NEWS NORTHERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT NSLHD LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT
Main story Short blurb Three remarkable People added to NSLHD’s Honour Roll
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Hornsby midwife recognised for paediatric care Page 10
Grassroots research to drive change Page 8
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Message from the chief executive Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM
Dear colleagues, Recently, we held our Annual Public Meeting, which this year showcased digital health and provided the opportunity to present the NSLHD Board Honour Roll. I want to acknowledge three distinguished clinicians who were honoured with their addition to the Honour Roll: the late Clinical Associate Professor John Vandervord, Professor Katherine Clark, and Ms Vicki Evans AM. Their expertise, leadership, and impact will continue to influence our services for years to come. I was also proud to attend and open NSLHD’s first-ever Youth Symposium, hosted by the district’s Youth Advisory Board at Royal North Shore Hospital. The Youth Advisory Board developed an exciting agenda featuring presentations, leadership insights from NSLHD’s Organisational Development and Capability team, a networking activity, and a panel discussion. I am very proud of their hard work in executing this. Additionally, supporting women and girls affected by violence is a critical focus for NSLHD. During 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls (25 November – 10 December), NSLHD PARVAN Services invites staff to attend presentation and training webinars to enhance knowledge and skills in identifying and responding to domestic and family violence. This campaign is essential in creating safe, respectful, and equitable environments across our health services and communities. For staff interested in participating, visit the intranet page here: https://bit.ly/4agvnkx On 1 December, we will commemorate World AIDS Day, an important reminder of the ongoing need for prevention, equity, access to treatment, and support for people living with HIV.
I thank all staff working in these services, research areas, and community partnerships for their dedication. The International Day of People with Disability on 3 December promotes awareness, inclusion, and equity, celebrating the contributions of people with disability. This year’s theme is ‘Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress’. All NSW Health staff are required to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. For guidance on supporting people with disability in hospitals, see: https://bit. ly/4ohp6Zq. I encourage all staff to reflect on how we can continue to provide inclusive, accessible care. I am also thrilled to highlight that on 6 December, NSLHD and BreastScreen NSW will host a Rainbow Breast Screening Clinic in North Ryde. This is a first for our district and provides inclusive, gender-affirming care for anyone with breast tissue. Everyone is welcome to attend. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the continued progress with the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR). NSLHD staff have been involved in statewide training initiatives, preparing for the transition to a connected digital environment for patient information and clinical care. Our staff are working tirelessly to ensure a smooth and successful implementation, and I look forward to going live in late 2026. Find out more on SDPR here: https://bit. ly/4p0slp9.
Warm regards,
Adjunct Professor Anthony M. Schembri AM Chief Executive Northern Sydney Local Health District
NSLHD NEWS | ISSUE 22| 28 NOVEMBER 2025
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Three remarkable People added to NSLHD’s Honour Roll Three long-serving clinicians have been added to the NSLHD Board Honour Roll at the 2025 Annual Public Meeting. The late Clinical Associate Professor John Vandervord, Professor Katherine Clark and Ms Vicki Evans AM were recognised for their exceptional contributions. The awards were presented by NSLHD Board Chair Trevor Danos AM.
Vicki Evans AM Vicki Evans AM was acknowledged for more than 43 years’ of dedicated service at Royal North Shore Hospital, particularly her nationally recognised work in concussion care. Trevor said Vicki’s impact on patient care and innovation had been significant. “Vicki is commended for her contributions to healthcare innovation, professional leadership and commitment to highest standards of patient care. Specifically she is commended for establishing a nationally recognised model of concussion care,” Trevor said. Professor Katherine Clark Professor Katherine Clark was recognised for her outstanding service and leadership in palliative care. Trevor said her focus on dignity and patient- centred care had strengthened services across NSLHD. “Professor Clark is being recognised for her exceptional and outstanding service to Northern Sydney Local Health District and contribution to palliative care services. Professor Clark is commended for her compassionate, patient- centred leadership and commitment to ensuring dignity and choice remains central to end-of- life-care,” Trevor said.
Professor Katherine Clark receives her Honour Roll award
Vicki Evans AM receives her Honour Roll award
Associate Professor John Vandervord Associate Professor John Vandervord was honoured posthumously for nearly 40 years of service in plastic surgery and specialist burns care. Trevor said the late John’s leadership helped shape reconstructive services across the district. “He is commended for his surgical expertise and leadership, specifically for his groundbreaking work delivering plastic surgery and specialist treatment for burns patients. This award is a testament to the significant impact he had on our community and lasting legacy he leaves behind,” Trevor said.
