MACQUARIE HOSPITAL NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2025
Celebrating Allied Health Staff
Spring Walk
From My desk
Hello Everyone
We coming to the end of “award season” and it is wonderful to see how many MHDA staff have been recognised for their contribution to health in a variety of ways across the district. I would particularly like to congratulate the following Macquarie Staff who were well deserved winners at the MHDA rewards and Recognition Ceremony.
Santhea Chandramohan Inclusive Practice award
Macquarie Hospital Environmental Services, Support Service award
Plus a special mention to the amazing Unsung Hero runners up - Susanne Russell and Helen Maguire
Claudia White, Unsung hero Award
Xue Zhang also received a Special Recognition Award for Service beyond the call of duty - congratulations! During the Allied Health Day celebrations here on 14 October 2025 Georgie Turnbull, was the recipient of the NSLHD Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year award (pictured below with Teahne Lyons another well-deserved MHDA award winner)
Celebrating Allied Health staff and their invaluable work!
I would like to thank all the staff involved in organising the Macquarie Mental Health Month Activities with the theme “Taking steps on your wellbeing Journey”, including the Spring Walk (Alex Kelly), The Art exhibition “Taking Steps” (Jasmine Stevens) and the many other events coordinated by the Mental Health Month Champions, Lisa Troy and Lisa Maree Taylor.
The preparation for the Hammond Care Riverglen relocation continues and in the next couple of weeks I will be coordinating another town hall as we are moving closer to the renovation works commencing in Building 50. Until then the current Frequently Asked Questions up to this point are below.
There is consultation underway currently regarding the proposed realignment of Stepping Stones with the Rehabilitation Program team including meetings held with the relevant Clinical teams, plus a town hall for any interested parties held on 15 October 2025. Again, the Frequently Asked Questions that have come out of the consultation process are below and as with any of these processes you are always welcome to contact me with any question, concerns or feedback.
As much as it hurts me to say this in October, Christmas is coming and some dates to put in the calendar are: Thursday 20 November 2025 - Staff Appreciation Lunch Thursday 11 December 2025 – The Hospital Christmas dance. Details to follow closer to the time ……. start planning for the Christmas decoration competition!!
Anne Bajuk Service Director/Site Manager | Macquarie Hospital NSLHD
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Realignment of the Stepping Stones Program with The Rehabilitation Program Team, Macquarie Hospital
Staff Questions / Concerns
NSLHD Response
What is happening?
In October 2020 MHDA received Ministry of Health funding for a Homeless Mental Health Consumer Intensive Rehabilitation Project, utilising 2 existing Figtree Unit cottages (8 beds). The program, staffed by a dedicated team and operating under a different model of care to Figtree Unit, provides intensive rehabilitation to support people with mental illness experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. The Rehabilitation Co-ordinator is the Clinical Lead, overseeing training, implementation, and clinical oversight and evaluation of the model. Funding for Stepping Stones which was for a number of years temporary was confirmed as recurrent from July 2025. This presented an opportunity to review the model of care and conduct a realignment aimed at enhancing consumer care, optimising bed flow, ensuring effective and equitable resource allocation, and re-aligning governance structures to establish clearer, more sustainable line management for the team. This realignment proposes transitioning the Stepping Stones program from a single dedicated unit to a hospital wide in-reach model, where consumers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can be admitted to any clinically suitable unit and referred for in-reach support. This will be achieved by amalgamating the Stepping Stones Team into the Rehabilitation Program Team, reporting solely to the Rehabilitation Program Manager with continued clinical support from the Rehabilitation coordinator. The industrial consultation with the HSU, NSWNMWA and ASMOF has commenced with letters sent to all parties between the 4 and 8/10/25 The below indicates the key actions to occur and the timeframe Action Send correspondence to affected staff Send correspondence to Unions Meeting with affected staff Timeframe (by when) 4 October 2025 8 October 2025 9-10 October 2025
Industrial Consultation?
What is the time frame?
