South West Hospital and Health Service PULSE MAY 2019 EDITION

Photo: HOPE Program Manager, Miriam Airey, taking part in Charleville’s inaugural parkrun

The Pulse May 2019 1 Contents

4 Board

We would like to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the lands across the South West. We would also like to pay our respects to the current and future Elders who will 6 Board out and about inherit the responsibility of keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alive, and creating a better life for the generations to follow. We believe the future happiness and 7 Health Service Chief Executive wellbeing of all Australians and their future generations will be enhanced by valuing and taking pride in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – the oldest living culture of humanity. Our Communities 8 Linda and Jim answer the ‘Call to Arms’ South West Queensland Traditional Owners: 9 SWHHS trials new sepsis pathway Augathella – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Mungindi – Kamilaroi (Car-milla-roy) 10 Roma nurse brings South West Spirit to Nepal Bollon – Kooma (Coo-ma) Quilpie – Bunthamarra (Bun-tha-mar-ra) and Wangkumara (Wong-ka-mara) 12 SWHHS bringing ‘HOPE’ to Cunnamulla and Charleville Charleville – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Roma – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) 14 Mental Health Commissioner visits the South West Cunnamulla – Kunya (Koun-yah) with other interests St George – Kooma (Coo-ma) with 16 ‘I am the Patient Experience’ premiere a smash hit Kamilaroi, Mandandanji, Bigambul and 18 What matters most? Palliative Care Week in the South West Dirranbandi – Kooma (Coo-ma) Gungarri interests

Injune – Kongabula (Kong-ga-bull-a) Surat – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee) Our Teams

Mitchell – Gungurri (Gon-gari) Thargomindah – Kullila (Coo-lee-lar) 21 Agile scrum master working with South West staff 22 Celebrating our nurses and midwives Morven – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Wallumbilla – Mandandanji (Mand-an- dand-gee) 24 OT students reflect on St George placements

25 Student dietitians love St George

Our services

26 Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Planning takes a big step forward

27 #SWspirit

Our Values Our resources

28 Cunnamulla staff accommodation delivered

29 myHR now live

QUALITY COMPASSION ACCOUNTABILITY ENGAGEMENT ADAPTABILITY 30 New Roma Hospital update

This newsletter is produced by the South West Hospital and Health Service (South West HHS). All feedback and contributions are welcome to [email protected]. All published material has been approved by the Health Chief Executive. The Governor-in-Council has approved my appointment as Chair of the South West Hospital and Health Service until March 2022. I am pleased to be reappointed as there is much to do to achieve our vision, ”To be a national leader in the delivery of health services to rural and remote communities”. We need to ensure that our values of Quality, Compassion, Accountability, Engagement and Adaptability are embedded and reflected in our behaviour. The Board and the Chief Executive, Linda and the Executive Team have obligations to model those values and behaviour, and you have the right (and responsibility) to “call out” our behaviours when they are not consistent with the values.

It was pleasing to welcome Jan Chambers from Mungallala, Deputy Mayor of the Maranoa Regional Council to the Board. Jan’s experience will be invaluable to the Board. We also welcomed back Claire Alexander who was reappointed to the Board.

Ivan Frkovic, the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner, addressed the Board to detail a range of mental health issues and aspirations. Ivan also FROM THE BOARD CHAIR met with a variety of providers of mental health services, including the South West Hospital and Health Mental Health Team, the Western Queensland Primary Health Network and several non-government providers. Bringing JIM McGOWAN, AM all these organisations together is critically important in ensuring that we identify service gaps and avoid areas of duplication. Many of these people joined the Board Members, Members of the Executive Team and Roma To us, health is about so The true essence of reconciliation Hospital staff for lunch. much more than simply not is more than making friends The Board meeting was held at the Roma Hospital at the start of being sick. It’s about getting with non-Indigenous people. Reconciliation Week. Lane Brookes gave a “Welcome to Country” his explanation of the significance of reconciliation was inspirational. The theme a balance between physical, Our Motto is a united Australia, for this year’s Reconciliation Week “Grounded in Truth; Walk Together with mental, emotional and spiritual one that respects the land and Courage”. health. Healthy and healing are the heritage of its Indigenous On Tuesday, 28 May, the day after the Board meeting, Linda and I were interwoven, which means that peoples and provides justice privileged to be guests at the Maroons Day in Charleville. The Minister, the one can’t be separated from and equality for all. Honourable Steven Miles, MP, was also a guest. The Minister was impressed with his visit to the Waroona Aged Care facility on the day. the other. Jackie Higgins | Bidjara (Central Queensland) and Birri-Gubba Juru (North Queensland) woman, Dr Tamara MacKean | Waljen woman from the WA Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s Goldfields, Senior Research Fellow, George Institute First Peoples for Global Health and Flinders University

4 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 5 FROM THE BOARD CHAIR FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OUT AND ABOUT LINDA PATAT

