South West Hospital and Health Service
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 EDITION From the Board Chair 3 Our Teams
Board out and about in Charleville, Australia Day honours for Roma Murri CUY 20 Waroona, Augathella and Morven 4 South West welcomes new EDMS 21 From the Acting HSCE 6 New grads start in the South West! 22 Our Communities 7 Mental health care planning 24 First Nations COVID-19 Response Team 7 Take time for your mental wellbeing 24 COVID-19 Vaccine update 8 Our Services Ditch the Durries Stage 2 9
Adrian Vowles Cup 2021 10 New Subacute Unit helps patients across the South West 25 South West’s young people have their say 11 Strategic Plan update 26 Health promotion in Charleville and beyond 12
Healthy Choices for the new year 13 Healthcare Homes’ supporting people in the community 27 Telehealth Portal update 13 Triple P – Online leads to positive child Masterchef comes to Injune 14 and parent outcomes 28 Holiday cooking program 14 Mental Health First Aid workshops for Farewell to Judy Frousheger 15 the South West 28 Building Better relationships on Valentine’s Day 16 Our Resources Smart eating equals healthy ageing 17 Have you visited the Innovation Well? 29 From the travels of Michael Reddan, Community Prevention Officer – Alcohol South West Spirit Award – and Other Drugs 18 Marg Castles (December) Jenny Peacock (January) The new SQRH Training Facility 19 First Nations Covid Response Team (February) 30 Defence Force careers build HOPE 19
Cover image: South West HHS graduate nurses first intake 2021
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 1 We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across the South West. We also pay our respects to the current and future Elders, for they will inherit the responsibility of keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alive, and for creating a better life for the generations to follow. We believe the future happiness and wellbeing of all Australians and our future generations will be enhanced by valuing and taking pride in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – the oldest living culture of humanity.
SOUTH WEST TRADITIONAL OWNERS
Augathella – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Quilpie – Bunthamarra (Bun-tha-mar-ra) and Wangkumara (Wong-ka-mara) Bollon – Kooma (Coo-ma) Roma – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) Charleville – Bidjara (Bid-jara) St George – Kooma (Coo-ma) with Kamilaroi, Mandandanji, Cunnamulla – Kunya (Koun-yah) with other interests Bigambul and Gungarri interests
Dirranbandi – Kooma (Coo-ma) Surat – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee)
Injune – Kongabula (Kong-ga-bull-a) Thargomindah – Kullila (Coo-lee-lar)
Mitchell – Gunggari (Gon-gari) Wallumbilla – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) Morven – Bidjara (Bid-jara)
Mungindi – Kamilaroi (Car-milla-roy)
QUALITY COMPASSION ACCOUNTABILITY ENGAGEMENT ADAPTABILITY
This newsletter is produced by the South West Hospital and Health Service. All feedback and contributions are welcome to [email protected].
All published material has been approved by the Health Service Chief Executive.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 2 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service From the Board Chair
“ We pledge to make you feel safe and cared for; the care we provide is compassionate and ensures your dignity”.
The South West Hospital and Health Service Compassionate Care Pledge.
It has been twelve months since we proactively commenced The February Board meeting saw the governance team meet managing COVID-19 arrangements within our HHS. In some at the magnificent Southern Queensland Rural Health facility ways, this time has flown as it only seems like yesterday (or in Charleville for our Board and Committee meetings, before maybe, the day before yesterday) that we entered this new undertaking engagement work at the Charleville Hospital, era of responding to and managing a global pandemic. In so Waroona Aged Care facility, Morven Community Clinic and the many other ways, it has been a long twelve months, which Augathella Multipurpose Health Service. Everywhere we went, have been accompanied by rapid change, some anxiety and we saw wonderful examples of our HHS team modelling dignity many triumphs. and respect in their interactions with patients, colleagues and the general public. The passion for our Compassionate I would like to sincerely thank all staff for getting us skilfully Care Pledge (CCP) and general pride displayed by staff was and safely through our first year of a modern era global overwhelmingly evident as they went about their daily work. pandemic. With our collective steely determination guiding us, I sincerely hope 2021 in South West Queensland continues We were also fortunate to meet Community Advisory Network to be COVID-19 free, as we move towards vaccinating residents (CAN) members in Augathella and Morven, and it was a delight and visitors alike. Plans are currently being put in place in to spend time familiarising ourselves with the needs of our anticipation of the arrival of the vaccines and once plans are communities as well as hearing about ‘what’s right’ and ‘what finalised, details of vaccination schedules will be shared with could be better’ in their healthcare experiences. Once again, our communities. dignity and respect were key themes. The Board also had a worthwhile virtual engagement session with CAN Chairs and The Board is currently finalising the selection process for an DON’s from each facility. Much information was shared as to Acting Chief Executive for the period of time from late April happenings on the ground around the vast South West, from until the end of August. Our current Chief Executive Matt Boyd the perspective of a health consumer. This interaction forms will finish his contract in April. The South West HHS has been another key plank of our Compassionate Care Pledge – that given approval to advertise and recruit a permanent Chief of taking the time to listen and understand how we can make Executive and it is anticipated that this person, once selected, care the best it can be, so we provide health services that will take up the role in August 2021. The Board acknowledges people trust and value. the commitment and effort by all staff in continuing to live out our values and for providing high level quality health services Thank you for your part in contributing to making our patients as we have navigated through the government guidelines and feel safe and cared for. approval process to progress with recruitment to the Chief Executive position. Karen Tully
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 3 Board out and about in Charleville, Waroona, Augathella and Morven
Claire Alexander, Ray Chandler, Guy Newell (CAN Chair Board members Jan Chambers, Ray Chandler, Dr Mark Waters, Claire Alexander, Augathella), Mellisa Wakefield and Karen Tully Fiona Forbes (Augathella DON) and Fiona Gaske meet up at the Augathella MPHS
Guy Newell, Karen Tully, Claire Alexander, Mellisa Wakefield Morgan Brown, Ray Chandler, Annu George, Claire Alexander and and Ray Chandler catchup at the new Roma Hospital Patrick Grixti at the Augathella MPHS
Morven Community Clinic staff (back from left) Heidi Kroeger, Jan Chambers, Karen Tully and Dr Mark Waters Dr Mark Waters, Claire Alexander, Desley French (DON), Fiona Gaske, Karen Tully and Ray Chandler with (front l to r) Emma Thornton, Matt Boyd and Lyn Thornton
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 4 Board out and about (continued)
Karen Tully, Ray Chandler, Dr Mark Waters, Jan Chambers, Fiona Gaske, Claire Alexander and Matt Boyd
Lindsay Godfrey, former Board Chair with Karen Tully, Board Chair who presented a memento to Lindsay – Special Pulse Edition of the Roma Hospital Redevelopment
The Augathella MPHS Team with Karen Tully Cassandra Campbell, Jacqui Trinne (Waroona DON), Bronte Dwyer, Leonie Frewin, Ross Burnes at the Waroona Multipurpose Centre
Board Members and HSCE catching up with Charleville Hospital (from left) Fiona Gaske, Jacqui Trinne (Waroona DON) Anne Robertson (CN) Fiona Gaske, Karen Tully, Jan Chambers, Dr Kassie Kuhlar, Matt Boyd, Dr Mark Michelle Baker (ENAS) and Karen Tully Waters, CN Sarah Roache, DON Sally Gorman and Claire Alexander
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 5 From the Acting Chief Executive
Welcome to our first edition of The Pulse for 2021. This bumper edition features some of the amazing work our people have been doing over recent months to ensure quality healthcare continues to be delivered across the South West.
