NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD
Main story Short blurb Festive celebrations throughout the district NSLHD’s festive celebrations in full swing Page 4 Read more on Page x
Northern beaches hospital milestone reached Page 3
people and culture awards 2025 Page 14
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Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Jewish community, the victims, their families, and our Jewish staff following the horrific attack at Bondi. This has deeply affected the Jewish community, some of whom are our colleagues, or who have loved ones who were caught up in Sunday’s attack. I would like to thank the incredible efforts of our staff at Royal North Shore Hospital for handling the initial response, as well as colleagues from Ryde and Ku-ring-gai hospitals for assisting the efforts as part of a networked response. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and condemn racism and antisemitism in all its forms. There is no place for hate, violence or discrimination. There are a number of support services available to our staff and I hope everyone takes the time to utilise these if you require support. The confidential Employee Assist Program (EAP) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and details about this service can be found via this link: https://bit.ly/ NSLHD-EAP. The EAP is also available to immediate household family members who may also require support. As we wrap up the year, I would like to thank everyone for their efforts over the year and for serving our community in the incredible ways you all do. You may have seen that the 2025 Year in Review has been released which features many of the wonderful stories from the year. These stories are just a snippet of all
the fantastic work being done across the district and I encourage everyone to have a read by using the following link: https:// bit.ly/Year-in-Review-2025. As we look towards the new year, we look forward to Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) officially being part of the public health system from mid-2026. Letters of offer have started to be sent to hundreds of staff at NBH to provide some certainty before their Christmas break. Our transition team is working with clinicians at NBH and the district on refreshing the clinical services plan to guide us on the mix of public and private services delivered to the Northern Beaches’ community. The transition of the hospital is a monumental task and I would like to thank the many people who are working to achieve this. I look forward to welcoming our colleagues from NBH to the public health system when the hospital is handed over on 29 April 2026. I hope our patients, staff, volunteers and the wider community enjoy a safe and happy holiday season. Warm regards,
Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
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Northern Beaches Hospital to Join NSLHD Public Health System Hundreds of staff at Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) have begun to receive their Adam Quested, NSLHD Deputy Director, People And Culture, Kathryn Berry, Chief Executive Officer, Northern Beaches Hospital, Anthony Schembri, Chief Executive Officer, NSLHD, Deb Fogarty, Healthscope Director Of Transition, Simon Hill, NSLHD Director Of NBH Transition
Teams of clinical staff at NBH and NSLHD are working together to refresh the Northern Beaches Hospital Clinical Services Plan. This process will confirm role delineation for each specialty, assess service capacity, and identify opportunities for innovation and private service delivery. The update will also support NBH’s transition as a level 5 public facility, ensuring sustainable models of care and improved patient flow across the district. “I am confident we will navigate this transition smoothly with our commitment to putting our patients and community at the centre of all that we do,” Anthony said. “I look forward to bringing you more news as the transition progresses over the coming months.”
letters of offer to join the NSW Health system in the lead up to the hospital’s transition mid-next year. The first all staff town hall was held at NBH, hosted by NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri and Nothern Beaches Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Berry, to inform staff of the next steps of the transition. “Our valued medical staff, including junior medical officers, staff specialists and visiting medical officers, will receive their offers early next year to align with clinical training terms and allow for a safe, expedited credentialling process for staff specialists and visiting medical officers,” Anthony said.
Thank you for helping us SPread the GOOD neWS throughout 2025
Please continue to share your news and achievements in 2026. Contact the Media and Communications team on 9463 1722 or email NSLHD-media@health.nsw.gov.au to submit your news.
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Santa bought gifts to Manly AYAH
Staff enjoy a BBQ at RNSH
Celebrating the Season Across NSLHD The festive season was in full swing across NSLHD! Staff, patients and families celebrated with all-staff barbecues at Ryde, Mona Vale, Hornsby and Royal North Shore. Royal North Shore also hosted a Festival of Music, while Ryde, Mona Vale and Royal North Shore ran tinsel trophy competitions. At the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice, Santa popped in to the Christmas celebrations with NSW Police, Ben & Jerry’s and the Clown Doctors.