Associate Professor John Vandervord’s family received his award on his behalf
Associate Professor John Vandervord
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RNSH physiotherapy spinal pain triage team recognised for improving healthcare equity RNSH spinal pain triage physiotherapists Trish Schlotfeldt and Larissa Castle have been recognised at the Central Coast Local Health District’s Caring for the Coast Awards.
satisfaction with the model, which aligns with both state and national health and environmental goals. “This award is a reflection of what has been a truly remarkable collaboration and achievement,” said Peter Young, acting head of department, physiotherapy. “Trish, Larissa and the team are making a real difference for patients on the Central Coast.”
They won the Excellence in Improving Equity in Healthcare Award for their work with the Gosford Hospital physiotherapy team. The award celebrates initiatives that improve access to care and reduce disparities across the health system. The Gosford Spinal Pathway Satellite Clinic has allowed patients with back and neck pain to access a specialist physiotherapist triage assessment clinic locally, rather than travelling to Royal North Shore Hospital. “We’re honoured to receive this recognition,” said Trish, who initiated the project as part of the NSLHD Net Zero Lead program in collaboration with CCLHD. “Our goal has always been to make specialist care accessible to patients close to home, and this award reflects the hard work of our entire team in improving outcomes and equity for the community.”
Reducing unnecessary patient travel supports NSLHD’s target of achieving net zero emissions by 2035. Over 70 per cent of patients seen in the assessment clinic no longer required a surgical opinion, sparing them and their carers long commutes. This program has resulted in a 61 per cent reduction in transport- related greenhouse gas emissions. On average, the clinic saves patients 5 hours and 15 minutes per visit. Patients have indicated high
Left to right: Trish Schlotfeldt, Layla Nafari and Larissa Castle
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NSLHD NEWS | ISSUE 22| 28 NOVEMBER 2025
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Attendees at the inaugural Youth Symposium at RNSH with NSLHD CE Chief Executive Anthony Schembri (front row, second to left) and NSLHD Executive Director People and Culture, Kerrie Pryke (front row, third from right)
Youth Symposium empowers young voices across NSLHD The district’s Youth Advisory Board recently hosted its inaugural Youth Symposium at RNSH, bringing staff and guests together for a day of learning and connection.
Co-chairs Rhi Campton and Eamon O’Callaghan reflected on the importance of youth representation across the district “Your voices guide the future of our organisation, and the ideas you shared today will shape how we continue to support young people across NSLHD well beyond this room,” Rhi said. “Bringing this event together has been a big achievement for the Youth Advisory Board and I would like to thank every member for their contribution in bringing it to life,” Eamon said.
The theme of the event was ‘Future Proof and Financial Fit’ and the Youth Advisory Board developed an exciting agenda for guests, which featured presentations from partners Aware Super and SalaryPackagingPlus, a presentation on leadership from NSLHD’s Organisational Development and Capability team, and a networking activity before closing with an informative panel discussion.
NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri said the event was a fantastic opportunity for attendees to learn about the resources available to staff. “Thriving in your career is about more than skills; it’s also knowing your financial options, making smart choices, and building the connections that support your journey,” he said. “I would like to congratulate the Youth Advisory Board on all the work they’ve done since their inception in 2023, and I look forward to continuing working with our younger staff members to ensure their voices remain heard.”
Attendees on the day were able to take part in a networking activity with colleagues from across the district
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NSLHD staff join landmark digital patient record training A major milestone for the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) program has been reached, with 17 employees from NSLHD and CCLHD taking part in the first-ever SDPR orientation and training session.
The training is part of an intensive program to prepare staff to support the first users of SDPR in 2026 across Hunter New England LHD and Justice Health NSW. The event was attended by Secretary of NSW Health Ms Susan Pearce, and senior health leaders from across the state. It was the start of the largest training activity ever undertaken by NSW Health. “It is very exciting to see the progress being made with SDPR,” NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri said. “Our staff are stepping up to support colleagues in adopting this transformative system, ensuring the highest standards of patient care,” he said.
