NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD
Main story Short blurb NSLHD welcomes newest intake of Junior Medical Officers
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RNSH response to bondi shooting Page 6
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Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Hospital, the first of its kind in NSW. From 1 July 2026, the centre is expected to deliver up to an additional 5,000 surgeries each year, significantly reducing wait times across the state. I am exceptionally proud that four NSLHD staff members were recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List. Congratulations to Dr Andrew Wines, Professors Ian Kerridge, Robyn Gallagher and Andrew Paul Sindone for their significant contributions to health care. I was also delighted to see former staff and volunteers recognised for their lifelong service and impact. We also welcomed 72 interns and junior medical officers for the 2026 clinical year. It was a pleasure to meet them and hear why they chose to begin their medical careers with NSLHD. Looking ahead, our teams will be supporting the Fusion Pride Picnic on Sunday 1 February at Ted Jackson Reserve, Dee Why Beach, from 10 am to 4 pm. This annual community event celebrates connection, visibility and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people, families, friends and allies. NSLHD services will be on site throughout the day to provide health information, outreach and support. I encourage staff to attend, visit our stalls and show support for our local LGBTQIA+ communities. Your presence makes a real difference in building trust and access to safe, inclusive care. Thank you again for the exceptional work you do every day. I look forward to the year ahead and everything we will achieve together. Warm regards, Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
In this first edition of NSLHD news, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who worked across the holiday period. Providing care at a time that is so important to many families is no small thing, and your efforts did not go unnoticed. I am also pleased to welcome our new starters across the district. We are very pleased to have you with us and I wish you every success as you begin your journey with NSLHD. This year marks several significant milestones for our district. One of the most important is Northern Beaches Hospital transitioning to the management and governance of NSLHD and NSW Health. The senior leadership team and I look forward to welcoming our colleagues from the hospital and continuing to support a smooth and respectful transition. Another major milestone is the rollout of the Single Digital Patient Record, which is scheduled to go live later this year. This clinical and technological transformation will provide a complete view of a patient’s health journey in one place, supporting safer, more consistent and more informed care across northern Sydney and NSW. Preparations for go-live are well underway, including staff training, data migration, local device testing and user personalisation. Staff are encouraged to visit the SDPR intranet page for resources and updates: https://bit.ly/49YXBid Members of the public can find more information on the NSW Health website: https://bit.ly/4p0slp9 On 22 January, we observed a minute’s silence on the National Day of Mourning to commemorate the antisemitic attack on the Jewish community on 14 December 2025. We stand with those affected and reaffirm our commitment to respect, safety and inclusion. I am also pleased to acknowledge a major statewide initiative that will benefit our patients. A high-volume surgery centre will be established at Northern Beaches
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A new generation of doctors begins at NSLHD NSLHD has welcomed 72 Junior Medical
“I’m so grateful that I’ll be able to work alongside some of the best doctors in the world, learn from them and make a difference for the public.” JMO Bianca Khoury said her decision to pursue medicine was shaped by seeing the impact doctors can have across different communities. “Watching my grandfather practise as a GP in South Africa and later in Australia showed me the lasting relationships at the heart of good medical care,” she said. Sometimes simply being present has value in itself.” Also joining the cohort is Crystal Piper, a current serving Navy medical officer. “Joining the Navy allows me to combine medicine and service,” Crystal said. I hope to be a calm presence in stressful moments and deliver safe, compassionate care to every patient.”
Officers (JMOs) to its hospitals as part of the 2026 clinical year, marking the beginning of an important new chapter for the district’s future medical workforce. The cohort participated in an orientation program that included education sessions, networking opportunities, clinical training and a welcome morning tea, giving JMOs the chance to connect with peers and discuss the year ahead. Over the next 12 months, the JMOs will undertake supervised practice across metropolitan, regional and rural hospitals, gaining hands-on experience supported by structured education and training as they progress towards independent practice. Among the cohort is Jordan Munro, a former paramedic whose path to medicine began early. “Getting to work in NSLHD is such a blessing,” he said.