What a thriving Pulse we have this month - so lovely wedded to frontline team ownership and empowerment to see our staff in action: active in healthy lifestyles – all aspects which are part of our vision and values promotions; hosting visits that will change the way moving forward. we work with our community and consumers; and profiling how our staff are giving back to both their local In the coming weeks, I look forward to announcing the communities and the world at large (what an amazing appointment of our new SWHHS Clinical Council Chair. story Sonia has shared from Nepal - so proud, and Our Clinical Council is of the highest importance to me envious, of your experience shared, thank you!) to ensure frontline clinicians remain at the forefront of our planning and decision making, and we have a Our programs of transformation continue to gain direct voice to understand and seek advice in relation to strength as we focus on Healthy Communities in the clinical care and workplace priorities and issues. Roma Precinct, Primary Care Healthcare Homes in the Charleville Precinct, and Village Connect in the Thank you for continuing to work locally to create St George Precinct. Our plan is to stand up these vibrant and healthy workplaces. I am sure we all desire

Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health initiatives in the initial location, and then take those the environment we spend the majority of our waking Commissioner speaks with Board Members and learnings over the next 18 months and spread them hours in to be full of energy, enthusiasm, positivity and members of the South West Mental Health Team across all Precincts in a coordinated and phased way. growth. We have every reason to feel good about the South West, and how we feel about ourselves draws Our Agile training and approach are proving to be a other quality, talented people to our work family. I’ll be huge asset in how we are doing so. There are many making the appreciation of our people a focus of our challenges and rewards in implementing agile at plans and activities during this coming year, and I look scale. Organisational changes are tough to pull off for forward to having your influence and advice to assist any team, and yet we know that embracing change is us in achieving this genuinely and in ways that have now a way of life across all successful organisations. meaning to you. Technology is changing quickly, our revenue and regulatory environment is undergoing significant In the meantime, I remain yours in service change at speed, and our consumers are increasingly L changing and engaging actively in their care partnering. Heather Hall (WQPHN), Geoff Larcombe (Regional Manager Community Lane Brookes (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer), In response, we are rebalancing our approach to Services Aftercare), John Scott (Board Member) and Christina Waldron Claire Alexander (Board Member) and Jim McGowan (Board Chair) (Catholic Care) attend the luncheon hosted by the South West Hospital focus on health and wellness of our local populations, and Health Board build workplaces where our people feel valued and motivated to contribute their best, and address our legacy infrastructure issues along with moving toward embracing innovative technology to address the challenges of delivering care in rural and remote communities with at-risk populations.

Making this shift, however, requires change and strength in leadership at the local level - and using Guess where Linda was in Where was Linda in April agile practices has started to give us an evidence- May 2019? 2019? based framework to build strength from. It gives us a coordinated and focused approach that is heavily Send your guesses to Congratulations to Amanda Stewart Gordon (Board Member) catching up with Jeff Potter (Acting Linda Patat (Health Service Chief Executive) welcomes executive Husselbee, who correctly Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery), Chris Riddell (Project Officer) members and staff to the ‘I am the Patient Experience’ Premiere at the SWHHS_Communications@ identified this as Hotel and Sandy MacDonald (Roma CAN Member) Ernest Brock Room health.qld.gov.au Corones in Charleville!

6 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 7 LINDA AND JIM ANSWER SWHHS TRIALS NEW THE ‘CALL TO ARMS’ SEPSIS PATHWAYS

South West Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive, Sepsis is a silent killer; a life-threatening infection that Linda Patat, and Board Chair, Jim McGowan, rolled up Don’t let the flu get you! happens when the body’s response to that infection their sleeves to join the ‘Call to Arms’ against the flu ends up damaging organs and tissue. We know that earlier this month. • Get vaccinated early recognition and management of sepsis saves • Avoid close contact lives. With the 2019 influenza season set to be a particularly • Stay home when sick nasty one, Linda and Jim agreed that the best defence is • Cover coughs and sneezes That is why South West Hospital and Health Service the flu shot. with tissues has joined the statewide Rural and Remote Sepsis • Wash your hands often Pathway Trial for both adult and paediatric patients. When asked why she was so passionate about • Get plenty of sleep The trial, which will run for 12 months, commences in vaccination against influenza, Linda said: “The flu • Avoid touching your eyes, June. At this stage, the trail will involve all hospitals spreads so easily, and it’s far more than ‘just the nose or mouth and multipurpose health services, making this the most sniffles’. Influenza can be deadly — especially for • Exercise regularly significant health service trial to date. infants, the immuno-compromised and the elderly — • Manage your stress levels so it’s up to all of us to minimise its spread through • Stay well hydrated We will soon implement pathways (pictured top vaccination, good hand-hygiene, covering coughs and • Eat healthy foods right) in these facilities. We will screen all patients on sneezes, and staying home when we’re sick to avoid presentation, and if they meet the criteria, they will infecting others.” progress on the pathway.

This pathway shows the SWHHS commitment to ensuring our patients are receiving quality evidence- based care. Part of this trial is to ensure the forms help clinicians detect sepsis earlier and provide critical and lifesaving management promptly.

Today it’s all about ruling sepsis out, not ruling it in. So, just ask that question, could it be sepsis?

Above: South West Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive, Linda Patat, and Board Chair, Jim McGowan, proudly get their flu shots from Dr Alan Richardson to help protect themselves and the community.

