The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012 IN THIS EDITION... Wow this month has gone quickly, perhaps because there has been so much happening. At the beginning of the month we had a visit from Dr Mary Foley, Director-General of the NSW Ministry of Health. Personally it was great to have Dr Foley visit to meet with staff, other service providers and to gain an insight into the development of services and innovative approaches that local staff are involved in. We also had a visit from Ray Martin to promote the support the LHD had received through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Finally we also had most of the Australasian College of Health Service Management trainees in NSW visit Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Menindee, Wentworth, Wilcannia and White Cliffs over the course of three days. I was pleased to see the article welcoming new staff to the Broken Hill radiology team and the farewell to Rodney Clark from the laundry. Ruby Hooke, has been working with my office as an ACHSM Management Trainee but has decided to pursue a clinical career instead, fortunately she will be remaining in Broken Hill. Sandeep and Nidhi Singh have commenced as management trainees this week and will be located in Broken Hill for the next year. I’d be interested to know if people wanted us to include a list of all new and departing staff with each edition of this newsletter. The initiation of the Clinical Outreach Program complements efforts to expand x-ray services into remote facilities. We are hoping the cameras will allow patients in remote communities to be more thoroughly assessed by RFDS doctors and hopefully minimise disruption to families that being transferred to Broken Hill or other communities can create. Of course the big event for the month was the 125 th anniversary of the Broken Hill Hospital. My personal thanks to the team that organised the evening at the Tydvil and the Ball for the celebration. Unfortunately I had arranged a holiday and was unable to be here for the festivities. The health check that was run in the Broken Hill foyer suggest that on average we all need to focus a little more on diet and exercise to bring our weight down and reduce our risk of chronic disease. I wondered if regular checks would allow us all to keep an eye on our health and provide feedback about when each of us is doing well or maybe need to focus a little more. Each of you is too valuable for the community to lose your support if you move to being patients rather than staff. Enjoy this edition of the newsletter and don’t hesitate to let Branko know if there are things or issues you would like to see covered in future editions. - Stuart Riley, Chief Executive Busy time for visitors, celebrations Director-General drops in 125th Hospital Anniversary Reunion Staff health checks Balranald MPS plaque Handy hygiene in ICU Health Councils take action New radiology staff Physical and Mental health workshops Trainee managers visit Big Brother at Tibooburra Stress Down Diploma of Management Get your flu shot Employee Profile: Brendan Hedger It’s not everyday you see a world-renown television journalist the calibre of Ray Martin walking the hospital’s corridors — and lugging some of his cameraman’s equipment! Turn to Page 3 and find out why!
Transcript
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
IN THIS EDITION...
Wow this month has gone quickly, perhaps because there has been so much happening.
At the beginning of the month we had a visit
from Dr Mary Foley, Director-General of the NSW Ministry of Health. Personally it was great to have Dr Foley visit to meet with staff, other service providers and to gain an insight into the development of services and innovative approaches that local staff are involved in.
We also had a visit from Ray Martin to
promote the support the LHD had received through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Finally we also had most of the Australasian College of Health Service Management trainees in NSW visit Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Menindee, Wentworth, Wilcannia and White Cliffs over the course of three days.
I was pleased to see the article welcoming
new staff to the Broken Hill radiology team and the farewell to Rodney Clark from the laundry. Ruby Hooke, has been working with my office as an ACHSM Management Trainee but has decided to pursue a clinical career instead, fortunately she will be remaining in Broken Hill. Sandeep and Nidhi Singh have commenced as management trainees this week and will be located in Broken Hill for the next year. I’d be interested to know if people wanted us to include a list of all new and departing staff with each edition of this newsletter.
The initiation of the Clinical Outreach
Program complements efforts to expand x-ray services into remote facilities. We are hoping the cameras will allow patients in remote
communities to be more thoroughly assessed by RFDS doctors and hopefully minimise disruption to families that being transferred to Broken Hill or other communities can create.
Of course the big event for the month was the
125th anniversary of the Broken Hill Hospital. My personal thanks to the team that organised the evening at the Tydvil and the Ball for the celebration. Unfortunately I had arranged a holiday and was unable to be here for the festivities.