Bianca Khoury, Jordan Munro, Chief Executive Anthony Schembri, Crystal Piper, Mansimran Loyal and Daryl-Anne Elias, Director of Medical Services
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Australia Day honours Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) staff have been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List for their significant contributions to patient care, research, public health, and education. Professor Robyn Gallagher has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to nursing academia, to cardiovascular health and disease prevention research, to rehabilitation, and to tertiary education. Professor Andrew Paul Sindone, Head of Cardiology at Ryde Hospital and Head of the Cardiology Network across NSLHD, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for significant service to cardiology and to cardiovascular disease research. Dr Andrew Wines has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to orthopaedic surgery and to the community, reflecting decades of clinical leadership and commitment to improving patient outcomes. Professor Ian Kerridge, a current NSLHD clinician, has also been recognised as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to ethics research and training, and as a clinician and author. “I am honoured and humbled to be receiving this award in the Australia Day Honours,” said Professor Sindone. “It has been a privilege to help people with heart disease, particularly heart failure, over almost forty years. I am especially proud to have grown up in the Ryde area and to still be working here as Head of Cardiology at Ryde Hospital.” Professor Sindone’s connection to NSLHD dates back to the mid-1980s, when he trained as an intern and resident medical officer. He currently chairs three NSW Government committees on heart failure and cardiovascular disease and has worked closely with the National Heart Foundation for many years. “Heart disease is still the biggest killer in Australia, but much of it is preventable, and we now have very good treatments,” he said. “My focus has been on getting the right care to patients who may otherwise miss out. I have tried to give back through teaching, research and community work, to help people live longer, feel better, and stay out of hospital.”
Dr Andrew Wines AM
Professor Andrew Paul Sindone AO
Professor Robyn Gallagher AO
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Participants pause to take in the landscape
Walk on Country: Connecting with Country As Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) develops its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy 2026-2029, members of the NSLHD Executive Unit, along with district office staff and the senior leadership team, took part in a Walk on Country at Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park.
occupation sites, paintings, stencils, axe grinding grooves, and middens. Pauline Deweerd, Executive Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, said the Walk on Country gave the Executive Leadership Team a valuable chance to connect with the land on which they are shaping policy. “There’s always an opportunity to learn more,” she said. Anthony Schembri, NSLHD Chief Executive, emphasised the importance of understanding the history of the district. “The walk provided an opportunity to come together and learn about the local cultural landscape and history,” he said To support the development of the NSLHD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy 2026-2029, all staff are invited to complete the staff survey. Staff can fill in the survey here: https://bit.ly/4k6HgMP
This initiative was led by NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri to deepen understanding of Country and local Aboriginal culture. The walk was guided by Uncle Laurie from Guringai Aboriginal Tours and took place along the Basin and Mackerel tracks. It offered a unique opportunity to explore Aboriginal rock paintings and hear directly from cultural leaders about the history, stories, and ongoing connection of the local Aboriginal community to the land. The national park contains extensive evidence of Aboriginal occupation prior to European contact, with more than 800 sites including rock engravings, cave drawings,
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RNSH rapid response to Bondi shooting The violent shootings at Bondi Beach on 14 December, which claimed 15 lives and injured around 40 people during a Hanukkah celebration, marked one of the most devastating acts of antisemitic violence in Australia.
staff,” said Geoff. Five medical teams were established in the ED, radiology ensured CT scanners were available, and the Red Cross Blood Bank enacted its disaster plan. Within half an hour, the first patient arrived with a gunshot wound and was taken directly to theatre after assessment and imaging. A second patient followed shortly after, before further casualties were diverted to other hospitals. Despite the major incident response, the ED continued managing routine emergencies, including an emergency caesarean section and another major trauma case. “I’m extremely proud of our staff,” said Geoff. “The selflessness shown by people who came in on their day off to help others was extraordinary.” RNSH Emergency Nurse Manager Claire Longo also came in on her day off to assist. “When we are put to the test, our response reflects the strength of our systems, training and teamwork,” she said. In the days following the incident, the ED led debriefs and welfare checks for staff involved. Four patients were admitted to the Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. ICU nurses, medical staff and allied health teams delivered continuous monitoring and coordinated specialist care over an extended period. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri thanked staff for their response. “Our response demonstrated a system able to scale quickly under pressure and the commitment of our people,” he said.