8 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 9 ROMA NURSE BRINGS SOUTH WEST SPIRIT TO NEPAL

In April, Sonia Small (Nurse Practitioner, Roma) went to Nepal to volunteer as a theatre/recovery nurse for the Open Heart International Burn’s Surgery Project. “The Scheer Memorial Adventist Hospital is different. “In Recovery, I would have several student Nepali Along with Sonia, a team of 30 health professionals Everyone gets treated; they rely entirely on foreign nurses with me at various times, and I would teach and volunteers from around Australia and New Zealand, donations to pay for their treatment and their stay.” them how to be a recovery nurse – doing basic including five others who also work in Queensland assessments (ABCD), management of an unconscious Health, made the 12-day trip to Nepal. Burn injuries are a significant issue in Nepal because patient, first and second stage recovery, pain many families use open fires for cooking and heating. management and discharge/transfer criteria. It was Nepal is home to 30 million people, almost half of The substantial incidence of burns has overwhelmed pretty busy, and of course, the language barrier comes whom live in poverty. With limited resources available, available health services, leaving many to endure lifelong into play, but they were handy to have as interpreters!” government services are focused on basic medical pain and disability. That’s where the OHI come in. care. Specialist surgical care is not widely available “Although the work is confronting, it’s incredibly throughout the country, particularly outside the capital Surgery can often dramatically improve function and the satisfying. Some nurses (like myself) get on in their Kathmandu. ability to lead a more active and independent life. Some career and either specialise or tend to stray from some patients can work again or help care for their family. of the fundamental basics that you learnt as a student, Open Heart International (OHI) provides essential and this experience grounds you. It reminds you why medical care to those in Nepal who would otherwise “If someone in Australia had these burns, they would you got into Nursing in the first place, and you are go untreated. Based at the Scheer Memorial Adventist One of the most striking things is the health system. get them seen to straight away, and likely be treated acutely aware that you are making a tangible difference. Hospital in Banepa, the OHI Burns Surgery Project in a specialist burns unit. People in Nepal don’t have And it is enriching - the Nepali people are incredibly delivers reconstructive surgery for burns victims, “In Nepal, if you have an injury of any kind (such as a that luxury. The contractures are something that you grateful as you have helped change their lives for the particularly treatment for disabling contractures broken arm) you would go to the emergency department don’t often see in Australia. Here, you can turn up to better. (shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or and tell them you have broken your arm. They then Emergency any time, any day and you are going to get other tissue). invoice you for how much the theatre is going to cost, treated, you are going to get a bed, you are going to “It also makes first world problems pale by comparison; how much your stay is going to cost, the cost of X-rays get food, and you are going to get all of the equipment I have come back feeling refreshed, and a bit reset in This trip was Sonia’s first experience working as a nurse and so on. They give you a list of all the things you are needed.” my outlook on life. Everyone who had been on the trips in a developing country. going to need during your hospitalisation, such as before said their own lives changed for the better and medications and bandages. You then have to hobble The annual 12-day trip is no small feat. The nurses are I believe them as you feel an overwhelming sense of “I was blown away by the hospital; it was incredibly off, buy all of that stuff, pay at the cashier’s office and taking time out of their annual leave and doctors are gratitude. We are so fortunate in Australia and have basic in terms of what we have in Australia, with then they will let you in. If you don’t pay, you don’t get also taking time off, sometimes resulting in close of the best healthcare system in the world – trips like this equipment that we haven’t seen for 30 years. treatment.” practice, as well as paying their way and fundraising to really drive that home.” pay for the patient’s care. If this is something that you would like to get involved While treating burns victims is the primary goal of the with or you’d like to donate, please head to ohi.org.au project, the transfer of skills between doctors and nurses or contact Sonia Small for further information. is equally valuable, they are empowering local clinicians to perform world-class corrective surgery and aftercare.

10 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 11 SPREADING HOPE ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST

Sharing the fun of running in Charleville

Charleville launched the Graham Andrews parkrun on Saturday, 25 May with the help of SWHHS’s HOPE Program. Drumming up some fun in Cunnamulla Tim from Inrhythm explained that community drumming is great way to come together through the shared joy Creativity reached a crescendo at Cunnamulla P-12 State of feeling connected through something as simple and School last week with a four-day African drumming innate as rhythm. workshop. “We are all rhythmic beings living in a rhythmic Inrhythm’s Tim Orgias and Heath Jeffrey arrived with universe, and when we drum together our connection African drums and rhythms to burn, and helped flows and we build genuine community and team students and teachers find their groove, get loud and spirit”, he said. feel fantastic! Tim’s also convinced that being part of a drumming Supported by SWHHS’s HOPE Program, the Inrhythm circle empowers the human spirit, realigns the body’s workshop was just what School Principal, Karen energy system, stimulates creativity. Campbell, was hoping for. Regardless of the benefits, Cunnamulla’s students had “The kids flat out loved it, from start to finish”, she said. a ball and raised the roof. Now they’re looking forward “And they were having so much fun that our teachers to Inrhythm’s return visit later in the year. Above: HOPE Program’s Miriam Airey gets close to local wildlife at decided to get in on the act, because who doesn’t Charleville’s inargural Park Run. love being part of something wonderful while banging 20 countries. Worldwide there are 1474 parkruns, and a drum!” Charleville is now number 271 in Australia.