The health check that was run in the Broken
Hill foyer suggest that on average we all need to focus a little more on diet and exercise to bring our weight down and reduce our risk of chronic disease. I wondered if regular checks would allow us all to keep an eye on our health and provide feedback about when each of us is doing well or maybe need to focus a little more. Each of you is too valuable for the community to lose your support if you move to being patients rather than staff.
Enjoy this edition of the newsletter and don’t
hesitate to let Branko know if there are things or issues you would like to see covered in future editions.
- Stuart Riley, Chief Executive
Busy time for visitors, celebrations
Director-General drops in
125th Hospital Anniversary Reunion
Staff health checks
Balranald MPS plaque
Handy hygiene in ICU
Health Councils take action
New radiology staff
Physical and Mental health workshops
Trainee managers visit
Big Brother at Tibooburra
Stress Down
Diploma of Management
Get your flu shot
Employee Profile: Brendan Hedger
It’s not everyday you see a world-renown
television journalist the calibre of Ray
Martin walking the hospital’s corridors —
and lugging some of his cameraman’s
equipment! Turn to Page 3 and find
out why!
PAGE 2
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
The District Executive gave presentations about the District: (From left) Dr Steve Flecknoe-Brown, NSW Health Director-General Dr Mary Foley, John Leehane, Stuart Riley, Linda Lynott, Dale Sutton, Nigel Carlton and Brendan Hedger.
Director-General drops in for a chat
The District hosted a visit by the NSW Health Director-General, Dr Mary Foley, this month.
Dr Foley took a keen interest in talking with the executive team about the District’s future and the challenges we face in delivering quality health care to our communities.
The executive team members gave a presentation on the issues and the way forward in dealing with them.
Whilst here, she enjoyed a tour of the Broken Hill Hospital and spoke with numerous staff members about their roles and responsibilities. She was particularly impressed with the construction of the sub-acute facilities on the campus.
The DG also met with our partner organisations—Maari Ma, the UDRH and the Flying Doctors.
Dr Foley seemed to enjoy the face to face discussions with executive and staff during her low-key visit and I’m sure has gained a more insightful appreciation for the Far West and its uniqueness.
DON Dale Sutton points out the old BH Hospital to the Director-General, Dr Mary Foley with Dr Steve Flecknoe-Brown.
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Renowned television journalist Ray Martin was in the District this month to see how medical equipment recently donated to our facilities by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation was being put to good use.
Ray is the patron of Humpty Dumpty Foundation. It seeks donors and support to buy equipment for LHDs for use in the care of babies and infants.
The purpose of the visit was to film interviews with our staff and patients about recent donations in order to show supporters at an upcoming Humpty fundraising event. Ray was accompanied by Foundation Chairman Paul Francis.
Featured were the most recent donations by Humpty including nine Mobile Infant Warmers valued at $7,600 each and a Good Egg Pack valued at $6,000. The infant warmers (which keep sick babies and infants warm whilst undergoing procedures and treatment including resuscitation)
will be housed at Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Ivanhoe, Tibooburra, Wentworth and Balranald and three units will be located at Broken Hill Hospital to be used in the paediatric, emergency and maternity departments.
Mr Martin visited Wilcannia and White Cliffs but unfortunately could not make the planned trip to Tibooburra due to the rain and road conditions.
He dropped into the Broken Hill Hospital and filmed segments in the Maternity Ward, Kids Ward and Emergency Department.
It is fair to say some of our staff were a little ‘star struck’ at meeting Ray. His warm, friendly and engaging manner certainly won him some more fans in the Hill and District. He showed a genuine interest in everyone he met and was enthralled to meet some of the patients (and their babies!) that have directly benefited from equipment obtained for the District through Humpty and its generous donors.
A big thank you to everyone who assisted in the visit by Ray and Paul and who made themselves available for the interviews and filming — it was a lot of fun and definitely one for the scrapbook!
Let us hope that the segments filmed here and shown at the Humpty fundraising ball will result in more generous donors directing new and vital equipment to our District for our communities.
Dr Andrew Olesnicky interviewed by Ray Martin
Ray with some of our new mums and Midwifery Unit Manager Elizabeth Bennett Ray Martin
makes some new friends
PAGE 4
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Great fun at reunion
The125th Hospital Anniversary Reunion
Dinner Dance proved to be a great night for
reminiscing and catching up with old friends!