FAQ - Realignment of the Stepping Stones Program with The Rehabilitation Program Team, Macquarie Hospital October 2025
Two-week consultation period Pending no USCC requests by unions, progress to recruitment for Permanent Rehabilitation Program Manager position
8 October 2025 20 October 2025
Consultation period is expected to remain open until 20/10/25. Once realignment is approved Rehabilitation Program Manager recruitment will commence, and model of care development work is anticipated to start in early 2026. Ongoing communications will continue. This will be established in the model of care. The aim will be to provide a more proportionate staff: consumer ratio while maintaining the intensive rehabilitation model and is estimated to be 10-15 beds for Stepping Stones based on staff feedback during consultation. All staff currently working within the Stepping Stones, Figtree Unit and Rehabilitation Program teams still have a job with largely unchanged roles. The Stepping Stones Team will move under the direct line management of The Rehabilitation Team, streamlining from dual reporting lines. All other team members’ reporting lines remain unchanged. The medical FTE will be combined into the hospital medical staffing budget, with allocation to be determined in consultation with Clinical Director. There will be enhanced career progression opportunities for a wider range of allied health professionals and nursing as the Rehabilitation Program Manager and Rehabilitation Coordinator positions will be open to nursing as well as all allied health disciplines working within the Hospital including Art Therapist, Dietitian, Diversional Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Music Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Social Worker and Speech Pathologist (with no impact to permanent incumbent of the current Rehabilitation coordinator role ). This will also provide increased opportunity for a wider variety of disciplines for leave cover in periods of higher- grade duties.
How many Stepping Stones beds will be across the site?
What will happen to staff impacted by the realignment?
As Stepping Stones will be realigned with the Rehabilitation Program Team, an office space within the
Where will Stepping Stones offices be located?
FAQ - Realignment of the Stepping Stones Program with The Rehabilitation Program Team, Macquarie Hospital October 2025
Rehabilitation Program Area will be identified. Current scoping of appropriate spaces is occurring with engineering to ensure access to appropriate space, and resources. This will be completed in consultation with the Rehabilitation Program Team All ward allocated staff will continue with largely unchanged roles, and no change to position descriptions. The impact of the reinstatement of the total 20 Figtree Unit beds to Dual Diagnosis is acknowledged, particularly for allied health staff members currently allocated to work at Figtree Unit. Department heads will continue to review workloads and staffing allocation to ensure an equitable access to service, and workload for staff, across the hospital. There is no loss of FTE to the service. It is important to note that as of January 2025 with the temporarily capped Manning beds the Allied Health Staff allocated to Manning were redeployed to the wider hospital and remain available across the site. This augments the Allied Health FTE available for the remaining 8 wards and will do so for duration of the HammondCare Riverglen relocation projected to end in May 2029 The FTE allocated from the OT department for the 12- month rotation to the rehabilitation program team will be reviewed with the Rehabilitation Program Manager and Occupational Therapy Manager to evaluate workload and ensure equity in FTE allocation. There is not expected to be any duplication of service when the Stepping Stones team is involved, meaning if a dedicated Stepping Stones team member is working with a consumer, there will not be an expectation for a unit- based team member of the same discipline to also work with that individual. This will result in a reduction of workload for the allocated Allied health staff on teams where Stepping Stones clinicians are working with consumers.
How does this impact ward allocated staff?
Who will have clinical oversight of Stepping Stones?
The Rehabilitation Co-Ordinator will remain as Clinical Lead for the Stepping Stones Program. The direct line management will be The Rehabilitation Program Manager, and the Stepping Stones Team will work with unit treating team for intervention and discharge planning.
FAQ - Realignment of the Stepping Stones Program with The Rehabilitation Program Team, Macquarie Hospital October 2025
Will I have access to my professional lead?
All staff members will continue to have access to their professional lead, and clinical supervision, and discipline specific continued professional development opportunities through the relevant Allied health team Any changes to service delivery will be undertaken with every intent to minimise disruption to consumer care and outcomes. Consumers within the Stepping Stones beds in the dedicated Figtree Units will remain in the allocated bed until discharge, as long as it remains clinically appropriate. Future Stepping Stones consumers will be admitted to units which best suit their needs. It is anticipated that these will be within the short stream units, however, will be assessed for each individuals’ needs. The Rehabilitation Program will continue with regular group delivery and evaluation. Stepping Stones team members will facilitate groups to a wider population of the hospital, which increases access to diverse MDT based rehabilitation interventions in line with the NSW Health Inpatient Mental Health Rehabilitation Model of Care Framework.
What will happen to consumers currently in Stepping Stones?
Where will the new Stepping Stones beds be?
What about groups?
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Anne Bajuk, Service Director/Site Manager via Anne.Bajuk@health.nsw.gov.au
FAQ - Realignment of the Stepping Stones Program with The Rehabilitation Program Team, Macquarie Hospital October 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare Riverglen Temporary Relocation to Manning Unit
Staff Questions/ Concerns What is happening?
