Message from the Chief Executive

Staff Excellence Awards

Nominations are now open for the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards. The awards gala dinner will be held on Friday 15 December.

Metro North Health has thousands of dedicated, determined and compassionate staff across our facilities who devote your time and careers to ensuring our patients receive the highest quality of care, often going above and beyond for patients and colleagues. The Staff Excellence Awards are an opportunity for us to recognise staff achievements, as well as commitment to Metro North’s values in action. The awards recognise staff excellence either individually, in teams, or through partnerships across facilities, services and streams, or with community partners.

Nominations will close at 4pm on Monday 13 November. The awards categories are:

• Excellence in integrated care
• Excellence in performance
• Excellence in training and education
• First Nations staff
• Improving First Nations health
• Innovation
• Leadership
• People focus
• Values in action

To help manage the cost of the event, tickets for the Staff Excellence Awards gala dinner will be $75 per person and $50 for finalists. Tickets will go on sale in the next few weeks, so I encourage you to get your teams and tables together. The awards gala is an excellent option for your team’s end of year get together as well.

Nominate someone

Breast cancer community forum

The Comprehensive Breast Cancer Institute is holding a community forum next Wednesday. The forum is open to staff and members of the community. CBCI will showcase some of their research and work to improve breast cancer outcomes.

The forum will be held at The Komo, Redcliffe, on Wednesday 25 October from 9am to 10.30am. Spaces are limited, so please register your attendance. Please feel free to share the details with patients and community members who might be interested.

Register

During Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s also timely to remind eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff that if you are overdue for your breastscreen, or haven’t had one yet, Metro North will support you to be screened during work time, so please book in. Early detection saves lives.

Recognising Operational Services staff

Throughout October we’re celebrating the work of our many operational staff across Metro North. This week, it’s STARS patient support officer Scotty Gillies.

Charlie’s Week

Next week is the annual TPCH Charlie’s Week, with a full week of activities around the hospital. In addition to fun activities like a treasure hunt, short film festival, fitness challenge, and markets, there is also the TPCH Staff Excellence Awards and the Hour of Power research showcase. The program looks like a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Come and chat

Next week I’ll be at Brighton Health Campus with Chief Operating Officer Jane Hancock on Monday for a listening post from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

We are also continuing the Workforce Reform roadshows. On Tuesday there are two sessions in the Brighton auditorium at 9am and 1pm.

I’ll also be hosting a Workforce Reform virtual roadshow vidcast with Chief People and Culture Officer Kristal Lowe and Acting Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Cherie Franks on Thursday 9 November for those who haven’t been able to attend one in person. The link will be sent closer to the date.

Block 7 lifts

If you’ve visited Block 7 at Herston this week you might’ve seen the beautiful artwork that now adorns the foyer and lifts. Three of the lifts have this artwork to underline our commitment to health equity and the other three feature our Herston Health Precinct branding.

Wellbeing

The past week has been particularly difficult for many people across Metro North and in our community.

I want to remind staff that there is support in place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, and any staff interested,
following the Voice referendum. There have been staff pause and reflect gatherings this week already, and there are more
gatherings over the next week:

• Friday 20 October, 2-3pm – North Lakes Health Precinct, Staff dining area & balcony
• Monday 23 October, 1-2pm – Nundah Community Health Centre, Staff tearoom
• Wednesday 25 October, 10-11am – Pine Rivers Community Health Centre, Gazebo
• Friday 27 October, 10-11am – Chermside Community Health Centre, Conf room 2

Staff can also access the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support line on 13YARN (13 92 76).

We have received a number of enquiries from staff today regarding the announcement of five days special paid leave for public servants who are experiencing psychological distress as a result of the recent referendum outcome. We have received advice that Queensland Health will provide details of the criteria for accessing this leave and how to apply it in due course. If you have any questions about leave or flexible working arrangements, please contact your line manager or the Metro North People and Culture team at MNAskHR@health.qld.gov.au.

The conflict in the Middle East has also been a difficult time and, regardless of your views, please remember to be supportive and empathetic to those who are affected by these events. Take a moment to be kind to the people you encounter and don’t be afraid to ask RUOK? Metro North also provides a confidential free employee assistance program (Benestar, now called Telus Health) for staff who may wish additional support. Wellbeing support resources and contact details are available on the extranet.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Kind regards,

Jackie.