As the incident unfolded, Royal North Shore Hospital clinicians responded swiftly, both at the scene and in the emergency department (ED), demonstrating professionalism and calm under extreme pressure. RNSH Clinical Nurse Specialist in Trauma Ruby Hartley was at Bronte Beach when she heard gunshots and learned there was an active shooter at Bondi. She arrived around ten minutes after the shooting had stopped and began helping medically manage victims, while communicating with the RNSH ED and supporting NSW Ambulance retrieval teams with blood products and medications. Across the city, RNSH emergency and trauma staff were receiving reports of a major incident. Geoff Healy, Director of Trauma, was alerted while returning home from a shift and immediately headed back to the hospital, mobilising specialists as information rapidly flowed in. By the time he arrived, the ED had activated a code brown major, signalling a mass casualty incident. Trauma specialists, emergency physicians, surgeons, anaesthetists and ICU staff arrived, many voluntarily or staying beyond their rostered shifts. “We were told there were seven red-label patients coming in, so we opened four operating theatres and called in additional
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales (front row, third from left) visited the RNSH Emergency staff who cared for victims of the Bondi attack
The Governor (middle, fifth from right) also visited ICU staff involved in the Bondi response
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RNSH Doctor among first responders at Bondi shooting It was a Sunday evening, the first night of Hanukkah, and Zac Seidman and his family had just lit the first candle on the Menorah, the ritual central to the Jewish festival.
While moving through the treatment area, Zac spotted a young man he recognised from the Jewish community who had been shot while warning others about the shooter. Zac packed his wounds to stop the bleeding. “This is something I just never thought I would have to do,” he said. Working alongside a paramedic, he stabilised the young man until he was transferred for hospital treatment. Zac remained at the scene for several hours. Days later, Zac attended a RNSH debriefing. “It was quite useful for me to see and hear, and also very healing for me to be part of that meeting and to see how RNSH responded,” he said. He later heard that the young man had recovered from trauma surgery at another hospital. In the aftermath, he keeps returning to the symbolism of lighting candles over the eight days of Hanukkah, seeing in it a reflection of all the people who worked together to help at Bondi. “The miracle of people in that moment — they were all lights.”
Later, while his wife was putting their young son to bed, Zac, a medical registrar at Royal North Shore Hospital, received an alert on his phone. It came from Community Health Support (CHS), a free emergency medical advice and response service in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Zac, born in Sydney, has volunteered with the organisation since inception, which was set up to serve both the Jewish and broader community when in medical need. The first CHS message read: “Critical incident. Bondi. Standby”. A second followed: “Mass casualty shooting.” Zac dressed quickly in his CHS uniform, grabbed his gear and left. Like many RNSH clinicians who would become part of the response, his night was about to change. He soon learned that a Hanukkah event had been targeted. When he arrived, he was struck not only by the scale of the disaster but by the number of familiar faces. People were lying on the ground, others were crying and terrified. Lifeguards brought surfboards to help move patients, while bystanders used their shirts to stem bleeding. Zac met his CHS colleagues and joined the triage effort, focusing on identifying who needed urgent care. “People became organised quite quickly,” he said. “It was organised chaos.” Severely injured patients were moved to a makeshift treatment area where NSW ambulance paramedics, CHS volunteers and lifesavers worked alongside many off-duty doctors, nurses and paramedics. Zac would later briefly connect with off-duty RNSH trauma nurse Ruby Hartley, who was also helping victims. “I feel pride that I was able to help where I could,” he said.