NSLHD response HammondCare recently announced a complete redevelopment of the Greenwich Hospital site. The redeveloped Greenwich Hospital site will be a centre od excellence foe care of older persons with complex care needs with building scheduled to commence 1 April 2026. During this redevelopment of Greenwich Hospital, it is proposed that Riverglen will temporarily relocate to its new premises in the Macquarie Hospital, Manning Unit by March 2026 Under this arrangement HammondCare will fund significant capital works in the Manning Unit. This will enable the delivery of quality care for patients for the approximately 3 years that Hammond Care is expected to be on site. Exact timeframes for consultation and transition are still being finalised. The executive teams will meet soon to discuss these details and develop a consultation plan. The industrial consultation will involve the HSU, NSWNMWA and ASMOF. As more information becomes available, consultation opportunities will be scheduled through the existing Site Consultative Committee. (SCC) It is also acknowledged that the upcoming transition to HealthShare adds complexity, and ongoing communication with all stakeholders, including HealthShare, will be maintained. The Manning Unit beds have been temporarily capped since the end of January. At that time, many consumers were already in the process of transitioning to the community, which has since occurred successfully. The remaining long- stay consumers were moved to other Units that are appropriate for their current care needs. Other Units have sufficient capacity to meet similar consumer needs, and bed occupancy has remained around 85%. There has been no impact on referrals and admission to the hospital since the capping of Manning beds. Since the capping of the Manning beds all the staff have been redeployed to other units across the site. This has had a positive impact on vacancies across the hospital and increased the FTE of Medical Staff and Allied health staff available for consumers in the remaining 8 units. This will continue until a future operationalisation of Manning beds.
Industrial Consultation?
What will happen to consumers needing the type of services previously available from Manning Unit?
What will happen to the Manning Unit Staff?
Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare FAQ July 2025 - Updated September 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare Riverglen Temporary Relocation to Manning Unit
Will HammondCare be bringing its own support services such as pharmacy, catering, and cleaning into the Manning site? What level of consultation will occur with staff at Greenwich, and how will those impacts be communicated to members? Will there be similar forums and consultation processes with the unions? How will Mental Health Act and Tribunal considerations be organised? Will ECT service provision still be occurring for Riverglen consumers and will that be based in MQH? Will Riverglen operate as a locked Unit or an open Unit because Manning unit was open? How will registrar allocations work with the change? For example, will the two registrars normally assigned to Riverglen still provide cover for the Manning Unit? Will the new service be considered part of MHDA for matters like casual staffing, security and manager oversight?
It will be a closed unit as Riverglen currently operates as such. Riverglen will continue to run in its capacity as an acute older person's unit.
The Manning Unit building will accommodate the Riverglen Unit operating in a newly refurbished building. Staffing arrangements, including registrar allocations, will remain unchanged.
The service will not be part of MHDA and will remain an independent HammondCare service. All staffing issues including after-hours vacancies and casual staffing will remain a Hammond Care responsibility. HammondCare operates its own staffing pool and uses a separate payroll system outside NSW Health. This will not change. Security and other roles are still being reviewed and will need tobe discussed further.
HammondCare currently has its own pharmacy, cleaning and food services and this will continue as is.
Staff at Greenwich were notified at the same time as the Macquarie Hospital teams on 21 Jul 2025. Regular monthly town halls are in place to update staff, especially as all services prepare to move off the Greenwich site. Ongoing communications across both hospitals will continue, including updates on confirmed relocation details. HammondCare will continue to operate as a separate entity. All Mental Health Act processes, including Tribunal considerations, will follow HammondCare’s existing procedures. Macquarie Hospital processes remain unchanged. Yes, ECT services will be delivered on-site for both Riverglen and Macquarie consumers within the repurposed Manning unit. This is expected to bring significant efficiencies in relation to transfers and transport for Macquarie Hospital.
Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare FAQ July 2025 - Updated September 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare Riverglen Temporary Relocation to Manning Unit
Will ECT remain on site once Riverglen returns to the new Greenwich hospital site? With ECT now proposed to occur on-site at the repurposed Manning unit, how will the management of agitated or aggressive consumers be handled— particularly those from Riverglen? Currently, Macquarie Unit staff escort such consumers to ECT, will that process remain the same? Will the after-hours registrar coverage for Riverglen continue to be managed and paid by NSW Health? Given that there are still many unanswered questions and further planning required, is there a plan for communication to all?