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
GRADUATES: (From left): Front - Helen Hayes, Robyn Stewart, Kathy Seward, Jane Cain and Melissa Welsh. Back - Samantha Elliott, Tanya Murphy, Dianne Johnson, Lianne McManus (Corporate Education Consultant), Karen Chrisakis and Marie Bongetti.
Absent: Rebecca Polak, Deborah Milnes, Kirsty Thys, Peter McDonald and Darriea Turley.
Congratulations to a group of District staff who
graduated this month with a number of nationally
recognised qualifications, attained through the Centre
for Rural and Remote Education (CRRE).
The graduates were: Certificate IV in Frontline
Management – Jane Cain, Robyn Stewart, Marie
Bongetti, Kirsty Thys; Certificate IV in Business
Administration – Karen Chrisakis, Rebecca Polak,
Tanya Murphy, Deborah Milnes, Helen Hayes;
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment –
Samantha Elliott, Kathy Seward; Diploma in
Management – Kathy Seward, Melissa Welsh, Peter
McDonald, Darriea Turley; and Clinical Leadership
Program – Dianne Johnson and Kathy Seward.
The graduates were presented with their
transcripts by Mr Nigel Carlton, General Manager of
BHHS and Ms Michele Pitt, A/Director CRRE.
Michelle Pitt said the knowledge and skills gained
by the graduates through the completion of their
courses support their ongoing professional
development and she urged all of them to consider
further studies.
Dianne Johnson and Kathy Seward gave a short presentation at the graduation ceremony about their projects as part of the Clinical Leadership Program (CLP). The Statewide CLP seeks to enhance the capacity of local clinicians in a variety of settings to lead sustainable system improvement and patient safety initiatives. Graduates learn to work more effectively with available clinical information and resources, and to develop a culture of patient-centred care within an environment that supports work based learning.
Again, well done to all the graduates and best wishes on your future academic and professional pursuits.
Graduates leading the way in professional development
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Health checks helping to keep tabs on risk factors
Broken Hill Hospital staff and visitors were given the opportunity to test their chronic disease risk factors this month, with free health checks being performed in the hospital foyer. Community dietitian Heidi Drenkhahn was measuring BMI and waist circumference, Diabetes Educator Karen Brewster monitored blood sugar levels and Renal CNC Penny Griffin tested blood pressure, all important modifiable risk factors for chronic disease.
The stall in the hospital foyer was very popular with over 60 people attending, a significant majority of which were staff. As this type of health promotion has been done before many staff members enjoy being able to monitor their risk factors and see improvements that they have worked hard for with lifestyle and diet modification. It is very encouraging to see quite a few staff members improving their health status in this way and I hope others can be inspired by their great results.
The overall results are a mix of positives and negatives. Blood pressure control seems to be quite good amongst the majority, however weight (especially abdominal adiposity) continues to be a concern. Because of the timing of the checks BSLs may have been overestimated but it’s a reminder to everyone to make sure these risk factors are checked regularly as you never know when an unseen risk factor like blood pressure or blood sugar may be creeping up, without you being aware.
It’s great to see so many staff keen to keep an eye on their health, but I think the male employees need to try and even the numbers up a bit!
The vital statistics 66% of attendees were women Average age: 50 years Average BP: 129/76 – within healthy range Average waist: 95.7cm – high risk range for women, elevated risk for men Average BMI: 27.4 – overweight Average BGL: 5.7 – elevated (may be bi-ased by lunchtime collection)
ABOVE: Karen Brewster checking on Gilda Martini’s BSL levels. LEFT: Pam Burns (left) dropped in for a check by Heidi Drenkhahn.
It is unfortunate news that the Far West LHD 2012 Health Awards Day had to be cancelled due to lack of nominations. A big thank you to those who did enter a
project and these have been put forward to the judging panel and a Judge's Award will be presented to the winner. All entrants will receive a certificate in recognition.
Look in next edition for an update!
