NSLHD News December 17 2021

Hey You Mob attracts the attention of judges

An initiative to work with the Aboriginal community to overcome barriers in accessing healthcare services has earned a highly commended award in a field of 27 competitors at a national event. NSLHD Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) services cultural engagement Hey You Mob, Tell Us You Are Here program received praise from the judges at the 24th Annual ACHS Quality Improvement Awards 2021. Standards (ACHS) Awards were introduced in 1997 to acknowledge and encourage outstanding quality improvement activities, programs or strategies that have been implemented in healthcare organisations. This year, the awards were held virtually and entries came from across Australia and internationally. MHDA was one of three The annual Australian Council on Healthcare

organisations to receive a highly commended in the non-clinical service delivery category. Clinical Lead for Aboriginal MHDA Michelle Lawrence said the aim of the initiative was to work in partnership with the local Aboriginal community, consumers, staff and stakeholders in order to move towards achieving equality in health, social and emotional well-being and life expectancy for Aboriginal Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples who often find it difficult to access appropriate mainstream health care services. “We ask every time, every person so we are able to link up Aboriginal people with the right services and Aboriginal health liaison officer,” she said. “From our chief executive to our environmental services, everyone is committed.” The Hey You Mob program prompts patients and their

Launch of Ask the Question, Hey you Mob initiative

“It will provide an opportunity for short-term wins and the development of ambitious goals for the future.” The group’s membership spans across a broad range of medical disciplines and includes representatives from Royal North Shore, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Mona Vale and Ryde hospitals. The group will meet monthly for a period of six months as it works toward developing a series of goals and strategies with a long-term view to facilitate the ability for more women to progress into medical leadership roles. carers to proudly identify to staff when they attend a healthcare service or hospital. The program includes videos and posters, as well as staff education, community education and is now being embedded into staff orientation. At least five local health districts have adopted Hey You Mob program and NSLHD is working with Northern Beaches Hospital to introduce it there.

Advancing women in medical leadership across NSLHD A new working group has been established to tackle the organisational barriers women face in progressing into more senior positions in the medical workforce across Northern Sydney Local Health District. women to progress into senior leadership roles. The NSLHD Advancing Women in Medical Leadership is chaired by

Chief Executive Deb Willcox. Deb said the working group will facilitate discussions and identify practical solutions towards advancing women into senior medical leadership positions across the district. ”A large focus of the group is on reducing barriers to advancing women in medical leadership positions and to provide equitable access to leadership training programs and pathways,” she said.

Across NSLHD, women represent 55 per cent of intern doctors, yet only 29 per cent of senior staff specialists. NSLHD Board Chair Trevor Danos, who sponsors the group, said these figures reinforce the group’s focus on improving the ‘career pipeline’ for women and encouraging more young

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