NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT
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Springing Into Action to Prevent Falls
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NSLHD shines at NSW Health AwardS, Two winners named Page 4
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Message from the chief executive
Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues,
focusing on the impact of menopause in the workplace, highlighting that it is not just a personal journey but a workplace issue that affects 50 per cent of our workforce. By fostering more inclusive environments our district can better support colleagues during this time in their lives. I want to thank our People and Culture team, and all involved for making this event a success. Two finalists from NSLHD won awards at the 2024 NSW Health Awards, with the planetary health team receiving the Environmental Sustainability Award for its project on baseline emissions and a net zero pathway, while the Parental Leave Understanding and Support (PLUS) program, led by the RNSH emergency department, won the People and Culture Award for its support of new working parents in emergency medicine. Congratulations to both winners and to our other district finalist for being shortlisted across three award categories. Finally I am pleased to invite you to the 2024 NSLHD Annual Public Meeting, taking place on 22 November from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. This year’s theme is Research and Clinical Trials. If you wish to join us in person, please RSVP by emailing: NSLHD-media@health. nsw.gov.au, or join online using this link: https://bit.ly/NSLHD-APM-2024. I do hope you can join us to celebrate the achievements of the past 12 months and encourage everyone to attend and participate in this annual event. Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
As we conclude Mental Health Month, let us continue the spirit of self-care and connection that has been highlighted throughout this period. Prioritising mental health and supporting one another is vital, not just during this month but every day. I had the great pleasure to attend the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) Rewards and Recognition 2024 event at Hornsby RSL, where we celebrated the incredible work of our MHDA teams. It was a wonderful way to recognise their dedication and tireless efforts in supporting those most vulnerable in our community. This past week, our hospital teams were involved in the mock Short Notice Accreditation assessments. These exercises are critical in ensuring we are fully prepared for the upcoming formal accreditation. I appreciate everyone’s efforts to prepare for the accreditation that help ensure we deliver the highest quality care to patients. It was a pleasure to launch our first Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment Safety Plan with NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce, Board Chair Trevor Danos and Executive Director of People and Culture Paula Williscroft. The plan guides managers and staff on how to foster and enable a supportive workplace. World Menopause Day was an important occasion for us, marked by the Minister for Women, the Hon. Jodie Elizabeth Harrison, MP, visiting the Menopause Hub. Having a menopause hub located at Royal North Shore Hospital is a great service for the women of Sydney’s northern suburbs. The district also held a menopause awareness-raising event, where I was pleased to take part in a panel discussion,
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NSLHD deputy Board Chair Professor Mary Chiarella AM (second to left) helping out at the RNSH Spring into Action stall
Springing Into Action to Prevent Falls Spring into Action returned for its second year across the district to help raise awareness around falls prevention and the importance of physical activity. Coordinated by NSLHD’s Population Health
board member Karen Filocamo. Speaking about the initiative, NSLHD Falls Prevention Coordinator Margaret Armstrong said raising awareness about falls and the importance of exercise can positively impact public health. “Research has shown that regular exercise that includes both functional strength and balance challenges, can reduce falls by 23 per cent,” she said. The program has gained traction at a statewide level, with the NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing Network engaging several other local health districts and services to implement the initiative. For more information on Spring Into Action visit https://nshp.com.au/SpringIntoAction
Promotion’s Healthy Ageing team, the initiative uses a yellow theme to signify spring and encourage older adults to ‘Spring into Action’ with physical activity during the warmer weather to reduce the risk of falls. Promotional stalls, crazy sock days, community health activities and walks using NatureFix were some of the celebrations across the district to raise awareness. Some of these celebrations included two special guests joining in - NSLHD deputy Board Chair Professor Mary Chiarella AM and
NSLHD board member Karen Filocamo (third to right) helping out at the Hornsby Hospital Spring into Action stall
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NSLHD shines at NSW Health Awards Two finalists from NSLHD were named as award winners at the 2024 NSW Health Awards. The NSW Health Awards are incredibly prestigious and showcase some of the most outstanding teams and individuals from across the NSW Health public system. The district’s planetary health team took out the Environmental Sustainability Award after they completed a first-of-its-kind project to calculate baseline emissions, identify reduction strategies, and model a Paris Agreement-aligned pathway to net zero, informing the NSLHD Planetary Health Framework 2024-2027. The Parental Leave Understanding and Support (PLUS) program, led by the RNSH Emergency Department, was named the winner of the People and Culture Award. This program is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by new working parents in emergency medicine, offering mentorship, wellness sessions, lactation support, and a family room, resulting in improved staff retention and wellbeing. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri congratulated the winners on the achievement. “Congratulations to these winners along with our other district finalist for being shortlisted across three different award categories,” he said. “I am very proud to work for an organisation that continually provides exceptional care and innovates, and it is so pleasing to see this talent recognised at a state level.”