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Handy hygiene compliance in ICU The BHHS ICU department obtained an 87.5% hand hygiene
compliance in the June Audit. In congratulating the team (pictured here from left - Anand Na-
masivayam, Kimberley Flood and Erin Robinson) I presented to them a box of chocolates and their dashboard that indicates the compliance rate.
The unit’s compliance has improved from 17% in December 2011 to 87.5% in June 2012. I plan on doing this every month for the ward/unit that has the highest compliancy.
— Karen Kemp, Infection Prevention and Control CNC.
The Balranald MPS has been presented a beautiful plaque to display commemorating the origins and history of the community’s health service.
The plaque was donated to the MPS and obtained through generous community donations and in particular with assistance from a donation by Beth Harrison, the recently retired Health Service Manager who had been employed at the facility for 44 years.
The plaque is a continual reminder to the Balranald community of the origins and history of their Health Service which was originally built in 1880. The design of the plaque was inspired by a badge which was made to mark the
centenary of the Balranald District Hospital. These badges were distributed to staff and community and worn at the time of the centenary in 1980. The floor plaque was made locally from this design and is therefore an ongoing link and connection with the early history of the town and Health Service.
Balranald MPS HSM Annette Vaarzonmorel and Beth Harrison (Former HSM) with the plaque.
Plaque celebrates Balranald MPS
All District staff are reminded to complete the 2012 NSW Public Sector Employee Survey, 'People Matter' which is open until 10 August, 2012.
The survey should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey can be found on the intranet and at http://www.asr3.com/health.
At Broken Hill, we achieved the highest participation rate across NSW Health in the Your Say survey and we have used that data to provide feedback and agree changes within our health service.
Everyone in the District is asked to pay the same attention to the current People Matter survey.
Survey reminder
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Health Council Action — Participation Matters Health Councils across the District have been working hard in developing their Health Council Action Plans for 2012-
2013. Menindee Health Council recently conducted a community survey
and held several workshops to develop their Health Council Action Plan. Health Councillors found this extremely useful. The survey identified age care and diabetes as their top two health concerns. Overall community survey respondents believed Menindee Health Service was a valuable asset.
Tibooburra Health Council has developed an interim Health Council Action and is planning to conduct a community survey to inform them on their community priority needs.
In Balranald a community survey was recently conducted to assist in the development of the Murrumbidgee Medicare Local. Balranald Health Council did not want to reinvent the wheel and identified in their Health Council Action Plan as an action, a strategy to invite the Murrumbidgee Medicare Local to present the results of their community survey results.
Consumer Advisors The Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals to join the CEC as a
Consumer Advisor. The CEC is a statutory health authority that promotes and supports improvement in clinical quality and safety in health services working in collaboration with clinicians and consumers.
Consumer advisors will preferably have had experience of the NSW Health system. Consumer Advisors advise the CEC through peak committees, programs and initiatives on optimal models and processes for engaging the community in promoting quality and safety in health care.
Contact Ms Alison Gal, Project Coordinator, Patient Based Care on 9269 5517 for more information.
Join the Health Consumers NSW
Far West residents are encouraged to consider joining Health Consumers NSW. Health Consumers NSW was established in late 2010, and funded by the NSW Health Ministry through a Ministerial grant and is the state wide voice for health consumers in NSW, which helps to shape the health system by representing and involving consumers in health policy and program development.
Health Consumers NSW are encouraging consumers to join their organization. The Health Consumers NSW are actively involved in progressing the Health Reforms, and are encouraging consumers to have your say about how we can work together to ensure the consumer perspective is always considered at all levels of the health system.
To apply for membership and for further information contact Morag Morrison, Executive Director Telephone 02 8875 4622 or email [email protected]
Flanagan, Vince Scoleri, John Jackson,Margi Vanzanten and Beth Harrison
Workshopping the Action Plans: Darriea Turley, Patricia Johnson (HSM), Kathy Gilby (Chair), Daniel
Toole, Kathryn Toole, Heather Williams and Joss Davie Menindee HSM Marie Kelly with Menindee
Health Council Chair Patricia Pascoe
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
The Broken Hill Hospital has new staff in the Radiology Department.