The long-term location of ECT post-redevelopment is a future consideration and will need to be reviewed in time.
Currently the registrar covering Riverglen after hours is a Ryde/RNSH Registrar paid by NSW Health and is on call from home. This will remain unchanged Yes. there will be more town halls and forums. There will be discussions at the NSLHD/Greenwich Executive Steering Committee, operational discussions between MHDA/Macquarie Executive and Riverglen plus the SCC. This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document will be updated regularly as things evolve. The intention is to be transparent and ensure no one is caught by surprise as developments progress. Hammond care will continue to manage acute behavioural disturbance situation internally and there will be no requirement for the Macquarie Hospital CART team to respond. Similarly, Macquarie Hospital will not be required to respond for CODE Blue situations in the Riverglen Unit The Macquarie Hospital IRT will respond to Riverglen for all remaining Emergency Code alerts and a process for communication between Riverglen and the IRT is being developed For Macquarie consumers, the expectation is that the escort process will remain consistent. Unit staff who are familiar with the consumer will continue to escort them, but the logistics, such as distance, will change with the new location. These processes will need to be further reviewed in detail. Acutely behaviourally disturbed consumers will continue to go to RNSH for ECT as per current practice. HammondCare will not take on responsibility for MQH consumers transport and management of behavioural disturbance during ECT processes.
How will Emergency situations be managed?
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Anne Bajuk, Service Director/Site Manager via Anne.bajuk@health.nsw.gov.au
Macquarie Hospital and HammondCare FAQ July 2025 - Updated September 2025
Huge thanks to all staff who participated in the clinical redesign process, your input was invaluable.
Much positive progress has already been made in the area of Physical health care on site and work continues, led by the Director of Physical health care Dr Sanji Gunatilaka and the physical health committee alongside the Clinic and Well-Being Unit. Recent developments to note are:
The renovations to the Clinic which have created a welcoming, modern and professional clinical workspace for the team and consumers
The renovations delayed the introduction of the Mobile X ray service but now they are complete and the clinic is moving back into the new space the Mobile Xray will be back on track in the coming weeks
The Clinic NUM role has been regraded to a NUM 2 and recruitment is under way
As a result of recommendations from the Clinical Redesign we have received approval to increase the FTE of the Wellbeing Unit Manager role from 0.2FTE to 1 FTE temporarily for three years and work is underway to grade the position ready for advertising. Interviews have occurred for an Endocrinology Staff Specialist role who, as part of partnership with RNSH endocrine services, will be working 4 hours a week (once recruitment processes have been finalised) to provide specialist diabetes consultant service to the consumers on site The Ryde Palliative Care Consult Service received funding for additional staffing to provide care to a wider population in the area which now encompasses Macquarie Hospital. Following this a new model of care was developed and a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Macquarie Hosptial and the Palliative care service. The Ryde team will be available 24 hours to provide in reach support, education and consultation to the hospital staff and consumers (24 hours). More information will be provided by the team soon to let staff know who to contact and how.
Nursing News
MHDA REWARDS AND RECOGNITION AWARDS 2025 – CELEBRATING OUR STAFF
Special Recognition Award – Service Beyond the Call of Duty Congratulations to Xue Zhang, Nurse Unit Manager of Henley Unit, who has been awarded the Special Recognition Award for Service Beyond the Call of Duty. This award honours Xue’s exemplary actions and the pivotal role she played in saving the life of a colleague. Her professionalism, dedication, and commitment to the highest standards of care bring great credit to both herself and our organisation.
Finalist - Consumer Nominated Congratulations to Natalee Lewin, Registered Nurse, Figtree Unit, who was recognised as a finalist in the Consumer Nominated Staff Member category. Being nominated by consumers reflects the profound impact of her compassionate care and dedication to the people we serve.
2025 Nominees – Congratulations! We proudly acknowledge and congratulate the following nominees: Tarban House and Macquarie Hospital Education Team - Collaborative Team Macquarie Hospital Education Team and Thidar Htun & Tarban Team – Research, Quality Improvement, Innovation Wendy Guy, Xue Zhang, Rebecca Duo, Mehmet Kasif, and Eun-Mi An – Manager of the Year Terri-Anne Whitsed, Luren Reddy, and Ishbu Bhandari – Unsung Hero Phuoc Vu – Staff Member of the Year
MHDA Research Conference
A huge congratulations to the Tarban Team for their Quality Improvement project “Bright Smiles and Clear Minds.” Presented by Matt Barry, Rehabilitation Nurse, at the MHDA Research Conference on 27 August 2025, the project was awarded “Best Quality Improvement Presentation”. This is a fantastic achievement that highlights the team’s innovation and commitment to improving outcomes for our consumers. Best Quality Improvement Presentation - Tarban Team
Professional Development
Congratulations to Vincent Phan, Registered Nurse of Parkview Unit, on achieving accreditation as a Nurse Immuniser. Vincent will now be supporting our Immunisation Team to ensure consumers across the site receive their immunisations safely and effectively. This accomplishment demonstrates his commitment to professional growth and to the wellbeing of our community.