Winner - NSLHD Planetary Health Team
Environmental Sustainability Award
Winner - Royal North Shore Emergency Department
People and Culture Award
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Staff at the annual STEPtember presentation event
Another year of STEPtember success 408 staff members across the district recently took part in another year of STEPtember, raising a total of $33,682 for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) and taking over 100 million steps. STEPtember is a month-long fundraising event conducted by the CPA which aims to support a wide range of initiatives involving those living with cerebral palsy. The fundraising initiative raises money towards life changing research, treatment, services, assistive technologies, and support for people living with cerebral palsy. Leading the charge, NSLHD ranked first among all participating health and medical organisations participating in 2024, setting the standard for both funds raised and steps taken. An event was held to present the leading individuals and teams with their 2024 certificates and prizes, with the event being sponsored by Aware Super, Fitness Passport and Salary Packaging Plus. NSLHD Director of Health Safety and Wellbeing Xanthe Easterbrook thanked staff across the district for their participation and said the month-long event is always a highlight for the district’s fundraising efforts. “This year’s efforts are more than a physical feat - it brought staff closer, boosted overall well- being, and raised crucial funds for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance,” she said. “Thank you to everyone took part for their efforts, those who donated and to our three sponsors. “These contributions will fuel vital programs aimed at reducing both the incidence and severity of cerebral palsy.” Individual winners:
• Highest Individual Fundraiser 2024 - Hil Henchman (Health, Safety & Wellbeing, RNSH) • Highest Individual Stepper 2024 - Hayden Ellem (AYAH, Manly) Team winners: • Highest Fundraising Team 2024 - Hilly’s Soldiers take 2 (Hil Henchman, Renee Carroll, Xanthe Easterbrook and Gigi Kwok) • Highest Stepping Team 2024 - RNSH Respiratory Sleep Medicine (Ian Epondulan, Alyssa Lynch, Claire Doughty and Fei Ni Hau)
NSLHD’s highest individual stepper - Hayden Ellem with a member of the highest fundraising team ‘Hilly’s Soldiers’ Hil Henchman
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NatureFix initiative turns green spaces into wellness zones In an initiative to promote wellbeing and wellness for staff and visitors, NatureFix has been introduced across various sites within the district. Supported by a digital app, signage, mobile “Each wellbeing zone includes a series of short wellness audio routines designed to help increase self-care and encourage meaningful moments in nature to improve mood, energy and focus,” he said. “This, in turn, provides our staff with
audio, research data, and promotional materials, the NatureFix program aims to connect people with nature in a meaningful way. The digital platform transforms some of NSLHD’s sites’ green spaces into wellness places and unlocks the health benefits of nature through short self-guided mindfulness experiences carefully matched with the natural features known to improve wellbeing. NSLHD Healthy Built Environments Program Manager Jonathon Noyes said the program helps foster a connection to nature at sites.
wellbeing benefits and supports them to continue to provide high quality patient care for the community.” The initiative also provides staff with resources and nature-based exercises they can do in other green spaces outside of work. Staff and visitors wishing to try out the NatureFix can do so at five NSLHD sites: Royal North Shore, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Macquarie, Mona Vale hospitals and the Manly Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice.