Gemma Fennell is a Radiographer/Trainee Sonographer, from Menindee. Gemma has studied at Newcastle University and has a Bachelor Medical Radiation Science in Diagnostic Radiography. She is currently studying through University of SA where she is completing Graduate Diploma Medical Sonography.
Gemma worked in Sydney for 3 years and Mildura for 1 year before deciding to return home to be close to her fiancé and family and complete her study to become a Sonographer. She would love to aid in providing services that are in great need in our area.
Chris Jones is a Radiographer and was born in Broken Hill and moved to Wagga Wagga approximately 14 years ago. He has mostly been working in NSW Riverina and NE Victoria ever since. He has worked in both public and private sectors with experience in MRI and Medical IT. Chris has returned to Broken Hill to spend more time with family and old friends and also to enjoy the lifestyle the Hill offers.
Erin Crawford is a Sonographer. Erin was born in Wollongong, NSW and is working here for the next 12 months. Before starting a Post Grad Degree in Ultrasound at Monash University, Erin worked as a Cardiac Technician in Wollongong. She has been practising sonography for 4 years at a private practice in the Shellharbour/Nowra area.
We are very happy to welcome them to The Medical Imaging team!
(From Left): Erin Crawford, Chris Jones and Gemma Fennell
New radiology staff at BHHS
The BHHS Laundry Department farewelled their colleague Rodney Clark (pictured) who retired on Friday, 13th July.
Rodney had worked in the laundry for approximately 9.5 years as a washer and came there from Daycare, where he had been a bus driver. A morning tea farewell was held and a farewell gift presented to Rodney.
Congratulations on your retirement, Rodney and we sincerely hope you enjoy future endeavours.
Linking Physical and Mental Health The Far West LHD has begun a process of consultation and education in
the form of dinner/workshops to support the implementation of the NSW MOH Physical Health Care of Mental Health Consumers Guidelines.
Evidence confirms the importance of bringing mental and physical health care together to improve outcomes for mental health consumers of health care services. The guidelines promotes a consistent, state-wide approach to these practices. Prevention, early detection and treatment of preventative
illness and disease for mental health consumers will ultimately improve their quality of life. Adopting a holistic framework of care for mental health consumers is required by all health care providers to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the guidelines. To this purpose, a dinner
workshop was held in Mildura on behalf of the Dareton Mental Health team. Two dinner/workshops were held in Broken Hill. The dinner/workshops were attended by staff from FWLHD, General Practices, RFDS, UDRH and Maari Ma. The Clinical Director of Mental Health, Dr Andrew Howie provided a presentation at all three dinners which were attended by 98 staff.
Further luncheon presentations are planned for generalist health care staff for the second half of 2012 and will be created and delivered by Mental Health Drug and Alcohol staff.
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
A surprising amount of people outside of health are unfamiliar with the idea of “health management” yet administration is a great career and employs a large percentage of health staff.
The Australasian College of Health Service Management runs a Graduate Health Management Program to fast-track careers in Health Management. The Far West LHD has had two trainees on placement this year, myself, Ruby Hooke, and Andrew Yee.
On the 18-20 of July, 19 trainees from the ACHSM visited Broken Hill for a rural and remote study tour, to give future managers an idea about the specific challenges faced out west.
They toured the Broken Hill Health Service, visited with Maari Ma, the UDRH and RFDS, and also spent a day travelling to more remote areas including Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Menindee, Wentworth and Tibooburra. Aside from a small incident with a kangaroo on the Silver City Highway, the trip was a huge success and enjoyed by all involved.
“The trip to Tibooburra was amazing, eye opening, and a wonderful experience for metropolitan health managers,” said Elizabeth Bryan, ACHSM trainee with Western Sydney LHD.
“Tibooburra demonstrates the many challenges and hurdles to providing quality health care in remote Australia, but also highlights how wonderful services can be delivered by dedicated and resourceful rural health teams.”
Thanks to everyone who assisted in making this study tour such a success. - Ruby Hooke
Pictured : Visiting Tibooburra: Heather Williams, Patricia Johnson, Elizabeth Bryan, Kristen Davies, Melissa Angelucci.
Trainee managers get a taste of outback health services
Tibooburra Health Service has a new addition — a camera link-up to help in the treatment of critically ill patients.