All smiles in Christmas scrubs at Mona Vale Hospital
Ryde team members get into the holiday spirit
Staff enjoying lunch at Hornsby Hospital
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NSLHD named winner of International Hospital Federation Award After a remarkable string of achievements and recognition, NSLHD’s planetary health efforts are again in the spotlight. The district was recently named a Gold Winner of the Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Low-Carbon Healthcare at the International Hospital Federation Awards 2025 in Geneva. The global awards bring together health organisations across the world to celebrate and honour best practices in leadership, sustainability, quality, and patient experience across categories like worker well-being, operations, and low-carbon initiatives. The district was recognised for the project titled ‘Australia’s first public healthcare blueprint for reaching net zero emissions across all scopes’ – the same project that received a NSW Health Award in 2024. Director, Population and Planetary Health, Paul Klarenaar, said the award celebrates the achievements of the past year and showcases the district’s growing influence in sustainability. “This award caps off another very successful year for our planetary health efforts and I would like to thank every staff member and partner from across the district for making this possible,” he said. This latest award follows a year of significant recognition for the planetary health team, including their win at the NSW Health Promotion Awards and further accolades at the Climate and Health Summit, where they received the Overall Pacific Region Health Care Climate Champions Award and the Gold Award for Climate Leadership.
Nicola Groskops, Planetary Health Manager, NSLHD (middle left), Paul Klarenaar, Executive Director, Population and Planetary Health, (middle right), Simon Radmore Manager, Strategy & Office of the Chief Executive (second from right) were invited to the awards ceremony in Geneva to receive the award.
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NSLHD Deputy Chair honoured for Lifetime Achievement Professor Emerita Mary Chiarella, Deputy
her role as Chair of the Health Care Quality Committee, noting the dedication of staff across the district. “To the wonderful team I now work with at Northern Sydney LHD, you continue to go above and beyond in relation to safety and quality, and I thank you for your work and support.”
Chair of the NSLHD Board, has been recognised with one of Australia’s most respected accolades in healthcare, receiving the 2025 Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Quality and Safety. In the 41-year history of the award, she is only the second nurse to receive the honour.
Mary accepted the medal at the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards Awards Dinner, accompanied by NSLHD Chief Executive Adjunct Professor Anthony Schembri. “I had the incredible honour of being awarded the 2025 ACHS Medal for Safety and Quality. It is up there with the greatest honours of my career, as safety and quality has been one of my enduring passions,” she said. “I feel very grateful to have been recognised for the joint contribution of all the wonderful people I have worked with.” Mary also acknowledged NSLHD and
Anthony Schembri, Chief Executive, NSLHD with Mary Chiarella (right)
Muru Dali Gili Gili Employee Network Day Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and allies from across the district gathered at Royal North Shore Hospital to celebrate the bi-annual Muru Dali Gili Gili Employee Network Day. Meaning “Path to Shine” in the local Muru Dali Gili Gili attendees at the traditional Smoking Ceremony
know each other, or build and strengthen relationships across our district,” she said.
Dharug language, the event is grounded in culture, connection and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity within the workplace. The day opened with a traditional Smoking Ceremony and an Acknowledgement of Country in the Kolling forecourt, offering staff a moment of reflection and cultural grounding. Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service and Workforce NSLHD, Pauline Deweerd, spoke about the importance of the gathering. “This event holds deep meaning. From an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective, it is a rare and powerful space where we can come together to strengthen cultural identity and belonging within the health system, celebrate the resilience, strength and achievements of our people, learn from one another and build on our collective wisdom, and support each other in both professional and personal growth.” Pauline reflected on the value of the shared experience. “This day presented the opportunity for staff to network, yarn and get to
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NSLHD Staff Spread Christmas Cheer Staff came together to support the annual Christmas with Dignity campaign, donating essential items to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Teams from Hornsby, Mona Vale, Royal North Shore hospitals and the NSLHD executive unit contributed non-perishable food, new clothing and Christmas gifts to the campaign. Across the district, staff donated over half a tonne of essential items, which were used to assemble Christmas hampers for local community members. Dignity, one of NSLHD’s official workplace giving partners, coordinated the campaign, ensuring donations reached those who need them most. The campaign supports Dignity’s Food Relief program, which operates across NSLHD local government areas including Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Northern Beaches, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Mosman, Willoughby, Ryde and Hunters Hill. The program provides meals and connections into services that help prevent homelessness, reaching an estimated 1,500 people. Sherin Fishwick, partnerships manager at Dignity, outlined the difference these donations make. “The generosity of NSLHD staff allows us to provide Christmas hampers filled with essentials and gifts, helping people doing it tough and supporting our work throughout the year,” she said. “Every contribution makes a real difference to people in the community.” Between July and December 2025, Dignity delivered 7,532 meals, 248 hampers and over 1,080 kilograms of fresh food, working in partnership with Dom’s Place in Hornsby and Link Wentworth in West Ryde.