Dr Zac Seidman
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Rabbis, hospital staff, and a patient recently discharged following the Bondi attack during the Menorah lighting ceremony at RNSH
NSLHD Hospitals Come Together for Menorah Lighting In the wake of the antisemitic attack on 14 December, Royal North Shore Hospital and Hornsby Hospital held Menorah lighting ceremonies to acknowledge the lives lost in the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to
meaning of the menorah and its enduring message. “It is the flicker of hope. We take the light and the positive. Each night the light grows. We must keep bringing light,” he said. He reflected on the Jewish tradition of responding to darkness with action, compassion, and connection. “We stand shoulder to shoulder. We bring inspiration, joy, and good deeds. We remember those lost, pray for healing, and choose kindness over hate.” Across both hospitals, the ceremonies provided a moment to pause, stand together, and reaffirm shared values of care, respect, and community.
stand in solidarity with those affected. At RNSH, staff gathered in the foyer alongside local rabbis, hospital colleagues, and a patient recently discharged following treatment related to the Bondi attack. Candles were lit in a moment of reflection, remembrance, and hope, acknowledging loss while affirming life, healing, and unity. Staff at Hornsby Hospital came together for a remembrance event, pausing collectively to reflect before the lighting of candles and a minute of silence. Rabbi Shapiro spoke at RNSH about the
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Drs Jacob Pogson, Avedis Akmejian, Sally Wootton with Professor John Prins, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Investing in our research pipeline Three senior clinical research fellows have been appointed as part of an exciting initiative between the University of Sydney and NSLHD to drive activity and build crucial research capability. The group includes audiologist Dr Jacob Pogson, cardiologist Dr Avedis Ekmejian, and physiotherapist Dr Sally Wootton.
cardiologist and clinician-scientist at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Kolling Institute. His research focuses on coronary disease, intravascular imaging, and computational modelling. “I have always tried to improve the prognostic utility of the tools we use in cardiology, and this takes dedicated research, from the benchtop all the way to clinical trials,” he said. “This fellowship has come at a pivotal time for me, as I transition to the next stage of my research career. With the experience I have gained, I now feel ready to lead trials, supervise junior researchers, and make a real change in cardiology.” Dr Sally Wootton is a specialist physiotherapist who leads pulmonary rehabilitation programs across five sites. Her work focuses on digital rehabilitation models and pre-operative exercise programs for lung cancer patients. She said it’s really hard to run successful research whilst in a clinical role as you’re always getting pulled in different directions. “I’m currently involved in two clinical trials: implementing a digital model of care in clinical practice and implementing a pre- operative exercise training program for people waiting for lung surgery,” she said. “The fellowship role will allow me to spend dedicated time on both projects to ensure successful completion, whilst also giving me time to plan the next steps and apply for larger grant opportunities to scale and spread our work.” Funding for the roles has been jointly provided by the University of Sydney and NSLHD.
Northern Sydney (Arabanoo) Precinct, Academic Director Professor James Elliott said the initiative builds a better research culture, while boosting collaboration and strengthening the alliance between NSLHD and the University of Sydney. “By working together, we can build trust and deliver research that truly impacts patient care. We are so proud to support this program,” he said. Dr Jacob Pogson is a neuro-otology clinician- scientist at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Kolling Institute, with over 15 years’ experience in vestibular neurosciences and audiology syndromes. He said the fellowship will allow him to work with neurogeneticists, neuroscientists, and bioinformaticians in the Kolling’s Meniere’s Disease Neuroscience Laboratory. “It’s an exciting time for neuro-otology and especially in Meniere’s Disease, because genetic work over the past 15–20 years is revolutionising our understanding of genes and the immune system within the inner ear,” he said. “This scientific work is starting to influence clinical management, but there is still so much that we don’t understand, which will be necessary to implement better diagnostic criteria and personalised medicine. Dr Avedis Ekmejian is an interventional
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Expanding Care for Parkinson’s Disease For people living with Parkinson’s disease,
Across Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD), more than 5,500 people are living with Parkinson’s — a number expected to rise to over 7,300 by 2035. As the condition progresses, tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement can make everyday activities increasingly difficult. Oral medications often lose effectiveness over time, leading to frustrating fluctuations in symptom control. Parkinson’s nurse Sue Williams said the new treatment was changing people’s lives. “It’s very rewarding to see people who were living with disabling Parkinson’s symptoms regain control and return to doing the things they love,” she said.