They joined nearly 200 staff from across NSW’s 17 local health districts and specialty health networks. SDPR is a groundbreaking health program that offers a secure, integrated view of a patient’s care across the NSW Health system. By consolidating a patient’s full medical history into a single, comprehensive record, SDPR ensures seamless access to clinical information, improving care across all settings.
NSLHD staff at the SDPR training
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Dalwood Spilstead home volunteers making a difference for young families
For the past six years, Sue Fraser has been helping families with extra support in their Northern Beaches home. The retiree visits their home once a week to assist parents, who often have no other family support and need a helping hand. Sue is one of five volunteers who are part of Dalwood Spilstead’s home volunteer program, but at least 10 more are needed to help families in the area. The Dalwood Spilstead Service at Seaforth, provides health, education and support services for families with children up to 17 years old, who are experiencing stressful situations that create difficulties in caring for, and parenting their children. Its volunteers visit
difficulties in your life, knowing that other people care, can be comforting.” All volunteers undergo training for six weeks, one day a week, and are supported by Dalwood Spilstead staff when volunteering. The Dalwood Home Volunteer Coordinator Emma Selby said the volunteer roles often suited retired people who wanted to give back to families. “Often they have been a parent themselves or have experience supporting children and families,” Emma said. Enquiries should be directed to Emma Selby on 9951 0327 or emma.selby@health.nsw.gov. au
families at home for a few hours each week to help with children’s activities, walking or providing some parental education. “The first role I had was to visit a young mum who had just had a baby. She and her husband were from overseas and had no family support here,” Sue said. “I would visit her once a week for a few hours, have a cup of tea, chat and then I would support mum in caring for the baby while she got on with her chores. I did that for about a year and then mum went back to work. “For the last five years, I have been visiting, a delightfully caring family with twin girls. (The girls) were four when I started and they have just turned 10. Again, it was for tea, time to talk to Mum and play with the girls. Hopefully it also helped Mum with her English. “Being a mum can be one of the hardest jobs in the world and if you also have other
Sue Fraser and a mum
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Grassroots research to drive change Clinicians and peer workers from the Older Peoples Mental Health Services (OPMHS) have
appointed conjoint professor with NSLHD Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Service. Her role includes providing nursing research mentorship to inspire the next generations of researchers. Natalie said grassroots research was crucial. “This sort of work comes from an authentic space of concern and interest rather than just being something constructed because we want to do research,” she said. As the project evolves, it’s poised to offer valuable insights into the lived experiences and care needs of LGBTIQ+ people.
come together to explore the experiences of LGBTIQ+ people in aged care, an often- overlooked area in mainstream research. What began in early 2025 as a shared interest has grown into a collaborative project that blends clinical expertise with lived experience. The project started when Aliya Kavuzlu, an exercise physiologist with OPMHS, was visiting a nursing home and noticed a gay resident receiving little support. “We decided to research it more,” she said.
The team visited nursing homes across district and found broader unmet needs. The group next turned to literature reviews and online resources. Aliya noted that many older LGBTQIA+ people actively avoid aged care. “They don’t want go into aged care because they fear discrimination and stigma,” she said. Seeing a gap in knowledge and the need for a research project, the group has been working with Associate Professor Natalie Cutler, at the University of Technology Sydney and newly recognising the vital role perioperative nurses play throughout every stage of surgical care. The team marked the week with activities including trivia, guessing competitions and team-building sessions. The celebrations highlighted the skill, compassion and support perioperative nurses provide from admission to discharge. More than 1,500 patients pass through RNSH theatres each month, relying on the dedication of perioperative nursing staff whose teamwork ensures patients receive safe, high-quality care every day.
The Older Peoples Mental Health Services research team
Perioperative Nurses Week celebrations at RNSH RNSH recently celebrated Perioperative Nurses Week,
Perioperative Nurses Week celebrations
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Left to right: Dr Mark Gillett, Dr Christopha Knee and Project Officer Jennifer McGready
Major horse-riding injuries more frequent than expected Horse riding may evoke images of elite
play a role.” RNSH sees around two mild to moderate horse-related injuries a week—about 100 per year. As the first comprehensive analysis of major horse-riding trauma in NSW, the study fills an important gap in global research. International data shows the risk of hospitalisation from horse riding exceeds American football, motorcycle riding, motor racing and skiing. While most injuries are mild, Mark emphasised the importance of safety measures—especially helmet use—and greater awareness of risks in everyday riding.