SWHHS’s HOPE Program got behind what will now be a weekly event, contributing set-up funds and a defib. Footy fever in Charleville

Above: HOPE Program staff with Board Chair, Jim McGowan (second- There was also a healthy breakfast at the launch for left) and Health Minister, Steven Miles. all those brave enough to get out of bed on a chilly On a stunning blue-sky morning last month, the morning. Queensland Maroons flew into Charleville to officially launch their 2019 State of Origin preparations. Cheered on by Mayor Annie Liston, a giant bilby and a “Parkrun is all about keeping healthy, physically and team of volunteers, around 100 people completed the mentally”, said HOPE’s Jenny Peacock. It’s a great way Hundreds of locals gathered under a sea of maroon five kilometre course. to get motivated and be social, and a fun way to kick- flags at the Charleville showgrounds to welcome start the weekend!” Queensland’s flagship team, get players’ autographs And in the tradition of parkrun tourism, runners from as and snap selfies with their heroes. far away as Brisbane, Gatton and Toowoomba came to Parkrun will now be a part of life in Charleville’s Graham Charleville specially to take part in the launch. Andrews Park. For all those yet to give it a go, it’s free Keelen Mailman welcomed everyone to Bidjara Country and it starts at 7 am every Saturday morning. and other special guests included our Health Minister, Parkrun is a community running event that started in Look for the green parkrun banners. Steven Miles, SWHHS Board Chair Jim McGowan and the United Kingdom in 2004 and has now spread across our CE Linda Patat, along with a giant bilby and a mega Above: Keelen Mailman gave the welcome to Country cane toad.

12 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 13 QRL Managing Director Robert Moore explained that the QRL is committed to its ‘Maroons Fan Day’ tradition, which sees the State of Origin team visit a regional Queensland town prior to Game 1.

Armed with this knowledge, South West Hospital and Health Service’s HOPE Program seized the opportunity late last year to suggest the team come out to Charleville in 2019. Creating a ripple effect Declan Furber-Gillick from Desert Pea Media said, “these young people took to the song-writing yarn with HOPE Program Manager Miriam Airey said she was Over two weeks in February, Cunnamulla high school determination, courage and open minds”. delighted when the QRL accepted HOPE’s invitation to students went on a creative journey with a team bring the Maroons to Charleville. of film makers, sound engineers, song writers and Cunnamulla’s Community Education Counsellor Julie Fox videographers from Desert Pea Media (DPM). said, “This Desert Pea Media project was so good for “The stars just seemed to line up for us” she said. “The our kids. It opened their eyes to many different things, QRL has been a generous and supportive partner of including music production. And it was great to see the HOPE Program since our inception in 2015 and we that our Cunnamulla youth really know what they can were absolutely thrilled when we got the thumbs-up for achieve for themselves, their families and their town.” Charleville this year.”

The event received huge local support from Murweh Shire Council, Radio 4VL, Deadly Choices, Western Rugby League and Careflight as well as Charleville’s Police, Fishing Club, Work Camp, Lions Club and Presbyterian Church. The NRL and Defence Force Recruiting also contributed to the day by providing activities and merchandise. Working with community Elders and others, the young people and the DPM team heard local stories, visited local sites and explored aspects of Cunnamulla’s history. The second part of the project involved creating a short film called Cunnamulla Fellas, which features some of the community’s stellar male role models.

South West Hospital and Health Service’s HOPE Program brought Desert Pea Media to Cunnamulla and the project was generously supported by Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health (CACH) and Cunnamulla’s Strong Families Strong Community They then brought together a re-telling that resulted in program. a music video called the Ripple Effect, which expresses the students’ balanced commitment to their cultural Check out the Ripple Effect music video and Cunnamulla heritage and to mainstream education. Fellas short film.

14 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 15 MENTAL HEALTH ‘I AM THE PATIENT COMMISSIONER VISITS EXPERIENCE’ PREMIERE A THE SOUTH WEST SMASH HIT

South West Hospital and Health Service was honoured non-government organisations key stakeholders and The South West had a taste of Hollywood on 29 May Board Chair, Jim McGowan, attended the event and was to host Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Health Mental Health the South West Hospital and Health Board. with the inaugural screening of the ‘I am the Patient thrilled to present first place to the team from Mitchell Commissioner at the Board meeting held on 27 May. Experience’ video awards in Roma, following a Multipurpose Health Service. He bestowed the winners He also had the opportunity to listen to local competition through which we invited staff to create with a trophy and a $2,000 education bursary for their experiences and shared some valuable insights about videos showing how they represent the patient staff, which will no doubt help to elevate the patient the development and implementation of services and experience. experience at Mitchell even further. benefits of strengthened partnerships, collaboration and integration to meet the mental health needs of The event formed part of the SWHHS celebrations Reflecting on the competition, Jim said: communities. to highlight Patient Experience Week and the Beryl “Congratulations to all teams that entered the Institute’s focus on the importance of patient competition. We hope to see more entries celebrating experience in healthcare. the patient experience from across all of our facilities next year as the competition grows.” Several groups from facilities across the South West developed films for the competition. The videos were Ultimately, the biggest winners are our patients, who an excellent opportunity to showcase their staff and the all benefit from our continued attention to the patient region’s commitment to the patient experience across experience. all areas of the organisation.