Hornsby Hospital staff stand proudly in front of their Dignity tree
Mona Vale Hospital staff with their donations
Members of the NSLHD executive Team with their donations
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Consumer Forum Brings Kindness Week to Life As part of Gathering of Kindness Week (11–15 November), NSLHD hosted the 2025 Consumer Forum, bringing together consumer advisors, peer workers and staff for a day of collaboration, learning and networking. Fifty participants attended presentations,
Across the District, Gathering of Kindness Week was marked with kindness walls, origami hearts, painted rocks and floral displays, creating spaces for connection and reflection among staff.
consumer stories and interactive workshops covering the Surgical Services Plan 2025–2035, the Partnering with Consumers Framework, Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance in healthcare, Trevor Danos outlined the importance of the forum. “The Consumer Forum ensures community voices actively influence the decisions we make at the Board level,” he said. and health literacy. NSLHD Board Chair
Stephen Banks, NBHS, Adam Johnston, NSLHD Board Member, Rebecca Fox, NSLHD CAPE, and Diana Trickett Board Consumer Committee at the Consumer Forum
Weaving the latest ideas and evidence into care The Sydney Health Partners (SHP) roadshow came to northern Sydney,
“Some great, evidence-based interventions never make it to the other end of the pipe,” he said. Medical oncologist Professor Stephen Clarke praised SHP’s work to embed research in daily hospital operations. “Research is now regarded as an essential part of health services, not a self-indulgence,” he said.
showcasing how the partnership supports the smooth translation of research into everyday clinical care. More than 70 researchers and clinicians gathered at the Kolling Institute to hear presentations from colleagues involved in translational research projects. Kolling Academic Director Professor James Elliott said the district was proud to work with SHP to introduce better models of care at scale.
“By introducing these better models of care on a bigger scale, we have the potential to reach large parts of the community within our district, and to test these approaches for a much larger population,” he said. Acting Executive Director of SHP, Professor Andrew Baillie, described the research translation pipeline.
Andrea Ratchford, Professor James Elliott, Associate Professor Naomi Hammond and Andrew Bailee
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Layla Bahry was named a winner with her crane name ‘ICU Up There’
community selects names for Ryde Hospital cranes Two cranes that are helping redevelop Ryde Hospital have received their names as part of a community ‘name the crane’ competition. Around 250 local children aged
project. “The entries were outstanding and full of imagination,” he said. “It was wonderful to see our young community members take part in such a significant moment for the hospital’s future.” ‘ICU Up There’ by Layla Bahry stood out for its clever clinical word play, while Blue Gum Giant by Sloane Hanrahan offered a fitting tribute to the neighbouring Blue Gum Forest. Each crane will display its name on a flag for the duration of construction, creating a visible reminder of the community’s involvement in the project. The event was held in collaboration with Health Infrastructure and construction partner AW Edwards, who provided the prizes.
between two and twelve took part in the competition which saw creativity and thoughtfulness brought to the forefront. There were 10 finalists who attended Ryde Hospital for an official naming ceremony and a site tour alongside Member for Bennelong Mr Jerome Laxale MP and Ryde councillor Lyndal Howison as part of the celebrations. NSLHD Chief Executive, Anthony Schembri was also involved in the presentation ceremony and said the competition was a fantastic representation of how young members of the community could contribute to a
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Ministry of Health donates Christmas gifts to RNSH Boxes of gifts will be shared with
first and show our future generations that everyone matters.” The NSLHD Legal Services team extended thanks to MoH LRS for their generosity, and to the RNSH ward team for their dedication in supporting young patients and their families through challenging circumstances.
patients on Christmas Day, aiming to bring comfort and joy to children and families spending the festive period in hospital. The Ministry of Health Legal & Regulatory Services Branch donated gifts to the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) child
& adolescent ward as part of its annual Christmas donation drive. “We are humans before lawyers and there’s no better way to show that than donating to the young patients at RNSH Child & Adolescent Ward,” said Natasha Patney, Director of Legal Services at NSLHD. “As a parent, I understand that children should be safe, happy and healthy, and receiving support in hospital during Christmas can make a meaningful difference,’
“At NSLHD, we strongly value this relationship. Receiving this donation is another way we come together to put people Natasha Patney (far left), with Ministry of Health and RNSH staff and volunteers Youth Mental Health Month Photography Competition 2025 The sixth annual Need a Lift? Youth
partnership between Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) School-Link, NSLHD Population Health Promotion, headspace Chatswood and Brookvale, Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai CDAT, and several local councils.