Nursing News
Staff Projects and Quality Initiatives
We are proud to highlight the innovative projects led by our staff as part of their ongoing commitment to quality improvement: Natalee Lewin, Figtree Unit The impact of physical health on mental illness consumers with metabolic syndrome induced by antipsychotic medication Syeda Mannan, Figtree Unit Management of smoking and vaping in Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation units – Figtree and Stepping Stones Roshan Karki, Parkview Unit Hospital Access Target – Planning and ensuring discharge of consumers occur prior to 12 midday
These initiatives demonstrate the dedication of our staff to advancing patient care and improving health outcomes across our hospital.
Welcome to the Team!
Please join us in welcoming:
Timothy Starnawski - Permanent full time Clinical Support Officer for Long Term Recovery Stream.
Leila Norouzzadehbalkabad - Acting Nurse Unit Manager for the Clinic until 2 November 2025. Leila brings extensive clinical experience and a passion for safe, high-quality care
Sienna Sirimanotham - Clinical Support Officer for Short Term Recovery Stream (until 7 June 2026).
Nursing News
Macquarie Hospital Education & Training
In addition, we acknowledge the nursing students from the University of Sydney who completed their two-week placement from 21 July to 1 August 2025. Post-placement survey feedback highlighted the positive impact of the learning environment at Macquarie Hospital: “The nurses and educator are very supportive.” “My growth in confidence, I was very nervous the first day, but all the nurses and consumers were so We also warmly welcomed 24 Student Registered Nurses from Australian Catholic University (ACU) who began a four-week clinical placement on 22 September 2025, continuing until 17 October 2025. We extend our sincere appreciation to all clinical staff, managers and departments for their ongoing commitment to mentoring and supporting our future nursing workforce. On 15 September 2025, our GradStart Registered Nurses commenced their second rotation. This cohort includes nurses from the 7 February, 6 April, and 2 June intakes. Each rotation provides these Gradstarts nurses with diverse clinical exposure across mental health Acute and Rehabilitation settings, supporting their development comprehensive, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person- centred care
friendly and willing to help me feel more comfortable and learn so much.” “The in-service that the nurse educator provided was really helpful.”
Safewards Training
The final SafeWards training session for 2025 was held on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. Additional training dates will be advertised before 16 December 2025.
The Macquarie Hospital Education Team are available to provide you and your team with any educational and training support or needs. To contact the education team, please email NSLHD-Macquarie- TrainingandEducation@health.nsw.gov.au , and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Re- Launch of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) Greater Sydney Branch Nursing News
The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) is excited to announce the re-establishment of the Greater Sydney Branch.
The Greater Sydney Branch will provide
A Local Point of Contact ACMHN branches serve as a forum where members can connect, take part in events, and collaborate on local initiatives. The branch framework ensures that mental health nurses feel supported, informed, and included. Elevation of Local Professional Recognition As a peak body and credentialing authority, ACMHN uses its branches to raise awareness and recognition of mental health nursing as a specialty. Local branches bring the voice of the profession into communities, highlighting our identity as mental health nurses, our expertise, leadership, and contributions in mental health care. Advocacy Across All Levels of Health and Government Representation matters, not just nationally, but locally too. ACMHN branches engage with state and territory health sectors and governments including the Ministry of Health, influencing policy, shaping standards, and ensuring mental health nurses play an active role in decision making everywhere. Getting Involved Meetings are scheduled monthly. For more information please get in touch with Euan MacLeay, Deputy Chair @ Euan.Macleay@health.nsw.gov.au or Suzy Glover Secretariat @ Suzanne.Glover1@health.nsw.gov.au
MARK JOYCE DIRECTOR OF NURSING MHDA
MEMBERSHIP WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? Membership comes with somegreat perks - fromspecialreduced rates for all of our events, to the latest information practice, education, and research, to exclusive member-only content on our website.