Since the start of the year, I have been fortunate to visit some Within my role, receiving such positive feedback is of course of our facilities across the region, accompanying the Board to always fantastic and one of the best parts of my day. However, Charleville, Waroona, Augathella and Morven. Being present in I also never tire of praising you all, as - no matter where you our communities gives a tremendous sense of positivity about are based or the role you play - you truly are a most valuable what the future holds. As you can see from this first edition, member of the South West family. 2021 is already shaping up to be a busy and productive time for all of us. It is your hard work, dedication and commitment to ensuring the very best of care for the communities we are all privileged I am always humbled by the expertise and dedication I witness to serve that makes us so special. As you continue to make every day across our facilities. I extend my gratitude to all plans for the coming year, and with the Easter holidays on our staff and volunteers for their hard work and support thus the horizon, I also hope that you are able to take the time to far, and for all your forward planning for the year ahead. Your continue to invest in your own growth, healing, mindfulness dedication and contributions to our clients are truly what and self-care. makes the South West such a special place. I am looking forward to seeing what 2021 holds for the Over the past 12 months we have all experienced so many South West and continuing to work with you to overcome any disruptions and I thank you all for your resilience and challenges we face, together. willingness to adapt through what has been a tough time for many. Thank you again for all that you do and bring every day to the South West. As the weeks tick by, we remain focussed on our South West HHS values and our core purpose of serving our communities. Matt
For 2021, we continue on our path to be a national leader in the delivery of health services to rural and remote communities. Following a recent meeting between the Executive Leadership Team and Queensland Department of Health, I’m delighted to advise that, during the period October to December 2020, we continued to achieve above benchmark delivery across a host of Key Performance Indicators and we have also recently played host to a number of distinguished visitors to the South West, all of whom have all been most complementary regarding our services.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 6 Our Communities
FIRST NATIONS COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
South West HHS’s Everyone on the team has been delighted about the high levels First Nations COVID-19 of community awareness around staying COVID-19 safe. RJ reported that one Elder reported being repeatedly reminded by Response Team, formed their grandkids to wash their hands! late last year, has been out and about across the On behalf of the team, Karen has expressed her thanks to the district, meeting people communities and also, to staff members from Roma Hospital, CWAATSICH in Roma and Charleville, Cunnamulla CACH, the and spreading the word hospitals in Cunnamulla and Charleville. about COVID-19 prevention and staying COVID-safe. “We’re all so thankful for the support, guidance and warm Karen Birnie welcome offered by these wonderful organisations,” Karen said. The team, Amy McNamara, Rodney ‘RJ’ Landers and Donna Waters – have been travelling far and wide, engaging with our communities and helping First Nations people across the South West to embrace COVID-19 prevention and stay engaged in their healthcare.
“We have received a great response from community members,” said Project Coordinator Karen Birnie. “We’ve also engaged with lots of health service providers across the South West to understand how they work.”
The First Nations COVID-19 Response Team is all about information and engagement to ensure the South West’s First Nations people receive high-quality, safe and culturally appropriate information.
The team now has marquees with South West Hospital and Health Service logos and Indigenous artwork, which can be set up in any location. The team has also distributed resource packs that include a range of items including hats, hand sanitiser and fridge magnets with contact numbers and care plans for families and bubs.
Karen explained that the care plan fridge magnets can be used to record medical appointments, medications taken, and the Part of the collateral in the Resource Packs that will be handed out details of carers and other family members. These care plan across the South West magnets may also be useful in the event that a family member is diagnosed with COVID-19.
PULSE November edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 7 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE
Free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will help COVID-19 vaccines are just one part of keeping the protect our community from COVID-19. community safe and healthy. People and communities have done a great job so far in staying COVIDSafe. It will be A staged statewide rollout of the vaccines will commence in essential to continue practising COVIDSafe behaviours. This February 2021. The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be includes regularly washing your hands and keeping two big managed through 30 to 50 key hospitals across urban, regional steps away from others. and rural Australia. Learn more at the Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccines Approved vaccines will be rolled out in phases. It is important hub and subscribe to the COVID-19 Vaccines Update. that the first vaccines go to the people who need them most. The rollout will start with priority groups such as health workers, quarantine and border workers and some other services. Aged care and disability care residents will also be included in this first phase.
As you may know, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have been identified as a priority group for vaccination. This is because there is a higher risk of getting and developing serious illness from COVID-19 due to a number of factors. This may include a higher rate of chronic health conditions and in some cases crowded-living conditions, which increases the risk of spreading the infection.
The Australian Government is working closely with state and territory governments and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are easily accessible to everyone, including remote communities.
The vaccine is free and you can choose if you want to get vaccinated. However, by getting it, you will help protect yourself, Elders, your loved ones and your community from COVID-19.
Rest assured that the approved vaccines will be safe and effective. Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA), has strict standards when “ The vaccine is free and you approving vaccines. can choose if you want to get The TGA will continue to check vaccines for quality as vaccinated. However, by getting they are produced. Health care services and the TGA will also continue to check for any unexpected side-effects it, you will help protect yourself, following vaccination. Elders, your loved ones and your community from COVID-19.”
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 8 DITCH THE DURRIES – STAGE 2
The Healthy Communities Team launched the next stage of their smoking cessation initiative, ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ campaign in February to encourage and support workers across the South West HHS to quit smoking by registering with Quitline for free nicotine replacement therapy.
We now have new ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ and ‘Quitline 13 78 48’ screensavers for South West HHS Donna Hooper is one of our staff computers, promoting smoking cessation and for our members who has quit smoking health service to become a smoke-free workplace.
A supply of ‘Quitline 13 78 48’ post cards has also been provided to each facility for distribution across the community at community activities and events. And each facility has a ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ banner to help promote this valuable initiative.
All this promotion seems to be working as already, two of our staff have shared their quit smoking stories on our Facebook page. Thank you to Jenna Nunn, Acting Nurse Unit Manager at Charleville Hospital, and to Donna Hooper, Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker at Dirranbandi for sharing their inspiring stories.
If you would like to share your smoking story in a short video, please contact Michael Reddan on 45051584 or by email [email protected] .
FREE!FREE! Nicotine Nicotine Replacement Replacement Therapy for TherapySouth West to CQSmokers Smokers ResearchResearch shows shows that that the the best best way way to quitto quit smoking smoking is to isuse to nicotineuse nicotine replacement replacement therapy (NRT)therapy or quit(NRT) smoking or quit medication smoking medicationin combination in combinationwith support fromwith Quitlinesupport or from a health professional.Quitline or a health professional. Quitline is offering SouthQuitline West is smokersoffering a Centraltailored quitQueensland smoking programsmokers whicha tailored includes quit 12 Jenna Nunn, another South West HHS employee who has quit smoking weeks of free NRT postedsmoking to your program home. which includes 12 weeks of free NRT posted to Call Quitline onyour 137848 home. Be one of the 10,000Lives saved in Central Queensland - Call Quitline on 137848 000 #Target 320 #10000LivesCQjoin the movement! South West Hospital and Health Service Join theBuilding better movement! health in the bush South West Hospital and Health Service would like to thank Central Qld Hospital and Health Service for giving us permission to repurpose their documents for our own use.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 9 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service ADRIAN VOWLES CUP 2021
A record 39 teams from all corners of the state converged on Charleville on the last weekend in February for the annual Adrian Vowles Cup.
When it first started, back in 2014, this outback junior rugby league competition saw just three teams from the local area compete. However, each year since then, the competition has grown as more and more teams sign up for what’s become a highlight on the rugby league calendar.
“It gets bigger and more exciting every year!” said Shaun Radnedge, Mayor of the Murweh Shire and a passionate Mayor Radnedge aka Zoro (left) with Assistant Minister for Local Government Nikki Boyd (centre) join the South West HHS HOPE supporter of junior sport, especially rugby league. / Health Promotion team: Bridgette Dickinson, Jenny Peacock, Jasmine Light and Jen Sellin “This year, as well as all our Under 14s and Under 16s teams, we had four Under 17 girls’ teams,” he said. “We were also delighted to welcome Assistant Minister for “We were really grateful to receive lots of merchandise from Local Government Nikki Boyd, who flew in from Brisbane some of the HOPE Program’s generous partners,” Jenny said. specially to open our competition.” “QUT gave us lots of SPF50+ sunscreen and our friends at Home grown Charleville boy and rugby league legend Adrian USQ, Deadly Choices and Defence Force Recruiting gave us Vowles started the cup with a vision. boxes of hats and water bottles and sunglasses – enough for everyone!” “I wanted to keep the love of rugby league alive amongst bush kids and to inspire a little healthy rivalry between Click on the link to see Jenny and our South West health country towns,” Adrian explained. promotion team in action.
“As a kid growing up in Cunnamulla and Charleville, I was Congratulations to the 2021 ‘dream team’ AV Cup winners: lucky enough to play rugby league every weekend. I want Under 16 Ipswich Grammar, Under 14 North Brisbane and the Adrian Vowles Cup to be a starting block for that to Under 17 Girls Valleys/Gatton. happen for these kids.”
South West HHS is always a keen supporter of this annual event, which provides an ideal opportunity for some hands- on, grass-roots health promotion.