competitions or peaceful trail rides, but new research shows the sport carries a significant risk of injury compared with many other physical activities. In a new study, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) clinicians Drs Mark Gillett and Christopha Knee analysed 11 years of data from the NSW Trauma Registry—which captures emergency department presentations across the state—and identified 624 cases of major equestrian-related trauma between 2012 and 2022. The findings reveal that serious horse- riding injuries are more common than many assume, challenging the perception that they occur only in high-speed or competitive settings. Patients had an average age of 49 and most sustained chest, spine and head injuries. Women were injured at significantly higher rates than men. Around two-thirds of all cases resulted from falls or riders being thrown from a horse. More than half occurred on farms, and almost a third during leisure rides.
“People often think of horse riding as a recreational sport for women, and it comes through in the data – women are more represented,” said Mark. “Women also tend to be more prone to fractures, particularly between ages 40 and 60, when osteoporosis begins to
The study revealed serious horse-riding injuries are more common than people think, challenging the idea they only happen in high-speed or competitive settings
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Hornsby midwife recognised for inspirational paediatric care
Gosha Gersbach helps the lives of hundreds of babies every year as she provides her expert care to newborns and their families at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital. Her dedication and passion for neonatology has earned her the Humpty Dumpty’s Michelle Beets Award for Inspirational Paediatric Care. Held since 2012, the award honours the memory of Michelle Beets, a highly respected nurse who worked at Royal North Shore Hospital for 25 years before she tragically lost her life on 27 April 2010. With the support of the NSW Government, the Humpty Dumpty Foundation continues to honour Michelle by rewarding inspiration in paediatric care within the NSW public health
system. Gosha is a clinical midwifery specialist and was recognised for her exceptional paediatric care and dedication to neonates and families. She combines clinical excellence with leadership and education, mentoring staff and the next generation of midwives. Upon accepting her award, Gosha said: “You may never meet the babies you have helped but trust me you have changed their lives in the most meaningful way.” Gosha received $25,000 worth of medical equipment through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation for use at Hornsby and a $5000 bursary for professional development, training, or research.
(Left to right) Joanna Griggs, Humpty Dumpty Ambassador, Gosha Gerbach, clinical midwifery specialist, and Minister for Health Ryan Park.
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Northern Sydney joins forces to tackle loneliness The recent NSW Parliament Inquiry into Loneliness revealed that one in three northern Sydney residents feel lonely, and one in six experience severe loneliness, underscoring a serious public health issue. Loneliness isn’t just an emotional issue. It is also tied to poorer health outcomes, ranging from increased risk of chronic disease to reduced overall well-being.
executive team and partners, and a clear theme emerged: using digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) as a way for people to connect based on their interests and needs. Executive Director of Strategy and Office of the Chief Executive at the NSLHD, Simon Radmore said the district will continue to work with partners. “We’re excited to continue working with our partners to turn these ideas into real- life outcomes that positively impact the health and wellbeing of our Northern Sydney community,” he said.
To address the issue, NSLHD has been exploring “social prescribing”, a health care approach that connects people to community-based activities and supports, rather than relying only on medicine or clinical treatment. As part of this effort, the district joined forces with Northern Sydney Health Network, Hornsby
Council, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) through its Work Integrated Learning Program. Over 10 weeks, four multidisciplinary teams of UNSW students brainstormed and prototyped solutions aimed at reducing social isolation across the community. The students recently presented their ideas to the NSLHD
Work Integrated Learning Program presenters and project team
International Infection Prevention and Control Week The NSLHD infection prevention and control (IPAC) team recently marked International Infection Prevention and Control Week with a series of engaging events across the district’s facilities.
and prevail to stop the spread of infection and create a safer place for all,” she said. “In NSLHD we celebrated the impact of infection prevention and control, and reinforced the essential practices that protect patients, health workers and the public.”
From interactive foyer displays and trivia to roving activities like the ‘Microbe Mission’ and
an IPAC-themed photo competition, the week offered staff a fun way to connect with a global movement dedicated to protecting patients, families, and healthcare workers. NSLHD Director of Infection Control Jo Tallon said it was wonderful to see so many staff getting involved. “This year’s theme for International Infection Prevention Week was Stand UPPP for Infection Prevention—inviting all to unite, protect, prevent
The IPAC team with Executive Director, Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Andrea Taylor (third from right) at Macquarie Hospital
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