Events Special Interest Groups International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Newsletter
CollabHUB (Community Platform) Advocacy Credentialing Fellowship
Chaplaincy Corner
A man who took great pride in his lawn found himself with a large crop of dandelions. He tried every method he knew to destroy them. Still they plagued him. Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture. He enumerated all the things he had tried and closed his letter with the question: “What shall I do now?” In due course the reply came: “We suggest you learn to love them.” I was reminded of this parable of acceptance by Anthony de Mello, an Indian priest, on our Annual Spring Walk 30th September. I was suddenly struck by the vibrancy of patches of yellow capeweed. After all a weed is just “a flower growing in the wrong place”!
It was perfect weather. And as usual, our long-term staff members were at Piccolo Me Café cheerfully greeting and serving the masses. We thank God for such dedicated staff - ”The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
Every year on October 4th, Catholics worldwide celebrate The Feast Day of St Francis, a beloved figure known for his deep affinity with nature, and devoted service to the poor. In our “Blessing of the Animals” Chapel Service, a pet chicken was blessed while we thanked God for “all animals as partners on Earth, all birds as messengers of praise, all minute beings as expression of His mysterious design, and all frogs as voices of hope”.
ROSEMARIE SAY CHAPLAINCY COORDINATOR
MACQUARIE MENTAL HEALTH MONTH
SPRING WALK
Macquarie Hospital launched its Mental Health Month initiative on 30 September with the annual Spring Walk, bringing together more than 60 staff and consumers to focus on movement, connection, and wellbeing. The event reflected this year’s Mental Health Month theme, Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey , and aligned with the district’s Spring into Action and Steptember campaigns
encouraging recovery
everyday activity to support health and
Staff and consumers took part in displays across the hospital grounds, including the Planetary Health team’s sustainable living stall and the Healthy Active Environments Program’s NatureFix table, promoting the benefits of time spent outdoors. Visitors from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT also joined the event, engaging with participants and highlighting the value of animal-assisted programs in mental health care. After the walk, participants gathered at the Piccolo Me Café for coffee and conversation, with ice creams from Messina in the Rehabilitation Program rounding out the morning.
The Spring Walk set the pace for a full calendar of Mental Health Month activities at Macquarie Hospital. The Art Exhibition , held on 7 October, showcased creative steps in recovery through artworks from consumers, NSLHD peer workers, and community art groups. Other activities throughout the month included:
Recreation Centre Opening Day – 10 October Crafting Corner – 14 October Healthy Morning Tea – 17 October Pamper Day – 21 October Open Art for Staff – 24 October Power Your Path Exercise Session – 28 October
The event brought together staff and consumers from across programs, reinforcing the importance of shared initiatives that support people to take active steps— both literal and symbolic—on their wellbeing journey toward greater connection, health, and recovery.
Allied Health Professionals Day, 2025 with Rewards and Recognition! 14th October 2025
Allied Health Professions Day was held on 14th October, 2025 - a time to recognise and celebrate our exceptional Allied Health workforce.
This year’s theme, ‘Stronger Together’, highlights the benefits of multidisciplinary, team-based care and the partnerships we build to deliver best evidence-based, holistic, care within our service.
Our diverse and passionate Allied Health team members from Macquarie met in the Rehabilitation Program space to relax, connect, and share each other’s company over an afternoon tea, but not before some well-earned recognition from our Allied Health Directorate. With MHDA well represented in this year’s Allied Health Rewards and Recognition nominations, we paused first to congratulate two dedicated and innovative team members who were awarded for their contributions. Congratulations to: Georgina Turnbull, Social Worker, Macquarie Hospital, - Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year Teahne Lyons ,Mental Health Care Navigator, MHDA, - Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Allied Health Professional of the Year,
Pictured: Julia Capper (Executive Director of Allied Health, NSLHD), Georgina Turnbull (Social Worker), Sonya Robson (Social Work Manager
Teahne Lyons (Mental Health Care Navigator), Georgina Turnbull (Social Worker)
We look forward to see the continued achievements of Allied Health Team Members.
Recreation Centre Open Day – A Refreshing New Look!
As part of Mental Health Month and to celebrate recent refurbishments, the Rehabilitation Program Team hosted a successful Open Day at the Recreation Centre.
Consumers, staff, and students dropped in throughout the morning of 10 October 2025 to explore the refreshed spaces, as well as the Computer Lab, Recreation Area, and mini library. There were friendly games of billiards and cards, plenty of snacks and drinks, and—most importantly—time to connect and engage with the space.