This year, Jenny Peacock from the HOPE Program was joined by cardiac nurse Brigette Dickinson, school nurse Jen Sellin and dietician Jasmine Light, along with a team from Deadly Choices. This intrepid group of dedicated South West health ambassadors ran mini health checks and offered hydration advice, free sunscreen and loads of other cool giveaways to players and spectators.
A visiting footy player keeping up his hydration
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 10 SOUTH WEST’S YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY
New Youth Consumer Advisory Network in the South West
South West HHS has introduced a Youth Consumer Advisory Network (YCAN) to ensure the region’s young people can contribute, participate and influence health planning and improvements in the delivery of health services especially relevant to them.
South West HHS’s Board Chair Karen Tully said the commitment to create a YCAN was part of the South West HHS Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy 2018–22.
“The importance of this engagement cannot be “ This approach will provide the greatest underestimated … young people are the experts in their own lives and provide unique perspectives, information, ideas, opportunity for our young people to and solutions to issues,” she said. experience genuine and meaningful The YCAN will take a partnership approach to give young engagement – we want to hear their people a sense of ownership and empowerment to engage with the health service. A youth engagement framework will issues, ideas and feedback on health be used to leverage existing youth platforms across the South matters important to them.” Karen said. West through the HOPE Program, local youth councils, student councils and other youth bodies.
Murweh Youth Council February 2021, and the Murweh Youth Council (MYC) came The MYC is always grateful to Jenny Peacock from the HOPE together for their first meeting of the year. Mayor Radnedge Program for coordinating their meetings, and to Mayor led the group, providing an update of Murweh Shire events Radnedge for his time. including the upcoming 31st anniversary of the 1990 flood, The next MYC meeting will be held in May 2021. which inundated more than 1000 homes in Charleville and forced the entire town’s evacuation. Fast forward to 2021 and the flood anniversary will see lots of fun community celebrations such as an open mic night, a free movie screening and a gig- performance by the alt-rock band, Open Season. Other daytime events will involve canoe races on the Warrego River.
An issue that has been close to the hearts of Charleville’s youth since 2019, when first raised by MYC Treasurer Laine Dennis, is the desire for a water park at the council pool. And Mayor Radnedge delivered some welcome news to the group – a new water park in Charleville will be up and running by September!
The MYC committee now has other ideas. The group has been brainstorming fundraising concepts and working on a survey to Mayor Radnedge, Jenny Peacock (HOPE Program) and Katie McLeod encourage more young people in the community to have their (Student Support, Charleville State High) with the MYC in February say about what they would like to see happening in their town.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 11 HEALTH PROMOTION IN CHARLEVILLE AND BEYOND
Charleville has kicked off the new year with a flurry of healthy activities.
The Charleville School of Distance Education saw lots of fun Students get hands-on with blood and healthy action when kids and their parents and tutors pressure monitors and stethoscopes came to town for the annual Kickstart Conference in February.
Supported by Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), the HOPE Program and its University of Southern Queensland The HOPE Program also supported a return visit by the (USQ) partners, the Kickstart Conference was packed with Pathways to Resilience Program presenters, who delivered health promotion opportunities and fun educational events. sessions for Distance Education parents and carers and also for students. SQRH set up three stations that were attended by enthusiastic medical, nursing and allied health students plus two HOPE’s Jenny Peacock and school nurse Jen Sellin have also educators. The stations covered everything from snake bite to been firing up that blender bike all over the district. Kids vital signs and CPR. Kids were able to handle stethoscopes and have been peddling up an ocean of frozen fruit smoothies at blood pressure monitors, and a life-sized medical mannequin swimming carnivals in Charleville and Cunnamulla. Armed that had removable internal organs. with buckets of sunscreen, kindly donated by QUT late last year, Jenny has also been pushing the Sun Smart message at USQ staff and student ambassadors provided a generous the pools. bounty of free USQ merchandise and offered information about career pathways for students. The USQ team ran rotational HOPE also managed to secure RADF funding for a claymation activities for students with exciting things like drones, CPR program at the Kickstart conference. Students from Prep to training and Indigenous games. They also spent a couple of year 10 learned the art of stop-motion, shaping plasticine and days in Cunnamulla, sharing similar activities and also cooked creating story boards and props for several 30 second films. a mountain of pancakes for breakfast on Shrove Tuesday at the You can check some of their creations here. state school. Check out this great video that USQ took during Charleville’s Healthy Ageing clients also turned their hands to their visit to the South West. this fun artform, creating some short films that featured the Rachel Downie from Stymie returned to Charleville for the importance of falls prevention. Check out Healthy Ageing’s Kickstart Conference to talk again about the dangers of online short films here. scams and predators, and the ever-important subject of cyber bullying. Rachel ran her inspirational and highly informative sessions for students, and also an evening event for parents and community members.
HOPE’s Sue Eustace-Earle with our USQ partners and their amazing Discovery Van
School of Distance Education students get creative with claymation movie-making
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 12 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service HEALTHY CHOICES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Teaching kids about nutrition and hygiene can be tricky, but when the learning is fun, kids are much more likely to join in and remember the message.
In the first week of school, some of our SWHHS Charleville team joined up with Deadly Choices to promote healthy lifestyle choices to the Year 7 students at their induction day at Charleville State High.
In this age of the pandemic, hand hygiene was high on the list. Students joined school nurse Jen Sellin to practise the most effective way to apply hand sanitiser, rethink how they use HOPE’s Jenny Peacock helps Michael White make a berry smoothie on soap and water, and learn how to protect others when they the blender bike cough and sneeze.
SWHHS’s Carmel Baker and Jane White distributed COVID packs with a range of useful everyday items that carry the Covid-safe message. And the HOPE Program’s Jenny Peacock had kids peddling away on the blender bike, making delicious fruit smoothies while learning about the relationship between good nutrition and a healthy body.
The Year 7 Healthy Choices Program was also supported by members from CWAATSICH, local police, the South West Indigenous Network (SWIN) and Goolburri. School nurse Jen Sellin demonstrates the art of hand sanitiser
TELEHEALTH PORTAL UPDATE
The QH Telehealth Portal provides an easy, safe and secure Another great feature is the ability to access recent calls to way to videoconference (VC) with patients, GPs, QH staff reconnect quickly and easily, this saves time looking for the and other external health organisations by allowing them to dial in details for regular appointments. connect into the existing QLD Health Telehealth network from within their web browser or on an IOS or Android device. Look for and find the Telehealth Portal icon located on your desktop to check out the great new look! The QLD Health Telehealth Portal is a web browser application that doesn’t require software or a license to use. There are no additional costs for the portal and it is available for both internal and external QLD Health users.
The Queensland Health Telehealth Portal has recently undergone an update which has given the portal a great new look and improved functionality capabilities.
One of the improvements is that QLD Health staff are now able to easily share desktop images or files during clinical consultations, this functionality will greatly enhance the From Left – Ashlea Cox (A/CN Telehealth Roma Hospital), Charlene experience for both the consumer and the clinician. Narayan and Janell Lobb (A/NUM Perioperative Roma Hospital).
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 13 MASTERCHEF COMES TO INJUNE
The best of the best young chefs from across the South West Rohan and Kim agreed that is was a real privilege to see local came together in Injune recently for the Injune Youth Hub kids with a genuine passion for cooking healthy, delicious meals. Junior MasterChef Challenge.
Six contestants were given two hours and a table full of ingredients and staples that they might find in an everyday kitchen.
South West HHS Senior Community Nutritionist Rohan Ballon said the contestants were prompted to make any dish using the ingredients provided.
“The kids were given encouragement and guidance on preparation techniques and then had two hours to create their own dishes,” he said.
Rohan was joined on the judging panel by Maranoa Regional Council’s Kim Amor, and they had a hard time choosing between some delicious choices including a pumpkin and chicken risotto, oven baked crumbed chicken with mango Participants go through the rules as part of the Injune Masterchef aioli, and oven roasted caramelised pumpkin with a spinach competition and fetta salad.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY COOKING PROGRAMS
More than 100 students took part in the Maranoa Regional “They all loved it and one of the big positives in the kids’ Council’s School Holiday Cooking Workshops in January. feedback was that they loved being trusted to use real cooking utensils and having the freedom to experiment.” South West HHS Senior Community Nutritionist Rohan Ballon said 12 sessions were held across the Maranoa to help students gain food preparation skills and nutrition knowledge through structured activities.
“We took the program to Surat, Roma, Injune, Mitchell and Yuleba and had 114 participants all up, which was a great result,” Rohan said.