NSLHD’s Healthy Built Environment team at Macquarie Hospital in the NatureFix zone
The NautureFix wellness zone at the Manly AYAH
NSLHD physiotherapists host network group Make no bones about it: physiotherapists from across the district had a “fantastic” evening delving into the world of orthopaedics.
About 60 physiotherapists attended the event at Hornsby Hospital
About 60 physiotherapists attended a first- of-its-kind masterclass to develop their skills in fractures, ACL management and x-rays. Hosted by the Northern Sydney Local Health District and Central Coast Local Health District Physiotherapy Orthopaedic Network Group, the evening involved orthopaedic specialist Dr Jobe Shatrov and senior orthopaedic physiotherapists giving presentations. Hornsby Hospital’s senior orthopaedic/ fracture clinic physiotherapist Avindu Vithanage said the masterclasses were important for the profession to develop it skills. “With nearly 60 physiotherapists from six hospitals in attendance from NSLHD & CCLHD, the event aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of physiotherapists in our region,” Avindu said.
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Culturally relevant pain solutions After training as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist in India, Dr Saurab Sharma returned to Nepal to treat patients but
Saurab has since translated and validated 29 pain assessment tools for Nepal and developed educational resources now adapted in four other countries. “Education and self-management are recommended by most global back pain guidelines but are rarely used,” Saurab noted. He’s now developing interventions to treat pain in Australia’s diverse communities, including Nepali, Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese populations.”
quickly realised that western pain assessment methods didn’t fit his community. One major issue was the numeric pain rating scale, which many Nepali patients struggled with due to unfamiliarity with numbers. “Not many people here take surveys in their day-to- day life. For many, it’s the first time,” Saurab explained. He also noticed a lack of local research on musculoskeletal pain, particularly back pain. To address this, he collaborated with Professor Mark Jensen, a prominent pain researcher, and later earned a PhD in New Zealand. Now Chief Scientist for Clinical Research at the Pain Management and Research Centre at Royal North Shore Hospital, Saurab emphasises the need for more pain research in low- and middle-income countries, as well as culturally relevant interventions for diverse communities in Australia. His research in Nepal found that the numeric pain scale had the highest error rate, while patients preferred the “Faces rating scale.” World Menopause Day at NSLHD NSLHD has opened a Menopause Hub dedicated to treating individuals with severe, complex, and/or prolonged menopause symptoms. Minister for Women, Elizabeth Harrison, officially opened the hub. The Embrace Gender Equity Employee Network marked World Menopause Day 2024 with a panel discussion on menopause as a workplace issue. NSLHD Chief Executive, Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM, emphasised the need for gender equity and support for employees experiencing menopause. “With 77 per cent of our employees being women and the average
Dr Saurab Sharma
Panel member Candice Clayton-Both said “Menopause is everyone’s issue; it’s a workplace issue.” The panel included Katherine Baychek, registered nurse; Candice Clayton-Both; Dr Shejil Kumar, endocrinology fellow; Grace Molloy, CEO of Menopause Friendly Australia; and Dr Danielle Robson, Clinical Lead of the NSLHD Menopause Hub. Dr Kumar also shared research on improving bone and muscle health in postmenopausal women.
age of menopause at 51, many will experience menopause while still in the workforce. Addressing it as a workplace issue can reduce stigma, improve productivity, and create a more inclusive environment,” he said. Led by Director of People and Culture Paula Williscroft, the panel referenced a 2021 study showing that 83 per cent of women said menopause impacted their work, but only 70 per cent felt comfortable discussing it with managers.
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison (middle) visited the Menopause Hub for Menopause Day
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