Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, This Sunday marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week - an important time for all Australians to come together to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly,” invites us to reflect on the strength, resilience and enduring contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - and to look ahead with optimism and commitment. It is also a reminder that we each have a role to play in fostering a more inclusive, culturally safe and responsive health system. Our recently launched NSLHD Aboriginal Health Plan provides a clear roadmap for this journey, I encourage you to explore it here: https://bit.ly/4bJLVAN and consider how you, your team or your service can contribute meaningfully. Across our district, a range of NAIDOC Week celebrations and events are planned, and I encourage you to take part. These moments of connection and learning are vital to strengthening our shared understanding and respect. Please check our intranet events for details: https://bit. ly/4eUcnsQ Earlier this week, I had the privilege of officially opening the Early Phase Cancer Clinical Trials Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital alongside NSW Health Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary of Population and Public Health Dr Kerry Chant AO PSM. This significant milestone represents a major investment in innovation and collaboration, strengthening our ability to deliver cutting- edge research that will shape future models of care - not only for our district, but globally. Most importantly, it enhances access to advanced treatment options for our patients
and community. This achievement has been made possible through the extraordinary generosity of Kay Van Norton Poche and Greg Poche, whose $20 million donation will have a lasting impact on health outcomes across NSW. Thanks also to our clinicians, patients and the support of the NORTH Foundation for the ongoing support of our new Centre. Supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders is another area I am deeply passionate about. Our young people bring fresh perspectives, creativity and energy that will shape the future of healthcare delivery. I encourage staff aged 18–35 to consider joining our Youth Advisory Board by emailing NSLHD-Youth-Advisory-Board@ health.nsw.gov.au - an opportunity to contribute ideas and help influence meaningful change within our organisation. We are also approaching another transformative milestone with the upcoming go-live of SDPR later this year. This initiative will fundamentally enhance how care is delivered and experienced, enabling a more connected, seamless and safer health journey for our patients. It will also support our staff by streamlining workflows and reducing administrative burden - freeing up more time for what matters most. To ensure we are ready, I strongly encourage everyone to begin familiarising themselves with SDPR resources, available here: https:// bit.ly/3RzAkh6 ahead of formal training. Warm regards, Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
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NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE12| 03 JULY 2026
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