the team aims to expand their on-site medical coverage and further develop the infusion clinic. This will bolster their capability to provide comprehensive care to patients within the community and close to home where possible. Kilmore UCC has a dedicated team of experienced nursing and medical staff who strive every day to deliver the best care to our community.

Pictured in featured image (L-R): Edric (ANUM), Lisa (Acting NUM), Simone (RN), Gurdie (CNS) and Dr Ahmed Memon (VMO).

The Neonatal Unit at Northern Hospital Epping is a haven for tiny warriors – a place where every breath is a victory and every heartbeat a testament to resilience. For baby Jaxx, born prematurely at 30 weeks, this was where he spent the first 52 days of his life, to ensure he was growing and developing healthily. Without round-the-clock care, babies like Jaxx may not have a fighting chance.

In January 2023, Jaxx’s mother, Brianna Pitt, was rushed into the hospital via ambulance, where Jaxx was born just six minutes after its arrival, weighing only 1800 grams.

“On the Saturday he was born, I was in quite a bit of pain. I took some Panadol and headed off to work but realised something wasn’t right. He was delivered in just six minutes once I arrived to the hospital via ambulance,” said Brianna.

This is where Jaxx began his long journey in the Neonatal Unit.

“He was on oxygen and had a feeding tube the whole time. You can imagine how scary this is for some parents,” she added.

At that time, Brianna and her family went through a very stressful and traumatic experience.

“There were times when I felt like I couldn’t walk back inside the hospital. I don’t know how I did it, but I knew I just had to push through.”

Despite Brianna’s appreciation for the exceptional care in the NICU, she couldn’t escape the lingering dread of potential setbacks looming at every turn. The discomfort of prolonged hospital stays, compounded by uncertainty about the future, weighed heavily on her mind.

A year after discharge, both Baby Jaxx and his mum are thriving, with Jaxx looking significantly healthier and stronger.

“Everyone was amazing. The nurses in the NICU are so beautiful, we couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Thank you to Brianna Pitt, her partner Dillon Paul and their family for their tremendous and ongoing support. If you would like to donate towards Brianna and Jaxx’s fundraising cause, please click here.

Pictured in featured image: Baby Jaxx and his mother Brianna Pitt. 

The Early Careers Mentoring Program has been running over 10 years now.  The mentor program involves each of the interns being matched to a consultant as a mentor, to help support the intern throughout their first year as a doctor. This year, the session was a hybrid session i.e. in person and online, run by the Medical Education Unit.

Dr Carol Chong, Supervisor of Interns, said, “We had 116 consultants volunteer for the program to our 61 interns this year – which showed how well received the mentoring program is!”

She adds, “Some of the mentors that attended today were previous interns that started their journey at Northern and have returned as mentors which is really inspiring and special for us.”

Dr Richard Sia, GP Liaison Officer, Northern Health is one such consultant.  He started as an intern followed by two years as Hospital Medical Officer and then General Practice training in the local area. He returned to work at Northern Health in the Fever Clinic, Vaccine Hub and now in his current role as GP Liaison officer.

He says, “My time as an intern greatly influenced my decision to be a mentor. There were many people who have helped me along the way and being a mentor is a way I can give back and help those starting their medical training.”

“Being a mentor has allowed me to reflect on my own journey, now ten years since medical school with our first reunion coming up. I’ve been able to go back and thank those who helped me along the way,” says Richard.

“I’m excited to continue working as Northern Health’s GP Liaison Officer, with the same wonderful staff that continue to foster a caring and supportive workplace since internship.”

Reflecting on her time as an intern, Dr Amrita Simadri, Geriatrician and General Physician, remembers, “The supportive and generous environment that existed at Northern allowed my group of interns to learn, ask questions and adapt to the busy hospital workplace.”

“The senior doctors I encountered as an intern, including residents, registrars and consultants, modelled a way of working which was collaborative, empathetic and respectful. In addition, they highlighted the importance of having support and mentors throughout our careers, beyond internship. “

She says, “The importance of this role did not go unnoticed and being a mentor to junior doctors helped provided a benefit to both of us, mentor and mentee alike.”

 

Featured image shows Dr Carol Chong, addressing the interns.