Jane Hancock, Chief Operating Officer

Executive update

Angie Dobbrick, Executive Director, Caboolture and Kilcoy Hospitals and Woodford Corrections Health (ED CKW) has advised me that she will be leaving Metro North Health for another opportunity from 2 July 2023.

Angie has a long history with Metro North Health, across a range of clinical and corporate services roles.

Immediately prior to her appointment as ED CKW, Angie was the Director Workforce Culture and Engagement, and in that role spearheaded Metro North Health’s Values in Action program – which continues to be built on and is the cornerstone of our culture here at Metro North.

Angie has been in the ED CKW role since May 2020 and has been instrumental in developing our most northern facilities as they have responded to the challenges of COVID and undergone significant development and change, including the introduction of the satellite hospitals at Caboolture and Bribie Island, and the service readiness of the new Clinical Services Building, as part of the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment.

Angie has been a strong leader and ally for the progress toward the achievement of Health Equity for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.  Amongst other things, under her leadership CKW has seen the establishment of the inaugural Manager of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, the employment of a local Elder to support patients access to outpatient appointments, the progression of Women’s Business opportunistic screening, and the placement and support of the highest number of Deadly Start Cadets across Metro North Health. These will be foundational elements to achieving Health Equity for the CKW community.

I would like to thank Angie for her contributions to Metro North Health, on behalf of myself, Jackie, and the Board. I wish her every success in whatever challenge she takes on next, and she leaves with my best wishes.

Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary will be Acting as the Executive Director Caboolture Woodford and Kilcoy for up to three months whilst a recruitment process is undertaken for the role.

And finally a cause for celebration. One of my great privileges in my role as the COVID Response Lead for Queensland was visiting other health services, meeting communities and staff across this great State. This included a trip over several days to the Cape and Torres Strait Islands. I am aware about how special the Coming of Light celebrations is for Torres Strait Islander people and I would like to acknowledge the Coming of the Light tomorrow. This festival recognises the adoption of Christianity through Torres Strait Islander communities during the late nineteenth century. Torres Strait Islanders living on the islands or on the mainland come together to honour this anniversary every year and join with them in wishing them a wonderful celebration.

With thanks for all that you have done this this week to care for the communities we serve and for each other – it is tough the demand on the system however please remember that so many patients have benefited from the care you have provided over the last week – so thank you from me on behalf of many!

Warm regards,

Jane.