“We held three different workshops, cooking homemade pizzas, Vietnamese rolls and a recipe modification challenge that involved dismantling the traditional apple-cinnamon muffin and substituting ingredients such as butter, sugar and plain flour with alternatives like Greek yoghurt, oil, honey, stevia and wholemeal options.”
Rohan said the students did a great job and really loved Holiday cooking program a hit across the Maranoa getting in and learning new and different techniques to healthy cooking.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 14 FAREWELL TO JUDY FROUSHEGER
Judy Frousheger has retired after 33 years of employment with the South West HHS.
Judy, who was the Home Care Coordinator for Charleville and District Home Care Service was one of the longest serving employees in the South West to stay in the one role.
A very emotional Judy had mixed emotions about her decision to retire but said ‘it had to happen sometime and now is the right time for me’.
She is very sad to say goodbye to all her colleagues and clients. Carmel Pfingst, Charleville Acting Home Care Coordinator, has “Working with so many diverse organisations and people worked with Judy for 12 years and said she was always such a both in the community and within Queensland Health has wonderful colleague and friend. been a really wonderful journey, celebrating our achievements and successes, working through issues, laughing and crying “For the first eight of the 12 years I worked with Judy I was a together and supporting one and other through the good and home care worker, which I enjoyed and Judy was always caring bad times,” Judy said. and helpful to both the staff and clients,” Carmel said.
And many of her colleagues are very sad to see her say goodbye. “In the last four years I have shared the Home Care Co- ordinator position with Judy and I have learnt so much from her. She is such a caring and compassionate person who always went above and beyond for her clients and staff,” Carmel said.
Judy started with Queensland Health in the (now) Healthwise building around 1988.
“I started doing the HACC pays each fortnight but after the 1990 flood my hours increased to recreate the whole filing system and help the Community Health Nurses re-establish all files,” she said.
“I have watched Charleville Community Health grow from a staff of two Community Health Nurses, myself and few Home Care Workers to what it is today - not sure of the staff numbers but it must be close to 90 – 100!
“I have really enjoyed my years working as part of the Charleville Team and I consider it a privilege to have had this journey in my lifetime. I have met and worked with some incredible people and organisations and I have made many lifelong friends.
“My sincere gratitude and thanks goes out to each and every one of you for the many experiences I have had throughout my journey and thank you for all the wonderful memories I have and which will keep me going in the years to come. I wish you all happiness, good health and safe travels for the future.”
Judy retires
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 15 BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS ON VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s Day is a timely reminder for everyone to consider what a healthy relationship is and how we can build better relationships.
Friday 12 February, Far West Indigenous Family Violence Service coordinated a “Building Better Relationships” information morning in front of the Deadly Choices building in Charleville and invited local service providers to attend and promote their service.
South West HHS’s Sexual Health Nurse Sharon Young and Mental Health Clinician Tegan Russell and the First Nations COVID-19 Response Team from the South West HHS attended the morning and connected with locals and other service providers in the local community. Building Better Relationships
South West HHS Sexual Health Nurse Sharon Young at the Building Better Relationships information morning in February First Nations COVID-19 Response Team in Charleville for Building Better Relationships
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 16 SMART EATING EQUALS HEALTHY AGEING
Charleville and Cunnamulla’s Healthy Ageing centres hosted several Smart Eating Week activities earlier in February.
Dietitian Laura Bate worked with clients to create ‘sugar shocker’ charts that compared the alarming amount of sugar present in eight common drinks. They also made ‘food fat’ charts that listed the fat content of many common food staples. But it wasn’t all bad news because clients also sampled healthy apple fruit doughnuts and banana and apple hot cakes, which had many asking for seconds!
Laura also ran cooking demonstrations of a ‘bush beef’ stir fry and a simple bruschetta, which are very likely to become Healthy Ageing favourites. Recipe cards were available for these and other dishes in case clients were inspired to expand their healthy cooking repertoire at home.
The HOPE Program’s Jenny Peacock was also on hand with the blender bike, encouraging clients to climb aboard, get some physical activity and be rewarded with a frosty fruit drink for their efforts.
The week wrapped up with a Smart Eating trivia quiz where Charleville clients used the healthy eating information they’d learned during the week to answer 30 tricky questions. John Pickersgill
Patty Jones May Williams
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 17 FROM THE TRAVELS OF MICHAEL REDDAN, COMMUNITY PREVENTION OFFICER – ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS
Michael Reddan knows there’s nothing quite like a road trip to inspire a sense of freedom, especially when the scenery is stunning and the weather is perfect.
This year, Michael, from our Healthy Communities team, has plans for several road trips. He’ll be travelling around the district to provide support to staff and community members, especially those wanting to quit smoking and reduce their alcohol intake.
Michael’s first trip in February included stops in St George, Dirranbandi, Mungindi and Bollon (South West HHS’s St George ‘hub and spoke’ sites.
“The first thing I noticed was how green the countryside looked around parts of the Balonne and Maranoa regions after some L-R: Michael Reddan, RNs Grace Bredhauer, Jamie Gilliland, Paramedic much-needed rainfalls. Shane Herbert & DON Margaret Harris
“I received a warm welcome from each facility and everyone seemed impressed with our ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ program and banners, and the Quitline postcards that I made available for reception areas.
“Our Directors of Nursing (DONs) and Smoking Cessation Champions Sonja Brady – Bollon, Donna Hooper – Dirranbandi and Ann-Margaret Jakins – Mungindi continue to support and encourage smokers who want to quit to register with Quitline. Sonja, Donna and Ann-Margaret are great advocates, connecting with smokers and explaining the health benefits of quitting and the added bonus of a much improved bank balance! RNs Grace Bredhauer & Jamie Gilliland try out the beer goggles
“At the Multipurpose Health Service in Dirranbandi, I delivered “At each of the facilities I also explained the benefits of the the Healthy Communities Alcohol Toolbox Talk to Margaret Harris Queensland Police Service’s Drink Rite Nite program and (DON), Donna Hooper Advanced Aboriginal Health Worker, received a resounding ‘yes please’ from all. The program, nurses Grace and Jamie, and Qld Ambulance Paramedic Shane. which is delivered in pubs, gives the facts around standard drinks and the effects of alcohol over a period of time on men “I also delivered the Alcohol Toolbox Talk online via Teams and women, regardless of their size or whether or not they’re to the St George Interagency meeting, along with Robyn seasoned drinkers. I’m now following up with Dan Gallagher, Brumpton, Service Director St George Community and Allied Officer in Charge of the St George District, to help make it Health, and Heather Scriven, Senior Social Worker heading up happen for our communities.” the South West HHS’s Domestic and Family Violence Project. Michael took some time on his return trip from Mungindi to “A huge thank you to Michael Wilson, Executive Assistant and St George to stop in Thallon, stretch his legs and take some Administration Team Leader for organising all the technical stunning photos of the wheat silos and a fibreglass imitation of gear we needed to link into the Interagency meeting. I’m also the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat. grateful to Robyn Brumpton, who has kindly invited me back to St George to deliver the Alcohol Toolbox Talk to her staff. Now he’s back in Roma, Michael’s planning his next trip. Watch this space … “Bollon and Mungindi were quick stops where I gave Sonja and Ann-Margaret an overview of the Toolbox talk, which involves an activity wearing ‘beer goggles’.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 18 THE NEW SQRH TRAINING FACILITY
South West HHS and Southern Queensland Rural Health Those who attended the first collaboration included, Christie- (SQRH) held its first collaboration for South West HHS staff in Anne Hunter (RM Charleville), Rebecca Sullivan (ENAS the new SQRH training space in Charleville recently. Charleville), Danielle Labinsky (SMO Charleville), Peter Shultz (SMO Charleville), Desley French (DON/FM Morven), Joanna South West HHS Nurse Educator, Charleville, Joanna Bone said Bone (NE Charleville) and Dr Flora Rolf (SQRH). the new SQRH training space allowed for easy facilitation of education to our staff across the region.
“Thanks to Dr Flora Rolf from SQRH Charleville for helping us get our first collaboration off the ground at the new training facility,” Joanna said.
“We facilitated STORK’s (Stimulation Training Optimising Resuscitation for Kids) Optimus Core Course to Charleville Hospital nursing and medical staff and the Director of Nursing/ Facility Manager from Morven (virtual).”
She said all South West HHS nursing staff were required to undertake multidisciplinary education and the training facility would help them achieve this both virtually and on the ground.
