Matt’s a master of planning for the unpredictable

For award winning Matt Smith planning for the unpredictable is always the best way.

Keeping more than 30 health facilities operational and the ability to plan for the unplannable is what sets Community and Oral Health Building, Engineering and Maintenance Services (BEMS) Manager Matt Smith apart.

“As a manager, I try to be prepared, plan for the unpreparable and predict what is going to happen from a building maintenance perspective so we can rectify any issues as quickly as possible,” Matt said.

“The BEMS team are awesome, particularly their ability to adapt and react under high pressure. They are a very high performing team.

“My biggest challenge to date has been the 2022 floods, where I had to disperse staff and contractors everywhere to cover all of our facilities and fix many issues and problems due to extreme weather.

“Every day is different. It is good working in building maintenance in health as you can see how your work contributes to great health care outcomes.”

Recently, Matt was a deserving winner of the 2023 Community and Oral Health Staff Excellence Values in Action Award.

Community and Oral Health Executive Director Glynis Schultz said Matt excels in his role as a team leader because he fosters higher levels of inclusiveness, engagement, commitment, performance, and wellbeing.

“He leads a diverse team to deliver a large program of works which support both our staff and the people in our care,” Glynis said.

“Matt is always willing to re-prioritise tasks to ensure the team can address clinical safety issues.”

The Community and Oral Health BEMS team deliver millions of dollars’ worth of maintenance and building works across Community and Oral Health facilities each year, including the construction of the new Cinema at Cooinda House and the Intervention Clinic at North Lakes Health Precinct.