The camera was installed at Tibooburra under the Clinical Outreach Project (COP) Internet Protocol (IP) Camera Project, which is an extension of the Greater Western Critical Care Advisory Service (CCAS). The cameras are now being installed throughout the District in collaboration with the RFDS.
The project aims to assist with the management of patients as desired by the clinicians based in the rural and remote facilities.
The COP equipment in less expensive and cumbersome than the existing NSW Health “Telehealth” video conferencing technology. COP equipment addresses the issues of space and cost effectiveness in small wards, units and facilities. The service will be operated over Information Technology Infrastructure, hereby reducing the costs.
It is envisaged that the IP camera will facilitate clinical decision making of staff involved in managing critical care patients, as a supplement to the existing advice provided by telephone. The potential to reduce the length of time on a phone call is significant.
These COP IP Camera Business Protocols have been designed for all clinicians who require or provide remote assistance in managing critically ill patients. Other facilities including BHHS are scheduled for installation of COP cameras.
The first COP camera to be fully installed at Tibooburra Health Service.
Big Brother joins Tibooburra team
Dip. of Management The Diploma of Management program
provides the core leadership competencies required by contemporary managers. At the Diploma level, candidates are expected to have significant management experience, and to use their enrolment and participation in the program to reflect on their management experience and practice and consider the type of manager they are or aspire to be.
The program is delivered by the CRRE and based on flexible learning, incorporating self-managed learning as well as participation in learning workshops.
The Diploma of Management has taken a new approach in 2012, with 26 students from Western and Far West LHDs starting the course in May. This year sees the training component of the course delivered over 6 months with another 6 months for participants to complete their projects and consolidate learning in the workplace with ongoing support from the Course Coordinator. The aim of the course changes is to allow students to develop networks amongst the group and a greater level of support to be provided to students through set course dates and an established course structure.
Previous students of the Diploma of Management and their managers should also be on the look-out for an impact evaluation survey.
An impact evaluation survey will be distributed soon to previous students for feedback in order to allow us to continually improve upon course delivery and support mechanisms.
For more information, contact Megan Walsh, A/Co-ordinator, Leadership & Management Programs on 02 6841 5598.
All staff are urged to help prevent the spread of influenza and protect yourself and your patients by getting vaccinated.
There are an 2,500 deaths, 18,000 hospitalisations and 300,000 GP visits annually due to influenza.
The flu is a highly contagious virus that can be spread by coughing or sneezing. It lasts 3 - 7 days and can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover. A sneeze transmits flu at 167kms/hr covering a distance of 5 metres in 1/10th second.
Getting vaccinated may prevent you
from getting sick, passing it onto vulnerable patients and your family and may prevent you from missing work.
The Influenza Specialist Group believe that flu vaccination should be viewed by Healthcare workers as a duty of care.
244 Healthcare workers at the Broken Hill Health Service voluntarily received a flu shot. Well done.
Contact Karen Kemp on ext. 331 or pager 44 for your flu shot.
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The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
De-stressing at work: Donald Gilby, Fiona Mitchell and Denika Novello.
Stress Down and raise awareness Stress Down Day was held on Friday, 27th July and provided an easy
opportunity for everyone to reduce stress levels and raise awareness about the valuable resource of Lifeline.
Lifeline receives approximately 1,250 calls per day with about 50 calls from people at high risk of suicide. Lifeline is a valuable resource for mental health consumers.
Child & Adolescent Mental Heatlh (CAMHS) were happy to support this awareness raising initiative by wearing their ugg boots or slippers to work!
Staff flu shots about duty of care
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
EMPLOYEE PROFILE: Brendan Hedger Who are you? I’m a RN working with the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Directorate and based in Wentworth. I live over the river amongst the grapevines on a small block between Mildura and Merbein with my partner Trudie, 3 dogs, 4 cats and 10 chooks.
What do you do? I am the District Co-ordinator Mental Health Disaster Response and the Rural MH Program, a position that was transitioned from former GWAHS. This position is responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of mental health disaster response processes/services throughout the District. I maintain strong links with Western NSW LHD where we successfully developed a model that integrated MH Disaster Response into the overall disaster response process provided by the District. I’m currently in process of developing the MH disaster response framework and processes for the Far West District.