“The new SQRH state of the art training facility enables high fidelity simulation education which has proven to lead to L-R: Peter Shultz, Danielle Labinsky, Christie-Anne Hunter, Flora Rolf, better outcomes for patient safety and clinical practice.” Rebecca Sullivan and Joanna Bone
DEFENCE FORCE CAREERS BUILD HOPE
South West HHS’s HOPE Program is proud to have built a In February, three DFR personnel timed a visit to coincide with strong partnership with Defence Force Recruiting over several the Adrian Vowles Cup. Michaela, Ace and Ebony got fully years. They’ve been a great supporter of HOPE’s annual involved in the footy, setting up a marquee and handing out Deadly Recruits Camp and also visit the South West at HOPE’s lots of cool giveaways. invitation for lots of other events. They also spent time in community, engaging with young people and their families, and enjoying the South West hospitality.
The trio held a careers information session at the Charleville RSL one evening, which was so interesting and persuasive that six young people in the audience completed the paperwork with a view to applying for DFR’s ‘Gap Year’ program.
The DFR team also visited Charleville School of Distance Education, where they had a rapt online audience of more than 60 kids.
The HOPE Program is well into the planning stage for this year’s Deadly Recruits Camp. Watch this space …
L-R: Ace Hodgkinson, Michaela Peck, Sue Eustace-Earle (HOPE) and Ebony Allsopp
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 19 Our Teams
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR ROMA MURRI CUY
The Roma Murri CUY was awarded the Australia Day Cultural Roma Murri CUY provided a great opportunity for community Award in Roma and surrounds for their NAIDOC Week celebration members of all ages and all walks of life, to participate in events as part of Australia Day celebrations this year. a range of fun and engaging activities to support the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Administered by aspiring community members, Roma Murri Catch Up and Yarn coordinate activities and programs The team also coordinated an in-school program consisting of including NAIDOC Week celebrations. Indigenous games, arts and crafts and cultural tours.
Murri CUY member and South West HHS Senior Indigenous NAIDOC Week Celebrations proved to be a noteworthy Coordinator Rodney Landers Senior, said the Roma Murri CUY contribution to the cultural life of the community and the Roma was an organisation committed to ensuring local Indigenous Murri CUY are commended for their efforts. culture is preserved, shared and celebrated. The Australian Honours and Awards system provides the “In a year that saw many events cancelled, Roma Murri CUY people of Australia the opportunity to recognise and say ‘thank made a significant effort to ensure NAIDOC Week events took you’ to those whose efforts make our communities and our place in Roma and across the region throughout November nation a better place. 2020,” Rodney Senior said. Recipients come from right across the country and from all walks “Under challenging conditions, Roma Murri CUY brought the of life. While some well-known people receive awards, many community together to celebrate the history, culture, and more are known only to those they help and serve day-in-day- achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” out. All recipients are worthy of recognition and celebration.
L-R: Guy Hendricks, Janaya Greenwood, Stephen Brown, Rodney Landers, Sue Lang, Heather Hall, Jo Turnbull, Megan Brown, Jess Walsh, Heather Geary, Angie Gorrie, and Tania Hubbard
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 20 SOUTH WEST WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDICAL SERVICES AND CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
The South West HHS “The spirit of a community relates to its people and even before welcomed Dr Debra arriving I received welcome e-mails from community members, Tennett in January as the advice on upcoming community events, followed by a welcome new Executive Director BBQ on my first day in town, organised by the Director of of Medical Services and Medical Services at Roma.” Clinical Governance (EDMSCG). “I have been made to feel warmly welcomed by my new team. It reminds me of my visit to Charleville and Augathella when I was Dr Tennett said both a student and I think is reflective of the community mindedness her and her family were and warmth of this district - which is a real strength! excited to be settling into the South West having “Life seems to operate at a far more sensible and wholesome visited the area as a pace in the country and I believe is sought after by many.” Dr Tennett medical student. Dr Tennett said her family is looking forward to exploring the “I previously visited Augathella and Charleville as a medical South West landscape as well as learning more about the local student and am pleased to have the opportunity to live and work Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures that is so rich and in this region again,” Dr Tennett said. to be treasured.
“I remember being impressed at the number of social events “I look forward to settling into the community and getting to that occurred at Charleville during my time there and I am know the staff, consumers and other community members. grateful that my children now have an opportunity to experience I aim to listen and work hard to deliver quality healthcare to the joys of rural living and my husband is looking forward to our communities.” working as an Emergency Nurse at Roma Hospital.”
Dr Tennett previously worked as a Rural Generalist with Obstetric and Anaesthetic skills in Kingaroy and Gympie.
“I am passionate about improving health for rural communities. The South West HHS vision is to be a national leader in the delivery of health services to rural and remote communities and as the Executive Director of Medical Services for the South West HHS I look forward to helping achieve this vision,” she said.
“There are many advantages for rural and remote areas relating to the implementation of improved models of healthcare that are patient focused and reliant on rapidly improving technologies.
“The new hospital in Roma is exceptional, staff in the region are very competent and dedicated, and I am looking forward to visiting the new Southern Queensland Rural Health Clinical Training Facility at Charleville.
“I believe there are many good reasons for doctors and other Dr Tennett’s family, Liam, Andrew and Skye healthcare professionals to move to, and stay, in the South West.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 21 26 NEW NURSE AND MIDWIFERY GRADUATES JOINING SOUTH WEST HHS
A total of 17 new nursing and midwifery graduates “Since last year, we have faced huge challenges with the commenced their careers with the South West HHS global coronavirus health pandemic, and it’s incredibly clear just how essential it is to invest in the next generation of at the start of February. healthcare workers, especially in our regions.”
These are in addition to nine new graduates who have already South West HHS Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery joined the health service during December and January. Services Chris Small said the size of the graduate intake was reflective of the continuing strong interest among graduates in Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health joining the health service. Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert welcomed our new graduates in Roma as they undertook their orientation at Roma Hospital. “The South West HHS is being viewed by new graduates as an increasingly attractive area in which to pursue their careers,’’ “It’s wonderful to be welcoming these new nursing and he said. midwifery graduates to the region,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“They are joining the local health system during a global pandemic to provide the best care for the community. After undertaking years of study, I’m sure that they will enjoy rewarding careers.
Graduates nurses with Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert MP
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 22 26 new nurse and midwifery graduates joining South West HHS cont.
“In addition, since March 2017, our 12-month graduate “I chose to do the dual degree because it allows me to follow transition program has been endorsed by the University of the entire patient journey, from when they’re brought to Southern Queensland for two credit points towards any future hospital from home or an accident scene, right through their course of study the graduates might want to embark upon as hospital care and eventual discharge. their careers progress.’’ “My nursing experience will help me be a better paramedic, Mr Small said the new graduates included a dual-degree while my paramedic skills help me to be a better nurse. I also nursing and paramedicine graduate and one midwife. All always wanted to work in a small community in a rural area the new graduates under went a week’s orientation at Roma because you can make a big difference in a small community Hospital before being assigned to health facilities throughout and the dual degree is a great foundation on which to build.’’ the region. Ms Brown initially will do a six-month rotation at Augathella “They will be working in a variety of areas, including Multipurpose Health Service, followed by a further six months acute medical, surgical, emergency, maternity, aged care, with the Queensland Ambulance Service in the South West. community and primary health and supporting the hospital- based ambulance in the facilities where these are located,’’ Mr Small said dual-trained nursing and paramedicine Mr Small said. graduates undertook the same 12-month graduate transition program as all the other newly graduated nursing and Among the new graduates are Morgan Brown and Claudia- midwifery staff. Anne Murray. The difference for them was that their program was split Ms Murray, originally from the Quilpie region, is now a between the health service and the Queensland Ambulance St George local, living on a property near the town. She Service, spending six months with each organisation, he said. completed her nursing degree with Central Queensland University, studying externally while working as an Enrolled Mr Small said the South West Hospital and Health Service had Nurse, first at Mungindi for two years and at St George partnered formally with QAS in 2018 to introduce the dual- Hospital for the past two years. trained registered nurse/paramedic program – the first in Queensland – following an initial earlier trial. “Both my parents are nurses, and I always wanted to be a nurse,’’ Ms Murray said. Since then, the dual degree program has proved very popular with graduates. “I also always wanted to work in the country because city life just isn’t for me and I wanted to do rural nursing, so I did Mr Small said the South West HHS was committed to providing my Enrolled Nurse qualification through TAFE to start with training opportunities for graduate nurses and midwives. and went to work at Mungindi. Then about six months into “There’s no denying how important nurses are in our working as an Enrolled Nurse, I decided I wanted to be a community and to our health service,’’ Mr Small said. Registered Nurse so started studying externally and I’ve now finished my degree.’’ “Nurses make up almost 50 per cent of our health service workforce; they provide care at almost every stage of our lives Ms Murray said she would be continuing to work at St George across our GP clinics, our hospitals and in the community.” Hospital as a new Registered Nurse. As in previous years, the health service will welcome a second, Dual nursing and paramedicine degree graduate Morgan smaller intake of graduate nurses and midwives in August. Brown hails from Ipswich and did her degree through the Queensland University of Technology.