Ivan engaged with many of our staff and had the delight South West Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive, of attending the Monday morning agile scrum with the Linda Patat, said: “It’s great to see the commitment Health Communities Initiative team before meeting from staff, and the fun and spirit that they invested in with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory the process. Everyone’s videos look great; they should Council, community and consumer representatives, all be very proud of their efforts.”

Above: Board Chair, Jim McGowan, presents the education bursary cheque to the winning team from Mitchell MPHS.

Left: The winners from Mitchell MPHS celebrate their win.

Below: All entrants received a certificate.

The Board hosted a lunch engagement and Lane Brookes, Aboriginal Liaison Officer, gave an address to commemorate National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. It was a heartfelt address acknowledging the Elders, celebrating the richness of their culture and paid recognition to the women for the important work they have done and do. Lane also highlighted the contribution everyone can make in walking together for the future.

16 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 17 The Cancer and Palliative Care team also took the opportunity on Tuesday to introduce the new PCOC WHAT MATTERS MOST? system (Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration) coming soon to the SWHHS. You may have noticed the ‘PCOC is Coming Soon’ screensavers on your computers; PALLIATIVE CARE WEEK IN stay tuned as we look forward to implementing this nationally used system and assessment tools. The assessment tools provide direction for management THE SOUTH WEST across the domains of symptom management, Above: Palliative Care Nurse Precious Chilolo, NUM Cancer and psychosocial, spiritual, and family/carer needs. Palliative Care Services Elizabeth Schuh and Cancer and Palliative May was a busy month for the SWHHS Cancer and The Cancer and Palliative Care team also launched Care Nurse Natalie Leith with their charters destined for the Palliative Palliative Care team with National Palliative Care Week the charters ‘For care of adult patients at the end of Care room at Roma Hospital. Below: Precious Chilolo, Natalie Leith, CNC McGrath Breast Care Nurse occurring 20-25 May 2019. They had a jam-packed life’ and ‘For children and young people affected by Elizabeth Bowman and Acting Nurse Navigator Kylie Sutton discussing schedule full of promotional and educational activities a life-limiting condition’. These were created by the Paediatric Palliative Care for staff and community members. Queensland Clinical Senate in conjunction with Health Consumers Queensland and endorsed by Linda Patat, National Palliative Care Week is an annual awareness- HSCE, for use in the SWHHS. The Cancer and Palliative raising week organised by Palliative Care Australia. Care team distributed framed charters to all 17 facilities The theme for National Palliative Care Week 2019 was to display in their palliative care room or near the ‘What matters most?’ and this theme encouraged Patient Rights Charter. everyone to plan for their end-of-life care and discuss it with their loved ones and health professionals.

On Monday, the Cancer and Palliative Care team travelled with representatives from the Queensland Paediatric Palliative Care Service to Charleville Hospital to deliver the ’Navigating Difficult Conversations and Below: Roma hospital Dr Malcolm Cooper and RN Mikaela Greenslade Intro into Paediatric Palliative Care’ workshop. Local sharing ‘What matters most?’ to them doctors, nurses, nurse educators and ambulance officers were in attendance and the feedback was very positive, with demand for future education expressed. Above: Nurse Practitioner Chronic and Primary Care Sonia Small and Acting Service Director Adult Community and Allied Health Pauline Kehl sharing ‘What matters most?’ to them.

On Wednesday, the Cancer and Palliative Care team put the focus on our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and highlighted the support and resources available to families during end-of-life care of a loved one. The team worked together with the SWHHS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce Above: Charleville Ward staff proudly receiving their Qld Clinical to develop the ‘Caring for your mob at the end of their Senate care at end-of-life charters. life’ brochure. This and the Palliative Care Australia resource ‘Dying to Talk Discussion Starter’ resources are Tuesday saw the delivery of the ‘Navigating Difficult available to assist with sensitive conversations for our Conversations and Intro into Paediatric Palliative Care Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Workshop’ with the Queensland Paediatric Palliative Above: Workshop attendees at Charleville hospital with the presenters Care Service at Roma Hospital, of which we had various Continued over page. from the Queensland Paediatric Palliative Care Service Sally Campbell, Melissa Heywood and Leanne Pederson. nurses and allied health staff attend.

18 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 19 The Cancer and Palliative Care team, in collaboration a delicious breakfast and videoconference with local with the SWHHS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, Speech Pathology and Aboriginal and Torres Co-ordinator, are also working to ensure the Aboriginal Strait Islander Liaison Officer in attendance. The SOUTH WEST HHS and Torres Strait Islander workforce have attended session topic was Social Aspects of Palliative Care, with PEPA training, the two-day Program of Experience in the the next breakfast videoconference planned for July. Palliative Approach (PEPA). SPRINTS FROM STRENGTH On Thursday, the Queensland Paediatric Palliative Care Service attended the Roma Hospital medical officer education session via videoconference, presenting TO STRENGTH WITH AGILE their ‘Navigating Difficult Conversations and intro into Paediatric Palliative Care Workshop’ and breaking An Agile Coach started with South West Hospital and down barriers between our rural site doctors and the Health Service in May to uplift skills and application of specialist advice and support available from our metro learning within the Agile framework, while encouraging colleagues. ongoing development conversations.