symptoms such as hand tremors can fluctuate throughout the day, making common daily tasks a source of stress. For Shee Fong Kuang, her shaky hands were affecting her work life. “I use the laptop eight hours a day at work, so it can be frustrating when I’m in my off period,” she said. In September last year, Shee Fong became the first patient at Royal North Shore Hospital’s Movement Disorder Clinic to start Vyalev, a new Parkinson’s medication. A small pump similar to those used by people with diabetes, it delivers medication continuously under the skin throughout the day, helping to keep symptoms more stable and predictable. “The first thing I noticed when I started on Vyalev was fewer hand tremors and stronger legs,” she said. “Less hand tremors means I can control the mouse better. The stronger legs make me more sure on my feet, and I’m more confident to get out and about nowadays.” Since Shee Fong first used the drug, the clinic has seen five other patients successfully start the treatment, including the first nursing home patient in Australia. humans of sdpr: Sally Duncan Sally Duncan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer, has more than 26 years in clinical nursing and midwifery and 20 years in digital health. She is passionate about bringing safe, secure, and intuitive digital platforms into everyday care and ensuring clinicians are trained to use them effectively. “I’ve been involved in the planning of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) from the very beginning,” she said. “My focus has always been keeping the relationship between patients, carers and clinicians at the heart of human-centred design, while strengthening our analytics and research capabilities.” Through her work on multiple SDPR committees, including co-chairing the End User Devices and Inpatient and Comprehensive Care working groups, she has seen how standardised technology and evidence-based documentation support safe, multidisciplinary care. As Co-Chair of the SDPR Council of all Chairs (COACH) and a member of the Safety and
Neurologist Dr Michal Lubomski, patient Shee Fong Kuang and Parkinson’s nurse Susan Williams
Quality Advisory Group, she said her role ensures clinical perspectives guide statewide decisions. “SDPR is the biggest clinical and digital transformation in NSW Health,” she said.
Sally Duncan
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Community nurses in the making Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service (NSHNS) piloted a Year 10/11 work experience placement with Arlo, a local high school student, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase the diverse and rewarding nature of community based nursing. Under the close supervision of the NSHNS Mona Vale team, Arlo spent a week accompanying staff and gaining insight into everyday community nursing practice. He described the placement as “really enjoyable” and “eye opening”, and noted that each nurse showed him different approaches
others. Following the placement, he is now considering nursing as a future career, following in the footsteps of his mother, Caroline Johnston, who is a community nurse.
to treating a variety of wounds. While some aspects were initially
confronting, Arlo said he quickly became more comfortable and engaged as the week progressed. The experience also highlighted for him the importance of care and prevention, particularly as people age. Arlo said he would highly recommend community nursing to anyone who enjoys connecting with people and helping
The display at RNSH
Caroline Johnston, NSHNS Mona Vale team, Mona Vale and Arlo
David’s second chance after cardiac arrest It was a regular day of squats and deadlifts at the gym for David Manatua when he felt a tightness in his chest.
He later learned from Dr Mark Gillett, ED staff specialist at RNSH, that he had received almost 20 minutes of CPR, multiple cardiac drugs, and six electrical defibrillations. After a week in intensive care, David began six weeks of cardiac rehab at RNSH, where guided exercise and education helped him regain strength. He is now back at work and exercising at the gym. “I can’t thank everyone enough – the staff in emergency and also the rehabilitation service, which put me on my feet again, gave me the confidence to push myself a little bit every time.”
“Because I have a high pain tolerance, I just thought it was annoying,” he recalled. “I continued working out but then I felt discomfort in the left side of my neck and left side of my jaw.” The 43 year old building manager decided it was time to go to hospital, so he drove to Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), just down the road from the gym. He called his wife to let her know, reassuring her it wouldn’t take long. After all, he was eager to be back home in time to watch an All Blacks game, which was starting in an hour, and to be with his toddler son Hunter. But when David walked into the emergency department (ED) and began speaking to a nurse, he suddenly felt sick. “It was a cold sweat,” he said. “The nurse told me I looked really unwell.” His appearance — sweating and pale — prompted immediate action from nursing staff, who rushed him into a resuscitation bay. David was attached to an ECG machine. “That’s when they saw there something wrong with my heart rhythm,” he said. The nurses began prepping him, and he remembers apologising before passing out. “I think I died then.”
Heart attack survivor David Manatua
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