“I got into nursing because my entire family has been involved in healthcare, so it was always very interesting to me,’’ she said.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 23 MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLANNING TAKE TIME FOR YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING Development and review of documented Mental Health care plans - a holistic case management Taking a few moments for yourself each day, to approach - has significantly increased throughout prioritise your mental wellbeing, is all you need to the course of 2020, to the extent that South West be a happier and a more resilient you. has now progressed from being one of the lowest performing Hospital and Health Services at the This is the key message of Queensland Health’s Dear Mind campaign. beginning of year, to being one of the highest performing services across Queensland. The second phase of this campaign was recently launched to help Queenslanders through the COVID-19 pandemic. The This achievement has been realised following proactive campaign encourages Queenslanders to create a healthier steps initiated during March 2020 by our Community Mental relationship with their mind, by making small changes to their Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Team to improve access daily routine to include activities from the six building blocks to central data held by Queensland Health enabling the of mental wellbeing. team to make adjustments to internal reporting processes - Especially during these times of change and uncertainty, ensuring scheduled case reviews were managed in the most taking ‘me time’ can help us bounce back from change faster, effective manner. as well as maintain a sense of control, meaning and purpose “From a starting point of around 16 percent at the beginning in life. of the year, and by December 2020 we had reached 88.62% When we look after our mental wellbeing, we are better able was a huge achievement and a credit to the whole team to cope with the everyday stresses of life, realise our abilities, who pull together each and every day to ensure the very participate in the community and work productively. best service for our clients” said Aurora Bermudez, Service Director, Mental Health. Evidence has also shown positive mental wellbeing can help prevent behavioural and mental health problems, and act as “With a statewide target from 1 July 2020 of ensuring at least an important ‘buffer’ to the risk of mental illness. For ideas and 65 percent of clients are seen within the required timescales, inspiration visit qld.gov.au/mentalwellbeing. we know our revised processes will ensure that as many people remain up to date with their plans as possible.
We are also in a good position to meet future targets which are anticipated to progressively increase in the coming years to ensure continued service excellence”.
Rebecca Greenway, Acting Executive Director Primary and Community Care, also acknowledged the hard work of the team, said she was delighted with the team’s continued efforts in ensuring the very best of care for South West communities and looked forward to seeing further improvements against this very important measure of service delivery.
“However, what’s most important is the fact that behind every number is a person – and therefore our team’s daily efforts are ensuring people receive the patient centred care and support they need so that timely, wrap around services can be put in place that reflect their ongoing health and wellbeing goals and treatment preferences”.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 24 Our Services
NEW SUBACUTE UNIT HELPING PATIENTS ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST
Integrated into the Inpatient Unit at the Roma Hospital is a seven-bed Subacute Unit which provides medical, nursing and allied heath cares to patients who require additional assistance following injury, surgery or illness.
The multidisciplinary team proactively work together in a goal- oriented environment to support patients and their families to achieve their highest level of independence.
A patient who was recently admitted was Don Cross, an Injune local who has been heavily involved in the campdrafting community and could be regularly found at the Roma Saleyards Don Cross on a Tuesday.
In August 2020 Don had a stroke which resulted in weakness to the right side of his body.
“The first part I can remember, I was lighting a fire…. the next thing I remember I was being taken over to the hospital,” Don said.
Don was transferred from the Roma Hospital to the Toowoomba Hospital where he remained for about two weeks before returning to for an intensive stint of inpatient rehab with the sSubacute team. Dawn Cowling This included working closely with the Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Dietitian and A few weeks earlier, she had had a fall at home leading to an Allied Health Assistants. admission to the Mitchell Hospital. Upon reflection Don said “it was more like home” when asked It was here that she was seen by the outreach physiotherapist to describe what it meant to him being able to complete his who referred her for two weeks rehab in Roma. rehab locally. After three weeks of intensive physiotherapy rehab Dawn said Don’s best memory from his rehab was “getting up and being “It completely changed my life - I can walk independently with able to walk again” which is something that he hopes to my four wheeled-walker,” . continue working on over the next few months. “The kindness of staff and the encouragement to complete my However, it wasn’t all work and no play. Prior to returning to exercises even when I didn’t feel I wanted to was so wonderful. Injune Don enjoyed a meal with the rehab team at a local pub. “It’s a beautiful new hospital with caring staff providing “It was wonderful being taken out for dinner, it sort of one-on-one care. We are all very fortunate to have such a brightened me up a bit,” he said. wonderful facility.” In the new year Don will return to the rehab unit where he will Dawn’s journey is not finished yet however, with her future continue to be supported to achieve his rehabilitation goals, goals including “to be able to stay at home with my garden and the next of which will be to transfer from a wheelchair to car. being able to help cook, wash clothes, dust and washing up”, This will enable Don to get back out into the community and we have no doubt that Dawn will continue to strive to achieve spend time with his many (many!) friends. these goals! In November 2020, Dawn Cowling was admitted to the Subacute Unit at the Roma Hospital.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 25 STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
SOUTHWESTHOSPITALANDHEALTHSERVICE The South West Hospital and Health Board (the Board) is responsible for providing In January, our Strategic Plan was updated to reflect health services to the people of South West Queensland through the South West Hospital and Health Service (SWHHS). The Queensland Government influences the Our Strategic Plan Board’s strategic intent through its various strategic objectives and via the service agreement between the Board and the Department of Health. new Queensland Government Objectives for the 2018 – 2022 (Revised January 2021) Our Vision To be a national leader in the delivery of health Our Purpose To provide safe, effective and sustainable rural and Community, published by the state government to services to rural and remote communities remote health services that people trust and value
OUR VALUES coincide with the December 2020 State Budget. Quality Compassion Accountability Engagement Adaptability OUR STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES OUR STRATEGIC R IS K S WORKFORCE To think laterally and implement innovative medical, nursing and allied health workforce The ability to effectively recruit and retain required workforce skills and continuously improve workplace culture may impact on our ability to deliver models that best deliver services to patients in rural and remote areas. the strategic direction and service agenda. Focus on the equitable health needs of all patients (and consumers) by fostering integrated care models across the HHS in partnership with other health service POLICY Policy changes at Federal / State level are magnified at local levels in rural areas Built around Unite and Recover – Queensland’s Economic and have the potential to disrupt health service planning and delivery. providers which respect, protect and promote human rights and culturally safe care in our decision making and actions. FINANCIAL The changing funding environment may impact on the financial sustainability Capitalise on the potential of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan of the service. Recovery Plan, the government’s revised objectives (the Fifth Plan) to deliver services differently to better meet patient needs. INFRASTRUCTURE Ageing buildings and equipment challenge the delivery of contemporary models of care. Use technology and innovations that enable services to be delivered closer to where people live. incorporate nine strategic directions of which the following INFORMATION, ICT infrastructure and ineffective cyber security frameworks impacts on our COMMUNICATION & ability to keep pace with digital innovations to deliver health services to rural Partner with the Western Queensland Primary Care Collaborative (PHN), Aboriginal and remote communities and support safe systems. Health Services, general practitioners and other health service providers and local TECHNOLOGY (ICT) governments to enhance the services available to communities in the South West. seven were subsequently incorporated into our strategic plan: HEALTH STATUS Low levels of health literacy and the burden of disease across a dispersed Ensure effective clinical governance systems are in place to deliver high quality health population, especially in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other services as close to home as possible. vulnerable population groups, contribute to poor outcomes.