There were opportunities for those who visited to tour the newly renovated Body & Mind Room and Music Therapy Room—purpose-built group spaces that support the wider Rehabilitation Program. Many also completed an “All About Me” form, helping us get to know you better and stay connected.
For those who couldn’t make it, we warmly invite you to drop by the Recreation Centre and see what’s on offer! We’re here to support recovery by encouraging connection with hobbies, community, and meaningful activities.
The Recreation Centre offers programs across four key areas aligned with the Community Leisure Directory (CLD): Exercise & Fitness Arts & Craft Social & Recreational Activities Educational & Volunteer Opportunities
Whether you're looking to try something new or just say hello, you're always welcome. Contact us: 📞 (02) 8877 5948 | 📱 0431 259 976 Program Manager: (02) 8877 4385 | 0447 778 479
Occupational Therapy
We have started a cooking group at 1700 in the Cottages on Mondays from August 2025. The main aim is to encourage consumers to cook their own meals in the Cottages. In July 2025 around 44% of consumers were self-catering in the Cottages – hopefully we can increase this number! Some other benefits can be building cooking skills, using cognitive strategies, building teamwork and social skills and encouraging healthy eating.
We have collaborated with Georgie (Senior Dietitian) who kindly put together a range of healthy and budget-friendly recipes with many thanks! Examples of recipes include Thai Chicken Burgers, Cheesy Baked Chicken, Fish & Coleslaw Tacos, Grilled Vege Pizza and San Choy Bow.
Quite a few consumers have been attending the group. We have 2-4
consumers each week in August 2025 and 3-5 consumers each week in September 2025. We are looking into potentially encouraging consumers to contribute to the group by buying some ingredients and practising shopping skills.
Thank you very much to all those who have supported the group and feel free to let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions!
William Chan Occupational Therapist Macquarie Hospital
Wellbeing unit
Thank You to Our Nursing Staff – Metabolic Audit 2025
Each year, the Wellbeing Unit conducts a metabolic audit to assess the physical and metabolic health of all consumers admitted to rehabilitation on a designated day. This year, “Met Day” took place on September 22nd. On the day, data was extracted from the electronic medical record (eMR), and members of the Wellbeing Unit visited the wards to collect additional information from consumers regarding their smoking and vaping habits, as well as anthropometric measurements. A comprehensive report will be developed once all data has been collated and analysed. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the nursing staff for their invaluable support in helping us gather the final pieces of information. Your assistance is greatly appreciated and plays a vital role in the success of this important audit.
Thanks Georgie McBride Senior Ditation
WHS Update
Introduction of MHDA and PACH WHS Consultant – Christina Liu
Christina has been with NSLHD since February 2024, initially with a portfolio of Ryde Hospital and PACH. Recently, Christina has had a portfolio change and now looks after MHDA (including Macquarie Hospital) and PACH.
Christina is mainly based at Macquarie Hospital but will be travelling to other hospital sites due to her portfolio.
If you have any Work Health and Safety questions or would like to schedule a meeting with her, please find her contact details below:
M 0457 500 017 | E christina.liu@health.nsw.gov.au
** Note: For all staff, please speak to your manager for WHS matters first before reaching out to Christina
October marks the month of safety in the workplace. How are you ensuring safety within your teams or services? Some reminders and updates: 1. Ensure your staff have read and signed off on the WHS Policy. Please check that you are using the most recent version (NSHD0169247 v4.0 published on 18 July 2025) of this policy because it been updated recently. 2.Ensure your staff have read and signed off on Hazardous Manual Task Policy (NSHD0168336 v3.0 published on 11/10/2023). 3.WHS Noticeboard is up to date (see link here on what should be on your WHS Noticeboard) 4.Hazard Management Register is up to date and staff knows where this is located and what contents are inside this folder 5.Staff are up to date with their manual handling training and have completed their annual practical skills review with their Manual Handling Resource Person. 6.Managers are up to date with Managers training 7.WHS is a regular agenda item in your team meeting (where WHS issues can be discussed and raised)
Quality and Risk News
Commencing November 2025 we will be holding monthly “Macquarie Munch & Methods” where everyone interested is invited to bring their lunch and join a presentation followed by discussion about a Research or QI Project. Stay tuned - more info coming soon!
