Jane Hancock, Acting Chief Executive
Sunday marks the start of NAIDOC Week 2022. We have a range of activities and events happening across Metro North for staff and community.
The biggest event is the launch on Monday of our first Metro North Health Equity strategy, an exciting achievement. Thank you everyone who has contributed to the development of the strategy to date.
This week on the vidcast I was asked about the image I use as my Teams background which is the beautiful artwork designed by Aboriginal artist Elaine Chambers-Hegarty. Elaine’s cultural links are to the Koa (Guwa) and Kuku Yalanji people. Elaine has also created several localised artworks which use traditional symbols, markings, flora and fauna to represent our hospitals and services, and the geographical area on which they sit within the catchment. You can read about the Metro North and directorate artworks in the April issue of the TalkAbout newsletter.
On Monday our new AskHR service commences, offering a central knowledge bank of everything HR. AskHR is one of the things to come out of the Business Case for Change around our People and Culture services. The new service will allow People and Culture partners to focus on coaching and supporting managers. The AskHR service will operate from 8am-5.30pm Monday to Friday on 1800 275 275 or MNAskHR@health.qld.gov.au.
Awakening compassion
This week I want to make certain that the practice of compassion at work is on the top of your priority list.
The Dalai Lama has said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion”.
Compassion is a multiple process that requires:
- RECOGNITION that suffering or pain is present,
- A RESPONSE through developing an understanding of the suffering or pain in a way that contributes to a desire to alleviate this, and
- ACTION to alleviate suffering or pain.
This relationship of suffering or pain to compassion differentiates it from other interpersonal concepts like kindness or happiness and gratitude. Importantly, compassion bonds us more strongly than these other concepts to each other. Practicing compassion provides us with satisfaction and in turn strengthens our relationships and our work environment.
If we are serious about Putting People First, it is important that we prioritise taking care of each other. Further, that we proactively and empathetically respond to pain and suffering in our colleagues. For this to occur we need to be aware of what is going on for our colleagues and seek to understand for example what might be driving a change in behaviour or attitude. This can be done through observation and gentle inquiry.
Compassion requires us to be present in our workplaces so we can act to help the person in need or distress. This may be as simple as making time for them or may require some bigger intervention.
The time is now to awaken and revitalise compassion across Metro North Health. This will make us stronger, more productive, and ultimately will, as research has shown, make us happier and will improve outcomes for each other, our families, patients, and our communities.
Our call to action this week:
- Be aware and present with colleagues.
- Practice active listening.
- Make time to understand what is going on for colleague/s.
- Acknowledge how someone else is feeling.
- Look after you own emotional needs and wellbeing.
Adapted from Stanford Medicine
Jackie Hanson will be back in the chair next week. I would like to end this message by thanking you for all the work you continue to do in this COVID and influenza wave – thank you all for an exciting month as Acting Chief Executive.
Kind regards,
Jane