The Cancer and Palliative Care team continued their education efforts on Thursday, with a pop-up education session in conjunction with Workforce Development Unit at the Westhaven Aged Care facility. The education session was an overview of Palliative Care with the nursing staff and was very well received. Above: Indigenous Health Coordinator Rodney Landers Snr and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer Lane Brookes The team also prepared and released a communique on ‘How to help someone who is grieving’ to provide Our Palliative Care Nurse and Aboriginal and Torres additional support to our clinical staff who regularly Strait Islander Women’s Business officer Rheanna face difficult and sensitive situations with grieving Bartley also made a scheduled visit to CWAAboriginal family and friends of our patients. and Torres Strait IslanderCH Roma to deliver and promote Palliative Care Week, the ‘Caring for your mob By Friday, the team was keen to get out and about! We The coach helped the Healthy Communities team to at the end of their life’ brochure and ‘Dying to Talk organised a community information stall at Westlands refresh their daily scrums, sprint planning, current Discussion Starter’ resources. Plaza, highlighting the importance of Advance Care visual board, retrospectives and reviews. In Charleville, Planning to wrap up National Palliative Care week. he worked with the Health Care Home project to get The stall had lots of visitors with many expressing their project started. Down in St George, staff got written interest in wanting further assistance with started on the Village Connect project and converted their Advance Care Planning. Our nurses really enjoyed the physical board to a digital board using Microsoft interacting with the community, reducing the taboo Planner for ease of managing and sharing with non co- when it comes to end-of-life planning and asking ‘What located team members. matters most?’. With the assistance of the Agile coach, the office of the We would like to thank everyone involved in ensuring PMO built a project portfolio visual board of all projects our National Palliative Care week awareness campaign in the South West Hospital and Health Service, which went so smoothly! We appreciate all attendees for their will allow them to better track work across the South enthusiasm, feedback and encourage all staff to contact Above: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Business Officer West and appropriately assign resources. Rheanna Bartley with CWAAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderCH staff the SWHHS Cancer and Palliative Care team at SWHHS- [email protected] or 4624 2694 if you would like to organise education Wednesday also saw the Statewide Palliative Care sessions, need support or would like to order any Education Morning happening across Queensland resources. sites, with the Cancer and Palliative Care team hosting

20 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 21 Above: Charleville staff celebrated International Nurses Day with a Above: At Surat, even the residents got in on the International Nurse’s delicious cake and staff barbecue. Photo: Toni Murray, SQRH Day celebrations.

Surat went all out with a wall of stories about nurses at the health service, including that of a Surat nurse whose mother and grandmother before her were also CELEBRATING OUR nurses — a proud family tradition! Four staff — the Director of Nursing, a graduate nurse, a clinical nurse and the third-generation nurse — spoke about their NURSES AND MIDWIVES experiences and it was interesting to note how different everyone’s experiences had been, even in the same career path. Nurses are the backbone of all we do in the South West Below: Mitchell staff celebrated with an international lunch, fact sheets on famous nurses, and a beautiful cake Hospital and Health Service, and provide an invaluable In St George, staff celebrated with an incredible-looking service to our communities. cake and nibbles, while reflecting on the achievements Above: St George’s stunning International Nurse’s Day cake. of their incredibly valuable nursing staff. Below: St George Nurses celebrate International Nurse’s Day. Hospitals and multipurpose health services across the region celebrated our nurses and midwives during International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May) this year in a variety of ways.

In Charleville, staff celebrated with a barbecue and beautiful cake. They also took time to acknoweldge 30 years of service from Charleville enrolled nurse, Raelee Brunckhorst, with a lovely presentation.

Staff in Mitchell held a belated International Nurses Day celebration on Monday, 13 May, hosting a potluck lunch for which everybody brought an international dish to share. Everyone was invited to learn from fact sheets about famous nurses throughout history before cutting the cake.

22 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 23 OT STUDENTS REFLECT ON STUDENT DIEITITIANS ST GEORGE PLACEMENTS LOVE ST GEORGE

