Jim McGowan AM, Metro North Board Chair

Much has happened in the November-December period.

Metro North Staff Excellence Awards Night

Undoubtedly the highlight of the period, perhaps the year, is the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards, held at the Convention Centre on Friday 9 December.

It was a great night in which we were able to celebrate the achievements of all who contribute to our collective accomplishments.

We have a talented, dedicated and compassionate group of people who work at Metro North Health and who are very committed to our values and to the requirements of the people who need our support.

A big congratulations to all our finalists and winners – 2022 has brought its challenges with unprecedented demands on our already busy capacity. However, their success is built upon the contribution of all their colleagues across all Directorates and services.

Metro North Health has a great reputation for quality care and that is due to you. It is an honour to be part of Metro North Health. You can be proud of your achievements and those of your colleagues.

I have also had the honour of attending other award presentations across Metro North.

Other highlights

The Board met at Caboolture Hospital on 29 November. Board meetings now commence with an opportunity for consumers to meet with Board Members, the Metro North CE, Jackie Hanson, and leadership team. If we have a genuine commitment to person centred care, the views of our consumers must be a critical input into our clinical services planning.

Board Members also had an opportunity to see the progress on the Caboolture Hospital redevelopment.

The first South East Queensland (SEQ) First Nations Health Equity Conference was held at the Convention Centre on 29-30 November. Over 300 participants representing all the SEQ HHSs, the PHNs and IUIH committed to work together to ensure that we deliver on agreed actions to make real inroads in health equity for our First Nations people. However, the real test will be the assessment of progress at next year’s Conference. I would like to acknowledge the leadership and determination of Adrian Carson, Board Member and CEO of IUIH for such a successful initiative.

I had the opportunity to attend the showcasing of Metro North First Nations Health Equity actions at the Brighton Campus. The meeting marked the anniversary of our first First Nations community engagement consultation in which we committed to co-design the key priorities and actions outlined in the Metro North Health Equity Strategy. Metro North Health continues to learn and grow as we travel together on this path towards creating a health service that further supports and meets the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to achieve greater health outcomes.

We must commit individually and collectively to the Health Equity Reform agenda to Closing the Gap in health outcomes and achieving life expectancy parity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Another initiative was a forum for members for Metro North’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. The purpose of the forum was to better understand health related issues for our CALD consumers. It is important to start conversations with multicultural communities to make sure that we understand and respond appropriately to their diverse needs. The underpinning philosophy needs to be “nothing about us without us”.

Christmas wishes

Along with the Spring Racing Carnival, Christmas is my favourite time of the year, a time to share with our families and loved ones.

However, Metro North Health is a 24/7 people organisation. That requires some to make a special sacrifice over the Christmas/New Year period. I thank all of you who are rostered or on-call over this period. For those of you who will work over Christmas or the New Year, thank you for your commitment and I hope you get some quality time to celebrate with your families and friends as soon as possible.

Every New Year signifies renewal. There will be some new challenges but also new opportunities. Remember people truly value you and the work that you do.

Christmas quotes to ponder

“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.” (Benjamin Franklin (1706-1779) US Founding Father, President, Inventor and Philosopher)

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” (Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British War-time Prime Minister)

“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving.” (B.C. Forbes (1880-1952) Founder of Forbes Magazine.

Regards,

Jim McGowan AM
Metro North Board Chair