Well done to all MQH staff who presented at the MHDA Research Conference on 27 August 2025:
Euan Macleay Lessons from the implementation of Comprehensive Care Planning and Review at Macquarie Hospital Thidar Htun - Bright Smiles and Clear Minds in Tarban House Karen Klarnett and Sarah Mithoefer -From Forums to Frameworks: Co Designing a Consumer Advisory Group at Macquarie Hospital Mbalia Lamin – Panel member, discussing “The Next Decade in MHDA Research: What Should We Prioritise”
Upcoming training opportunities: Clinical Trials - Good Clinical Practice - Monday 03rd Nov 2025 - Register Here
MHDA Research Conference Update: Co-Designing a Consumer Advisory Group at Macquarie Hospital
By Karen Klarnett & Sarah Mithoefer
At the 12th Annual MHDA Research Conference, held on 27 August 2025, our project “From Forums to Frameworks: Co-Designing a Consumer Advisory Group at Macquarie Hospital” was awarded Most Consumer / Carer Focused Presentation — a recognition that highlights the importance of embedding lived experience into service design and delivery.
This initiative reflects Macquarie Hospital’s commitment to NSQHS Standard 2 – Partnering with Consumers, and aligns with broader MHDA goals of fostering person-centred care and meaningful engagement.
Project Overview
The project explored the feasibility of establishing a Consumer Advisory Group (CAG) to provide structured, supported opportunities for consumers to contribute to service planning and improvement.
Over 50 consumers participated in focus groups across all program areas and units. The feedback revealed both strengths and gaps in current mechanisms: Strengths: Peer workers and nurses were praised for being approachable and responsive. Mutual Help Meetings were seen as valuable forums for sharing. Challenges: Consumers reported that feedback often lacked follow-up, was misunderstood, or felt unsafe to provide. Some expressed concerns about emotional vulnerability and fear of repercussions.
Recommendations
The project proposes a pilot CAG with the following features:
Small, supported group with training and remuneration - Multiple feedback formats (e.g. comment boxes, text lines, email)
Informal engagement opportunities such as BBQs and peer-led forums
Transparent follow-up and publication of feedback outcome
MHDA Research Conference Update: Co-Designing a Consumer Advisory Group at Macquarie Hospital
What This Means for Staff
Staff play a critical role in creating a culture where consumer feedback is welcomed, valued, and acted upon. The proposed CAG complements existing feedback channels by fostering transparent consumer partnerships in service design and improvement, helping close the feedback loop and build trust."
We encourage all staff to: Support consumer participation in feedback initiatives Promote transparency and responsiveness Engage with peer workers, consumers, and carers as partners in service improvement
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the CAG working group, Rehabilitation Program Staff and Activitity nurses, and all consumers who contributed to this project. We hope that their insights will help shape the future of care at Macquarie Hospital.
CAG working group: Simon Cleary, Suzanne Glover, Adam Hraiki, Alex Kelly, Karen Klarnett, Euan Macleay, Maddie Migdoll, Sarah Mithoefer, Natalie Watson .
Rehabilitation Program Staff: Lisa Maree Taylor Activity nurse Tarban Unit: Mathew Barry
Mental Health Library News
5 Ways NSLHD Libraries Support Mental Health
This Mental Health Month, your NLSHD librarians have been reflecting on how libraries support us in taking care of our mental health. Libraries provide inclusive spaces, trusted resources, and are a place where meaningful connections can be made. Take a moment to explore how your NSLHD library can support you.
1. Trusted Mental Health Resources Access high-quality, evidence-based information, including the specialist collection at the Macquarie Mental Health Library , to support clinical practice and personal understanding. 2. Quiet Spaces for Calm and Clarity Step into a peaceful environment ideal for reflection, relaxation, or focusing during a busy day. Find your closest NSLHD Library . 3. Support for Staff Wellbeing Initiatives We partner with wellbeing programs across NSLHD to provide tailored resources that promote resilience and recovery. 4.Connect with Your Librarian Connection fosters emotional support and a sense of belonging. Reach out to your librarian to discover how the library can support you. 5. Reading for Wellbeing Reading is good for your brain and boosts empathy, memory, vocabulary, and imagination. Explore our Mental Health Month reading list through the QR code below.
Macquarie Hospital Annual Calendar of Events 2025
Thank you
Please send your feedback/articles to be published on December Edition on or before 5.12.25 to Aya @Aya.hassan@health.nsw.gov.au
Macquarie Hospital Newsletter | October 2025
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