Contribute to the accessibility, inclusiveness and efficiency of the state-wide public health SOLE SERVICE Withdrawal of service by other service providers escalates demands on SWHHS PROVIDER to avoid interruption and /or cessation of services in local communities. • Safeguarding our health: Safeguard people’s health and system. OUR PRIORITIES Our Communities Our Teams Our Resources Our Services jobs by keeping Queensland pandemic-ready. Quality and Safety Service Delivery Outcomes Technology and Business Intelligence Capital andAsset Management Financial Capacity OUR ENABLERS Consumer and Community Engagement Clinician Engagement Workforce Capability Cultural Capability Research Capacity
• Supporting jobs: Support increased jobs in more industries South West Hospital and Health Service Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 to diversify the Queensland economy and build on existing strengths in agriculture, resources and tourism. Our Communities Our Teams Our Resources Our Services
OUR OBJECTIVES 1. Place People first 1. Design, attract and retain 1. Be fiscally responsible 1. Strengthen local collaborative partnerships • Building Queensland: Drive investment in the infrastructure the future workforce 2. Avoid preventable harm 2. Develop fit-for-purpose infrastructure 2. Deliver the ‘Right service, right place, 2. Build strong teamwork and leadership right time’ 3. Close the gap on health inequalities 3. Deliver digital innovation 3. Embrace safe and healthy workplaces 3. Achieve excellence in future planning and that supports our recovery, resilience and future prosperity. governance I felt I had a voice – not just about my CONSUMER AND I take great pride in my work, and I enjoy We know our patients and their Working with each other means we can symptoms, but about who I am and what is learning together and feeling valued for PARTNER VOICE “ “ “ families. When the health system is “ achieve more together than we could in important to me.” my contribution.” joined up, everyone benefits.” isolation.” • Growing our regions: Help Queensland’s regions grow — PAT IEN T Q UOTE — S TAFF MEMB ER Q UOTE — GP Q UO TE — K E Y PAR T N E R A GENCY Q UO TE STRATEGIC • Build and deliver highly reliable local networks • Empower our people through a strong • Optimise funding sources and • Integrate local service planning across of primary, communityand secondary care INITIATIVES culture of continuous learning, continuous partner in funding reform for remote agencies, service providers and disaster (Healthcare Home Model; Clinical Service Plans) improvement, and connectedness and very remote communities management groups by attracting people, talent and investment, and driving • Engage with local Indigenous communities to (University collaborations; Local Research; Workforce • Deliver a robust asset implementstrategies to close the gap on health Development and Clinician Engagement strategies) • Co-design locally relevant and culturally and infrastructure plan outcomes safe solutions to join up service delivery (ICT Investment; Roma Hospital Build; • Implement strategies to improve the health • Build cultural capability capital asset plans) through strong partnerships sustainable economic prosperity. outcomes for people disadvantaged by social, • Design and implementresponsive (Nei ghbouri ng HHS’s, A borig inal Communi ty Control l ed economic or geographic factors • Invest in technology thatsupports Heal th Serv i ces and PH N col l aborati ons) workforce models that optimise innovation and personalised care • Position people and local communities at the scope of practice and enable agile • Adopt robust systems for planning, (telehealth; telemedicine; mHealth; eReferral; centre of health planning, design, delivery and system redesign strategy and measuring performance improvement home monitoring models) (Community and Consumer Engagement; • Partner to provide leadership • Model environmentally and socially • Sustain clinical service capability based on • Investing in skills: Ensure Queenslanders have the skills personalised care initiatives) in rural and remotehealthcare responsible behaviour across all current and future population health • Partner to progress healthy education and training activities needs communities’ initiatives HEADLINE • Achievement of performance measures • Clinician attraction, retention, • Achievement of annual balanced • Increase of local partnership agreements they need to find meaningful jobs and set up pathways for MEASURES towards Closing the Gap in Aboriginal engagement and experience measures budget each year and achievement of milestones and Torres Strait Islander Health • Care on time regardless of location Strategy 2018-2022 • Increase Indigenous employment by 50% • Implementation of patient and the employment of other workforce information system/s that are – next available primary care appointment; • The % target reductions in adults diversity groups in line with state-wide accessible by clinicians and service elective surgery; outpatient department; the future. daily smoking, alcohol at risk levels, medical imaging; pathology targets providers at the point of care overweight and obesity •The % decrease Discharge Against Medical • The % increase incancer screening rates • Number of innovative models of care / • Infrastructure plan implemented Advice with specific reduction for service delivery initiatives implemented • Achievement of performance measures Indigenous peoples, and Potentially and timeframes in the Consumer and Preventable Hospitalisations KPIs • Backing our frontline services: Deliver world-class frontline Community Engagement Strategy 2018-2022 •A reduction in the proportion of people required to travel for services
Safeguarding our health Safeguarding our health Safeguarding our health Safeguarding our health ALIGNMENT WITH services in key areas such as health, education and Supporting jobs Supporting jobs Supporting jobs Supporting jobs GOVERNMENT Growing our regions Growing our regions Growing our regions Growing our regions OBJECTIVES Backing our frontline services Investing in skills Building Queensland Investing in skills Protecting the environment Backing our frontline services Investing in skills Backing our frontline services community safety. Version: Board endorsed January 2021
South West Hospital and Health Service Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 • Protecting the environment: Protect and enhance our natural environment and heritage for future generations and achieve a 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030. The government’s revised objectives replace six previous commitments articulated in Our Future State: Advancing Queensland’s Priorities including: Give all our children a great start; Keep Queenslanders Healthy; Keep communities safe, and; Be a responsive government.
These new objectives closely align to our strategic direction and vision to be a national leader in the delivery of health services to our communities. They will also contribute towards broader engagement with staff and communities when developing our next strategic plan, with consultation activities anticipated to commence later this year in time for a new four year plan which will commence from 1 July 2022.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 26 HEALTH CARE HOMES: SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY
In collaboration with the Western Queensland Primary Health Network, and our Aboriginal Medical Service partners, Health Full year uptake during 2020 includes: Care Homes is a new comprehensive and holistic model of care that places our most vulnerable people at the centre of primary • Mitchell recorded a 45% increase in GP care pathway and decision making. Management Plans (GPMP); 42% increase in Team Care Arrangements (TCA) and a 23% increase in By joining up healthcare teams and other support to achieve Indigenous Health Assessments (IHA). shared goals, the approach seeks to further boost access to • Charleville has built on previous rates of uptake, existing publicly funded Medical Benefit Scheme services – recording a 5% increase in GPMP, 3% increase in TCA empowering patients by setting personalised goals that and 11% IHA. tackle identified lifestyle risk factors and support further self-management of existing chronic conditions. • Injune GPMP and TCA uptake have both increased by 33% - with 100% of eligible First Nations people also Commencing with three Primary Healthcare Clinics – at completing an IHA. Charleville, Mitchell and Injune in August 2020 – our remaining practices are scheduled to commence by 30 June this year.
“Between August and December 2020, our first phase High rates of patient satisfaction were also recorded, and we practices have achieved amazing results, with significant look forward to building on lessons learnt to date when rolling increases in numbers of patients registering with their local out this initiative to the wider South West community in the practice, enabling us to further support and improve their coming months”. health and well-being”, said Acting Senior Director, Primary Care and Programs, Elly Richardson. If you or someone you know currently lives outside of Charleville, Mitchell or Injune but want to access your own “If you think of this as an ‘annual health check-up’ we now personal health pathway in the coming months, be sure to ask have more people on personalised pathways by way of GP your GP about your suitability for a GP Management Plan at Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements, ensuring your next appointment! that their care is better coordinated to individual needs.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 27 TRIPLE P ONLINE LEADS TO POSITIVE CHILD AND PARENT HEALTH OUTCOMES
All parents want to do their best for their child or teenager, Parents across the South West can now access Triple P Online, but sometimes we need a little help along the way, and that’s which is Triple P – Positive Parenting Program’s online program where a great parenting program can help. via the parent website: www.triplep-parenting.net
Triple P Online is free in Queensland and offers proven Other free Triple P programs are also available in many regions strategies designed to help parents set up their children across the Queensland. and teenagers for life – so they’ll be happy, confident and successful. The Triple P program has been around for a long For more information, please contact Triple P International on time, and the online program now features more personalised (07) 3236 1212. tips, tools, and downloadable resources.
It includes strategies to help parents identify the difference between ineffective and effective parenting approaches, and offers useful solutions when it comes to dealing with bad behaviour. It also offers workable ways of coping with anger and conflict.