How does your role interact with the organisation? I work with MHDA teams with development of disaster response services and provide information and education to enhance skill level, capacity and preparedness to respond to disaster and critical community incidents that may occur.
What is your background in health? I was an interstate truck driver until I transitioned to nursing in 1986. I began my career training at Aradale Mental Hospital (on outskirts of Arrarat) and then worked at Mildura Base Hospital, where I was introduced to community mental health. After much travel and various positions, I became a MH Team Leader at Dareton Community Health in 2000 and since then have worked in various positions.
And on a lifestyle note…
What’s the most important health issue for you? Helping with the challenge of maintaining good health overall through addressing the physical, social and emotional wellbeing needs. It’s difficult to have one without the other and we need to continually try to get that message across around finding the balance.
Body and Mind – where’s the healthy balance in approaching our own health? Between my work with FWLHD and farm, life does get a bit hectic but one tends to balance the other. I enjoy the physical labour after a week at work in health and the travel gives me time to think and relax. Trudie and I walk our dogs everyday and we use that to catch up and talk as well. We try to eat well and tend to prepare meals at home as we eat out a lot through work. We have a great social network of friends and we tend to get together or away for weekends fairly regularly.
Do we need to revisit anything about our focus on healthy lifestyles? I think we could all do more but we can get trapped in talking and procrastinating or contemplation. If we could find time to assist people to move to an action phase, and just change one thing at a time, eg, diet, exercise, smoking etc., Once we start getting results the motivation to continue grows.
PAGE 12
On a lighter note… What’s the best thing about your work? The people. I have worked with and met the most interesting people. In the bush, people can experience the toughest times but always find a positive and take the time to share their stories.
How do you deal with a really annoying
situation? I try to make light of things and tend not to take things too seriously, unless it is serious of course. Getting bogged down in negativity is not productive and drags you and others down.
What’s something about you no-one knows?
Together with Trudie, we are involved with the rescue and rehousing of discarded animals through Sunraysia Animal Rehousing Group (SARG).
Top three breakfast guests? Robin Williams for his humour, Matt Moran for obvious reasons
Brendan Hedger
Continued next page — Brendan was very forthcoming in answering our questions but we may
have to start enforcing a word limit! — Ed
The Far West Local Health District Newsletter Edition 7, Vol 2, July 2012
Submissions for Far West In Focus can be sent to [email protected]. Note that the newsletter can be found on the Far West LHD website at www.fwlhn.health.nsw.gov.au
PAGE 13
Policy Watch — PDs available on MOH internet The following documents have been published on the NSW Ministry of Health internet site http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies. These documents are official NSW Health policy. Compliance with Policy Directives is mandatory.
and Moira Kelly for her passion and determination for working with the less fortunate.
What causes are you backing at the moment? I’m a keen advocate for people in rural and remote locations who have faced real adversity over the past 10 years but still hang on and keep moving forward which demonstrates true resilience. I’m also watching with interest the unfolding issues surrounding water entitlements and the possible introduction of the Murray Darling Basin Plan...don’t get me started!
Star Wars or Star Trek? Neither, I like to keep it real! (How about Dr Who? — Ed)
What superhero would you most like to be a sidekick of and why? What part of ‘keeping it real’ didn’t you understand? (Now you’re just being a spoilsport! — Ed).
How would you try to win Masterchef? I would have to assassinate the other competitors!
Three things (only three) you would like to have if stranded on a desert island? Trudie, my shed and my Ipod.
How would you solve global warming? I’m a self-confessed climate change sceptic and if you took it seriously the powers that be would have cows, sheep and horses on special diets and wearing nappies. We can all do our bit through recycling and conservation where we can. This year we have changed to minimum tillage and direct drilling for the cropping program, which effectively reduces fuel and conserves carbon loads in the soil, but this has been hugely expensive with the need to purchase new equipment and technology.
And finally, are corduroy jackets still in? Were they ever? Obviously not in the Hill, I’ll have to review my wardrobe.
Continued from previous page
EMPLOYEE PROFILE—BRENDAN HEDGER
I hope you enjoyed our ‘brief’ chat with Brendan - Look out for our next profile!