Photography Competition invited young people aged 12–24 who live, work, or study in the northern Sydney area to submit a photo that inspires joy and positivity. This year, just under 200 entries were received,
capturing a wide range of subjects and perspectives, from nature and wildlife to acts of community and friendship. Prizes were awarded across three age categories—12–15, 16–18, and 19–24 years—along with a runner-up and a People’s Choice Award. The overall winner was Christopher, 18, from North Sydney, for his photo titled “World’s Great Shave,” showing school leaders raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. The competition was a
The competition winners with their photographs
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Hospital choir performing at RNSH; conductor Victor Aguilera (NSLHD Emergency Management Unit)
Doctor by Day, Pianist by Day: Christmas Carols at RNSH As part of the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) Festival of Music, the foyer came alive with festive cheer, showcasing the remarkable talents of staff, volunteers and associates.
“Performers really enjoy the experience and are keen to return, and staff and visitors love seeing their colleagues perform,” she said. “A woman attending RNSH daily for radiation therapy travelled long distances each day. She stayed to listen to the music every day and told me it really helped her through a difficult time.” Chief Executive Anthony Schembri reflected on the festival’s impact. “It was wonderful to see music bring connection and warmth to our hospital community,” he said.
Highlights included piano performances by medical oncologist David Chan and vocals from ward clerk Annette Edwards, alongside jazz and acappella acts. The performances were captured by Markus Kung Photography. Now in its ninth year, the Festival of Music is organised by Susan Day OAM, volunteer with RNSH Arts and Culture.
Ian Epondulan, centre for sleep health & research, department of respiratory and sleep medicine
Elissa Liew, scientific officer, serology, microbiology NSW Health Pathology
Dr David Chan, medical oncologist, NSCC
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Hornsby hospital’s dementia and delirium unit
Innovations in dementia care at Hornsby Dozens of paper sunflowers are pinned
its multidisciplinary collaboration — diversional therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and a consulting geriatric team all contribute to patient care. “We have strong links with volunteers who help out with mealtimes or visit twice a week to play piano for our patients,” he said. The ward has a Tovertafel, an interactive gaming system designed specifically for use in aged care settings. Patients are also encouraged to take part in aspects of running the ward, helping them stay engaged during the day. “Our job is to manage behaviours to a level where patients can be safely discharged back to the community,” said Thomas. “What I love about this job is making a difference in somebody’s life, “To be able to reduce distress, find a management plan that works for that person, and then support them to return home or find them a facility that’s able to continue looking after them in the community is a really positive thing.”
to the wall of Hornsby hospital’s dementia and delirium unit, each bearing the name and personal interests of a staff member. The display helps staff share aspects of their lives with patients and generate discussions. “It’s a way for patients to make that human connection and feel a bond with our staff,” said Thomas Fitzsimmons, nurse unit manager of the ward. Across the district, clinicians are introducing new approaches to bring about more patient-centred care. The sunflowers are just one of many tools supporting patients with dementia or delirium who have significant behavioural issues. Thomas said that in 2023, the unit adopted the safewards model of care, originally developed in mental health settings and now adapted for their ward. It teaches staff to identify early non- verbal cues of distress in patients and use a range of de escalation techniques. Another strength of the ward lies in
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Primary and Community Health Awards 2025 The 2025 Primary and Community Health (PACH) Recognition and Excellence Awards celebrated the outstanding contributions of NSLHD’s PACH services.
• Individual Staff Member Award: Carla Metcalfe • Team Award: Safer at Home, Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service • Volunteer Award: Kathy Green • Support Staff Member Award: Danielle Catteau • Diversity Award: Multicultural and Child Youth Family Services • Unsung Hero Award: Lucy Ferreira • Quality Improvement and Innovation Award: BreastScreen NSW NSCC • Sustainability Award: BreastScreen NSW NSCC • PACH Consumer Advisory Committee Award: Shayne Larymore • PACH Director’s Award: Shayne Larymore • Support Staff Member Award: Eli Redondo The ceremony concluded with a celebratory afternoon tea, giving teams the opportunity to connect, reflect and celebrate their achievements.