Triple P has also been shown to be effective for parents of children with a developmental, intellectual, or physical disability. Parents say they’ve experienced improvements, not just in their own practices and self-efficacy, but also in decreased child behavioural and emotional problems.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID WORKSHOPS FOR THE SOUTH WEST
About 30 people from across the South West attended the “Each year, we offer a substantial number of awareness first Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Workshop over two days in activities such as workshops, talks and courses right across February at the Roma Men’s Shed. our region for the benefit of residents, staff and other organisations,” he said. The MHFA Workshop, delivered by TRAIC South West HHS in collaboration with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Drought Gavin reminded anyone with concerns about their own or Wellbeing Service and the Roma Men’s Shed, was facilitated by someone else’s mental health was encouraged to contact our Tim Driscoll. mental health service or their GP.
South West HHS and TRAIC’s Regional Adversity Clinician Gavin “We want to continue to reduce any mental health stigma in Johannesen said it was a fantastic collaboration for all involved the South West region. It’s OK to ask a person about the state and a great turn out by participants. of their mental health and just as important to listen to other people’s concerns and to seek help,” he said. “The workshop was a time to reflect, gain knowledge of mental illness and how to support someone in their community to Some useful contact numbers: seek help,” Gavin said. • For mental health support 24/7, “The participants came from across the South West region phone 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 2255). and used the time to connect and network.” • Lifeline: 13 11 14 Gavin said TRAIC have many more workshops coming up • Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 across the South West.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 28 Our Resources
HAVE YOU VISITED THE INNOVATION WELL?
The South West HHS Innovation Well can be found It’s also important to stress that continuing quality and on our QHEPS pages, and provides opportunities safety of care for our patient and staff will always remain of paramount importance. to suggest anything and everything that might and spark change to improve service delivery and The Innovation Well also supplements other touchpoint continuing improvements for the benefit of patients opportunities, such as local Leader Rounding, raising issues and our teams. during the Daily Safety Briefing and anonymous (if people prefer) submission via Ask Executive.
This simple landing page enables you to flag an idea which can No idea is too big or too small – so, if you have idea or then be further considered, for instance by way of developing a suggestion that might improve services or tackle recurring further plan on a page in accordance with our Agile Framework. problems, we’d love to hear from you! A range of key principles and ethics underpin the model – namely the three key elements of Village Connect – and a range of ethics which can be used to define suggestions to any wicked problems or service improvements that people may wish to propose.
“ The Innovation Well also supplements other touchpoint opportunities, such as local Leader Rounding, raising issues during the Daily Safety Briefing and anonymous (if people prefer) submission via Ask Executive.”
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 29 South West Spirit Award
JENNY PEACOCK (JANUARY 2021)
Jenny joined South West Hospital and Health Services’ HOPE Team in 2018 and has been bringing ‘health into HOPE’ ever since.
With health promotion as her priority, Jenny understands that involvement and engagement are key when it comes to building community connections and raising people’s awareness about what it means to live healthy.
Jenny attends just about every event going – from local sporting carnivals to awareness days, morning teas, “ You’ll likely see her under a South community meetings and special celebrations. West HHS marquee encouraging You’ll likely see her under a South West HHS marquee encouraging people to take a ride on the ‘blender bike’ or people to take a ride on the ‘blender sample some healthy food options. Some days however, you bike’ or sample some healthy food may not recognise Jenny if she’s disguised as Syd the Seagull! Either way, Jenny is always armed with gallons of sunscreen options. Some days however, you and loads of information and enthusiasm about heart health, may not recognise Jenny if she’s hydration, nutrition and smoking cessation. disguised as Syd the Seagull! Either “I love my job,” explains Jenny. “Health, fitness and nutrition have always been important to me and it’s such a privilege to way, Jenny is always armed with encourage others to learn more about how to keep fit and live gallons of sunscreen and loads of a healthy lifestyle.” information and enthusiasm about Jenny not only promotes healthy choices wherever she goes, heart health, hydration, nutrition but she also walks (or runs) the talk as the heart and soul of Charleville’s weekly parkrun. and smoking cessation.”
Along with a dedicated group of volunteers, Jenny has championed parkrun in Charleville from day one. Summer or winter, Jenny arrives at Graham Andrews Park well before the 7am start time to help set up and prepare for the runners to “I love to run,” explains Jenny, but I also appreciate the value arrive. A keen runner herself, Jenny sets a cracking pace along of showing up regularly and being present at whatever the the 5km route each Saturday, always striving to improve her event.” There’s always something to learn from others, and weekly time. She also administers the parkrun Facebook page, joining in, helping to set up or clean up, chatting to people and posting lots of great photos of the runners every week. understanding their issues is so important, not just for my job, but for my own place in the community,” she said. Even during Covid lockdown when parkrun was cancelled, Jenny met regularly with a small group to do a socially Congratulations Jenny on being our first SW Spirit Award distanced ‘not the parkrun’ to maintain connections, recipient for 2021, and thank you for always going ‘above and momentum and fitness levels as everyone waited patiently beyond’ in engaging and supporting health and wellbeing in for restrictions to lift. our community.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 30 South West Spirit Award
MARGARET CASTLES (DECEMBER 2020)
December’s #SWSpirit was Margaret Castles, Business Manager, St George
Marg regularly demonstrates adaptability and flexibility in dealing with the daily challenges of her work, and her passion for engaging with teams to deliver a quality and budget friendly service to the health service is always very professional and places the needs and safety of our patients, and the wider community, first and foremost.
During quarterly November touchpoints with the Executive Leadership Team, several facilities also went out of their way to specifically thank Marg for her wider support and assistance with regards budgeting, rostering and wider corporate “ St George Community and Allied knowledge, all of which is much appreciated by our Directors of Nursing. Health Primary and Community
St George Community and Allied Health Primary and Care Service Director Robyn Community Care Service Director Robyn Brumpton applauded Brumpton applauded Marg’s Marg’s willingness to provide support, experience and knowledge when help is needed. willingness to provide support, experience and knowledge when “In recent times there has been no Business Manager to support the Community and Allied Health Team, and Marg has help is needed.” been very willing to provide support and willingly offers her experience and knowledge when help is needed, Robyn said.
“Marg is a strong advocate for the facilities in the Southern sector in assisting them with budgets, staffing figures and resources and she has also helped out across the HHS when other Business Manager positions have been vacant and supported other facilities.”
And St George Hospital Acting Director of Hospital’s Leonie Gavioli said what a wonderful asset Marg had been.
“Marg has been a fabulous support in assisting me in the A/DON/FM role and her pride in the SWHHS and achieving outcomes is evident in the way she strives to provide support to all the teams,” Leonie said.
Marg, thank you for being such a well-respected, approachable and supportive member of the South West team!
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 31 South West Spirit Award
FIRST NATIONS #SPIRIT RECIPIENT (FEBRUARY 2021)
The South West Hospital and Health Service First The ability to go into our communities and be able to Nations COVID-19 Response Project Team is the communicate key messages is a vital part in disseminating information about COVID-19 and healthcare especially when February #swSpirit recipient. some of the people from our communities have limited access to a computer or wifi. Since the project team was implemented at the end of last year, they have been busy across South West communities The First Nations Project Team have therefore been educating and promoting COVID-19 prevention, encouraging instrumental in helping close this gap. First Nations people to stay engaged in healthcare, promoting continuity of care, and providing culturally appropriate and As well as visiting the communities they have also developed a locally tailored communication on COVID-19. suite of resources for them to use.
The team is made up of Project Coordinator Karen Birnie and The resource pack includes a fridge magnet with important Project Officers Amy McNamara, Rodney ‘RJ’ Landers and contact numbers, Family Care Plans, Bubs Care Plan, hand Donna Waters. sanitiser, an environmentally friendly bag to store all COVID-19 products, antibacterial wipes, a bucket hat and a water bottle. All four are proud First Nations people, and the way the team joined as one and hit the ground running to help our The team engages with every person who comes to their stand communities has been invaluable. wherever they are in our communities. And as part of the yarn they also interact with every First Nations person on the correct They have embraced each of our five South West HHS values hand washing technique. of quality, compassion, accountability, adaptability and engagement in their day to day roles and the communities are Their goal and passion in wanting to keep our First Nations loving having them visit. people COVID-19 safe is certainly at the fore everywhere they go.
One community member said that having them on the ground Thank you to our Deadly First Nations Project Team for stepping in the communities was so helpful. in to ensure our First Nations people across the South West are in the know about all things COVID. If you see the team out and “To be able to speak to someone about any concerns about about, be sure to drop by and say g’day! COVID was so reassuring instead of over the phone. They were so helpful and caring,” they said.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service 32