I drove out to St George on Sunday 24 March, leaving I had the most wonderful time on my five-week The five weeks of my rural placement at St George my family, girlfriend, friends and job in Brisbane. It placement in St George. My project at the St George Primary and Community Care/Hospital were nothing was an emotional experience for both the reasons of Hospital has been an incredible learning experience, short of amazing. separation and loss of my normal routine, but also especially for working in small or rural locations and being nervous about a new environment to work in, engaging with different cultures in the workplace. I have had the opportunity of meeting and working with being a rural health setting. I was worried about living a variety of professionals, all of which have welcomed on my own, sharing the house with someone I didn’t Alongside completing my university requirements, me with open arms and taught me something valuable really know and how I would manage the workload. I have also had the opportunity to get out and about in along the way. the community and experience the best that the South To my surprise, the support I received from my West of Queensland has to offer: a River Cruise on the One of my favourite parts of my placement was the clinical educators and the whole St George team was Balonne, a visit to the Riversands Winery, many trips relationship I built with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait instantaneous. By the end of the first day, I was greeted Above: Max Jessop and Jason Perrett, who both completed a nine-week to the outback pubs in the region (highly recommend Islander Liaison Officer, Barry. He took my project by all the members and asked how I was feeling about placement in Occupational Therapy at St George Hospital. the Nindigully Pub), the Roma Picnic Races and a work partner and I around the town and into the bush to working and living in a rural setting. This was a very nice My time at St George Primary and Community Care based trip to the small town of Dirranbandi. experience his culture. Not only did it have a positive change to some other placement experiences I’ve had as an Occupational Therapy Student has been highly impact on our project, it opened my eyes to an entirely in larger metropolitan hospitals. The support didn’t stop enjoyable, and produced a great many learning I recommend that anyone who has the opportunity to new culture that I hadn’t yet experienced in Australia. in the first week, and many of my co-workers offered me opportunities, both personal and professional. undertake a rural placement takes it. There is so much tips on events coming up that were in town, places to to be learned in the Outback of Australia that so many After only a few days of working here, we were invited camp and fish and local attractions to check out. This From the beginning of my time with St George, I was of us never get to experience. on a river boat cruise with other hospital staff and then was extremely helpful in filling my weekends with lots of welcomed as a member of the working team and to trivia. In my short time here, I have felt like a part of fun activities, including target shooting, off road racing, felt included in the workplace dynamics. Workplace - Samantha Koch the community and have made some wonderful friends local show and markets, water skiing and kayaking. procedures and processes were explained well, and along the way. I am so thankful for the opportunity to I felt supported by clinical supervisors, members partake in a rural placement and I think it is important Over my nine-week placement in St George, I developed of healthcare teams, and staff of the community for every student to have an experience like this. a healthy work life balance, and enjoy the challenges workplaces. Feedback provided by all members of the of working not only in the mental health field, but service was useful, and assisted my development as a Without this placement, I’m not sure I would have also in a rural health setting. I have received support future professional in the field of occupational therapy. experienced this area of Australia. Because of my whenever I faced a challenging experience and felt like experience in St George, I plan on looking into rural a respected member of the allied health team. I wasn’t Working and living in a rural setting provided a good jobs once I graduate--something I had never considered sure what to expect from this placement, but reflecting opportunity for personal learning and development as before. Thank you to all the staff at St George Primary on my time knowing what I know now, the sacrifice of well. Being away from my typical social and physical and Community Care/Hospital for making this such a leaving my home, friends and family was worth the environment forced me to consider what my personal memorable experience. experience, and I feel I am a better clinician and person stress management techniques are. This, coupled with from this placement. I would encourage anyone looking the opportunity to hone home skills (e.g., budgeting, - Madison Smeltzer experience working in a rural health setting to take any routine maintenance and personal responsibility) opportunity, as it has been the most developmental made this a valuable learning opportunity for personal university placement I have experienced to date. development for the future. Despite not being the type to explore landmarks or major features of the town of - Max Jessop St George, I found the town to be pleasant to spend my placement in.

Opposite: Student dietitians, Samantha Koch and Madison Smeltzer, - Jason Perrett thoroughly enjoyed their time in St George.

24 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 25 OUR ABORIGINAL AND #SWSPIRIT RECIPIENT TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER KATHLEEN ROGERS

#SWspirit is a regular initiative to recognise staff who WORKFORCE PLANNING exemplify the organisation’s spirit through living our values in the way they work every day.

TAKES A BIG STEP FORWARD Kathleen Rogers has worked for South West Hospital and Health Service for nearly six years and contributed This month, we met with key experts from the local communities, and individuals and their families hugely across a range of roles in that time. Department of Health to work with our Aboriginal and to close the gap on health inequalities. “Whilst doing Torres Strait Islander Leadership Advisory Council so is part of every staff member’s role and focus, She started working for South West Hospital and Health on how the South West can strengthen and increase our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce Service in October 2013 as an A03 for the Corporate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce guides us and assists us to ensure we strengthen this Support team, collecting mail and milk, ordering opportunities across the health service in clinical, non- approach genuinely over time”. “Strengthening how stationery and other tasks — always going above and clinical and leadership roles. Through both empowering we approach this moving forward is a key priority within beyond to help make life easier for her colleagues. the workforce and enabling a culturally capable and our Strategic Plan, and something both the Board and responsive workforce, the South West is placing itself to the Executive Team have placed front and centre. South Following that role, Kathleen then took up the position deliver quality healthcare across all settings. West is totally committed to taking action to close the of Resource Officer, where she managed fleet and gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. telecommunications for several months, before acting Our workforce are experts in helping us to do this both as Executive Support Officer to the Chief Operations appropriately and effectively, and ensuring we have a Officer for the following six months. strong and capable workforce to deliver on this will be key to our success”. She then acted as Team Leader Patient Travel from December 2014 and went on to be the successful applicant for the position. It was to be where Kathleen would stay for the following three years, before being offered the opportunity to act in the Coordinator Operational Services role.

