I am always looking for new ways to improve the way we deliver care and at the same time build ways to compassionately support our patients and residents, their families, and our staff.

Visiting Hours

COH adopted the compassion principles to change visiting hours at our bedded services to became more flexible to visitors and families from late last year. This was a very positive adjustment as we listened to the voice of our patients, their families and carers.

Visitors have access to more flexible visiting hours and can now ask staff to facilitate particular visiting requirements if required for the bedded service where their relative or friend is staying.

Getting Involved

A major focus for us this year continues to be the importance of staff wellness and finding ways for our staff to be engaged and be better able to help support their peers.

We are focussed on making our directorate a better and more compassionate place to work and one, as a result, delivers the best possible care.

If you are empathetic, a good listener, and have a genuine interest in the wellbeing of your colleagues, why not join the 21 other peer responders in our service.

Peer Responders are trained to provide confidential support to colleagues experiencing emotional distress for any reason.

If you’re interested please Email: Erika.Hudson@health.qld.gov.au | Ph: 0419 429 327.

Getting Involved – Clinical Council

Another way staff can make positive change is by joining the COH Staff Council and becoming a voice for your peers.

Currently, we are seeking expressions of interest from all service areas and levels to be part of a group committed to improving patient outcomes and staff wellbeing.

Interested staff can email coh-clinicalcouncil@health.qld.gov.au and express their interest.

Executive facility visits

In 2022, our clinical council organised COH Connect Week where as an executive we overwhelming heard your message that we needed to focus equally on all COH facilities.

Throughout 2024, the COH executive will be visiting many of our facilities to hold our executive meeting, catch up with staff for a chat and afternoon tea and thank you for your efforts.

We will also be changing the Shining Star monthly awards for staff by focusing on the proposed facility we visit, as well as developing a timely communique about the facility and its teams as part of a ‘Voice of’ series.

This week we had the absolute delight of visiting the Northwest Community Health Centre at Keperra as part of our first executive visit for the year.

Our North West Shining Stars

As part of this visit to North West we celebrated two deserving winners of the January Shining Star Awards.

• Marina Newton, Administrative Officer – For always willing to step up and help any staff member in a work situation.
• North West Administrative Team – For embracing change and well supporting new staff to the centre.

More detail about these winners, services and happenings at North West Community Centre will be included in a new communique series called the ‘Voice of … North West’ next week.

Next facility visit by executive

Our next executive visit will be Aspley Community Health Centre on Tuesday 21 February with staff afternoon tea at 3.00 pm.

This will include the announcement of our winners of the February Shining Star Award for Aspley.

Aspley Community Health Centre staff can nominate a colleague or team for the February Shining Star Award by sending a 50-100 word submission to COH-Communications@health.qld.gov.au

Nominations will close on Friday 17 February.

Glynis Schultz
Executive Director
Community and Oral Health