Anthony Schembri, chief executive, NSLHD, outlined the importance of PACH and the vital role its workforce plays across the district. “I am extremely proud of the work PACH dedication, innovation and compassion our staff bring to their roles every day. It is inspiring to see the commitment and impact across our teams, delivering care that truly reflects NSLHD’s CORE values.” has done this year,” he said. “These awards recognise the This year, 18 individuals and teams were selected from 67 nominations across nine award categories. The awards also featured a new category, the PACH Consumer Advisory Committee Award, recognising the growing impact of consumer voices in shaping care. . Award recipients included:
Attendees and winners of the PACH awards were all smiles
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Health Minister Visits New Kids Compass Clinic NSW Minister for Health, Ryan
in a single, family-centred setting, reducing the number of separate appointments families need to navigate. Staff will also assist families to access early supports and, where appropriate, NDIS-funded services. The Kids Compass clinics will operate once a month across three locations: Hornsby Child and Family Health Centre, Dalwood Children’s Community Health, and Royal North Shore Community Health Centre.
Park, visited the Royal North Shore Community Health Centre recently to meet two allied health clinicians working on an important new early childhood initiative. Senior children’s speech pathologist, Rachel Hansen, and senior children’s occupational therapist, Frances Morgan will work in the newly established Kids Compass Clinic, an allied health-led service set to welcome its first clients this year. The clinic will support young children aged 18 months and older who are showing signs of emerging neurodiversity and who are not yet meeting key developmental milestones or eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Working closely with local speech pathology and occupational therapy services, the clinic will identify toddlers and young children from existing waiting lists who may benefit from additional support. The aim is to help children build foundational skills during the crucial first 2000 days of life, when brain development is most rapid. The Kids Compass model brings together multidisciplinary assessment and short-term allied health therapy recognises the vital contributions of nurse practitioners across Australia. nurse practitioners are highly skilled registered nurses endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. They have completed advanced university studies at the Master’s level, earning the title of the most senior and independent clinical nurses in Australia’s healthcare system. Only individuals endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia can use the title Nurse Practitioner. Across NSLHD, there are 30 nurse practitioners, six transitional practitioners, and 12 registered nurses
Left to right Frances Morgan, Minister Park, Rachel Hansen
Strength to Strength – 25 Years of Nurse Practitioner Care Nurse Practitioner Week, celebrated globally from 9–15 December,
completing their master’s degrees. the district welcomed two new nurse practitioners in 2025: Carmen Sanchez in Palliative Care at PACH and Katie Kelleway in ICU at RNSH. Funding has also been secured for two additional ICU nurse practitioners at RNSH, enabling a fully nurse practitioner-led service, a first in Australia. Adjunct Professor Claire Harris, NSLHD Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery highlighted the importance of Nurse Practitioners “Our nurse practitioners, transitional practitioners, and Masters-level nurses are driving innovation and delivering expert care that makes a real difference for patients and their families,” she said.
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Trial tests game-changing labour monitor Most first-time mums focus on their baby’s arrival.
Low oxygen during birth can lead to cerebral palsy, a condition which costs the Australian economy over $15 billion each year. “This device will certainly reduce those cases, because you’ll be able to better monitor those babies,” he said. VitalTrace, a medical-tech company based in Western Australia, has been developing the device in collaboration with researchers from the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney for seven years. Plans are now underway for a further trial and a larger feasibility study.
But for Alexandra Loftus, giving birth at RNSH was also a chance to give back—by joining a clinical trial of a new device that monitors babies’ oxygen levels during labour. “I thought it was a wonderful opportunity for little Poppy to come into the world being part of something bigger,” she said. “I feel quite excited for Poppy’s generation, that they will have something that’s much more seamless’ “The fact that this device will do more and is much less invasive is huge.” Between March and August this year, she was one of 10 mothers—five at RNSH—who wore the device, which RNSH obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sean Seeho described as a “revolution” in the delivery of babies. Currently, babies’ heart rates and lactate levels are monitored during labour, but testing can be inaccurate and cumbersome. The new device attaches to a baby’s scalp, and alongside measuring heart rate, continuously monitors lactate —a chemical produced when oxygen levels are low.
Alexandra and her daughter Poppy were part of the clinical trial
The Royal North Shore Hospital team working with VitalTrace
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