“I am now officially appointed to the role [of Coordinator Operational Services], The Council was joined by Warren Locke, Manager which is exciting for me as I love it!” Her colleagues can always rely on her to get a job done Workforce Strategy Branch, and Wanda James, Principal to the best of her ability and be accountable for the Workforce Planning Officer, along with our Executives In this role, Kathleen supports, educates and advises results. Everything she does is with the end user — our and Board Chair, Mr Jim McGowan AM to consider key staff on all things operational: cooking, cleaning, patients and communities — in mind. outcomes for the future. Culture and identity are central laundry, waste, wards and grounds. She prepares to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perceptions of reports and provides information/stats/data to the As busy as she is, Kathleen always makes time to health, and respecting and understanding this further is The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce executive team as needed, as well as attending provide emotional support to other staff, lending a kind a key part of positive workforce and clinical outcomes. Plan will continue to progress through key consultation numerous meetings and even chairing one! and understanding ear whenever it’s needed. processes, draw on workforce data, and will be shared SWHHS HSCE, Linda Patat, reinforced the value our more broadly with the South West Team and key One thing’s for sure — Kathleen is not one to shy With her tireless work ethic, adaptability and empathy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce brings Aboriginal Medical Services partners in the coming away from new experiences and opportunities within Kathleen is a real asset to the South West and fully to our service in their ability to engage and work with months. the SWHHS! embodies the South West Spirit.

26 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 27 CUNNAMULLA STAFF MYHR NOW LIVE ACCOMMODATION DELIVERED

Despite a series of unfortunate events holding up the delivery, the staff of Cunnamulla are very excited to have their new nursing quarters accommodation building installed.

Initially, the delivery trucks were delayed due to nine flat tyres along the way, leaving drivers to park on the side of the road in Bollon while they waited for replacements before they could be on their way. Having occurred right before Easter, the new building then wasn’t able to progress over the holiday period, so more waiting was in order.

Mother Nature added further delays with rain and floods, rendering the road edges too soft to drive on, South West Hospital and Health Service went live with structure in real time, manage their team’s position and causing the delivery trucks to spend another few myHR implementation on 8 April 2019, with the IWFM/ assignments and details online, and view the team days on the side of the highway. myHR team on hand to support staff through the various calendar. stages and answer any queries following go-live. Once conditions had dried out somewhat, final Feedback across the health service has been chiefly Health Service Chief Executive, Linda Patat, said myHR approval from the transport department set the wheels positive, despite some initial minor teething problems. would help to streamline how staff and managers back in motion, and the trucks were on their way to oversee their HR details and documents. Cunnamulla. The new system provides employees with direct access to real-time human resources management information, “This will make life easier for every staff Alas, it wasn’t smooth sailing just yet, with the trucks including employee details, organisational structures, becoming bogged in the mud of the hospital grounds. establishment management and employee movements. member right across the organisation, Thankfully there were two of them, so when one became It also provides automated alerts and notifications empowering them to manage their details bogged the other could pull it out, resulting in quite the supported by a team calendar to assist more proactive lunchtime show for watchful staff! Roughly two weeks management of HR activities. Additionally, staff can and leave, while streamlining the approval later, the building was in place. utilise self-service to manage personal updates, process for their managers.” view their personal information, submit and approve Before the installation of the new quarters, staff had online requests, and track request/form approvals and All employees are encouraged to access IWFM/ to share a house with others and didn’t have any processing status. myHR information on the South West Hospital and private space for themselves. The team is ecstatic to Health Service website at https://qheps.health.qld. have an upgrade to the nursing quarters — which will All employees now have access to their myHR gov.au/swest/people_culture/integrated-workforce- be furnished shortly and ready for occupancy — and inbox, editable contact and banking details, leave management, where they will find training and support hope that it will encourage more nurses to consider applications, forms and payslips. Managers can for the myHR system. Cunnamulla as a place to live and work. manage forms, view and manage their organisational

28 South West Hospital and Health Service The Pulse May 2019 29 NEW ROMA HOSPITAL UPDATE

The first official construction site tour was undertaken by the Project Commissioning Team members in May. This provided a valuable opportunity to walk through the new hospital building and with structural walls starting to be erected see how the internal departments relate to each other. It was agreed that commencing in Commissioning Update August 2019, site tours for Commissioning Leads will be scheduled so that they can start to visualise their new During the month of May the Roma Commissioning spaces. Leads have been working on completing their work area’s operational work flow mapping. These process flows will detail the new way of operating identified in Construction Update the approved Models of Care and Service Delivery. During the month of May, structural steel has started The Roma Hospital Project Team took the opportunity to be installed on both levels of the main hospital to showcase the floor plans as well as footage of the building. Internal framing and sheeting has also construction progress to the community by setting up a commenced internally. The roofing structure and stall at the Roma Show over the weekend of 10-11 May. sheeting is now almost complete.

Clockwise from opposite left: New Roma Hospital build from the air, walls being built, air conditioning being installed, structural support beams and foundations being laid, view across the top of the new hospital at dusk, Healthy Communities and the New Roma Hospital project at the Roma Show.

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