I want to let you in on a little secret…. I’m a bit of a Christmas Grinch, though at the moment (with all the CKW festivities around me) I am having trouble being so!

As I walk through the office, I have to smile as I duck to avoid Santa riding a unicorn under a rainbow. And then there’s a 3D holographic experience as I navigate the overwhelming colourful walkway, that at any other time of the year is the Executive corridor!

I have included some images below of the Christmas Decoration competition which was so amazing. While I am aware that some of our long-standing competitors had to opt out of this year’s competition (due to factors like the CSB move), I’m now even more excited about next year’s event when all of CKW can participate.

CKW success at the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards

Another event that happens at this time of the year is the Metro North Staff Excellence Awards, which I was disappointed not to be able to attend this year.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in last Friday’s ninth annual Metro North Staff Excellence Awards, and a very special mention to our CKW people who received Awards and nominations in the following categories:

Excellence in Integrated Care
Highly Commended
Starting Well Initiative – A partnership approach to antenatal and postnatal care, Caboolture Hospital

Excellence in Performance
Highly Commended
Digital Commissioning Team for the Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment Program, CHRP

Excellence in Training and Education
Winner
Jaisil Punnasseril, Caboolture Hospital (see image of Jaisil to the right)

Leadership
Highly Commended
Dr Thuy Frakking, CKW

First Nations Staff
Winner
Aunty Sandra Blackman, Caboolture Hospital

Improving First Nations Health
Winner
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, CKW

What a wonderful way to acknowledge just some of the people who have helped to shape the unique culture we have here at CKW – one that is built on shared values, common goals and a passion to make the experience of our patients and families an exceptional one.

Our sweep with the First Nations awards also shows our true commitment and focus at CKW on supporting the Metro North Health Equity Strategy not only at a strategic level but at a true heart and soul level.

I was so overwhelmed as it was recounted to me how positively affected our team was as they received this accolade, and in Aunty Sandra’s case a standing ovation! It truly shows the importance of us recognising our teams through nominations.

Caring Together: Living our Values

Over the last few months, we have been working with Strategic Management Group on the Caring Together: Living our Values project. This has included workshops, surveys, and drop-in sessions with CKW staff across our facilities.

I want to thank everyone who gave their time and valuable feedback as we worked towards defining what the Metro North Health values mean to us and what we want our organisation to be over the coming years.

This has been an iterative process, with the charter growing and changing based on feedback from you. The final Caring Together: Living Our Values Charter will be launched in late January, and you will all be invited to come together for afternoon tea and to learn more about it and what it means for you.

For information about the Caring Together: Living our Values project, please email ckw-engage@health.qld.gov.au.

Research Fellowship Awards

I would encourage our CKW clinician researchers to apply for this year’s Metro North Health Clinician Research Fellowships.

The Fellowship funding provides three years of clinical backfill to allow recipients to enhance their research capacity. It’s an opportunity for Metro North’s brightest and most promising clinicians to delve deeper into their work and research.

CKW has achieved a stellar track record of success in this scheme for the past three consecutive rounds (Dr Thuy Frakking, Dr Mahesh Ramanan, and Dr Elizabeth (EJ) Marsden). Let’s continue to build on our research momentum to further enhance and embed evidence-based healthcare across our growing directorate.

For help or any assistance with your application, please contact our Research Development Unit.

Christmas decorations competition

Tis the season and I was in awe of the wonderful Christmas decorations on show across CKW.

Our theme this year was ‘A Very Colourful Christmas’. The Caboolture Hospital Antenatal Clinic used the concept of the rainbow and celebrated Rainbow Babies. These are babies who are born after a pregnancy or infant loss.

The names on the baubles are Rainbow Babies born at Caboolture Hospital, used with permission of their parents (including some of our staff).

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services team adapted the theme to be inclusive and inviting for their community. They made an Indigenous Santa and created decorations around the space using team photos and indigenous design paper. It was really thoughtful and well done.

Thanks to the Commonwealth Bank Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast Home Lending Executive Sean Aylett for sponsoring the popular annual competition and joining me as a judge – a tough assignment!

This year’s winners and highly commended were:

• Best Overall: Food Services
• Best Clinical Area: Satellite Hospital – Minor Injury and Illness Clinic
• Best Non-Clinical Area: Executive Building Top Floor
• Best Interpretation of the Theme: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Hub
• Most Meaningful: Antenatal Clinic

CKW Staff Council Christmas Appeal

Thank you to everyone who donated to the CKW Staff Council and St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Here are some of the hampers and gifts collected.

Thank you to team leaders and individuals who contributed to make this such a wonderful donation this year.

We helped ten families in the Caboolture area and another family in the Woodford area. I’m sure we’ll be back again next year, bigger and even better.

What a reflection

I am going to use the words spoken by Staff Excellence First Nations Staff Award winner Aunty Sandra Blackman.

After winning her Award, Aunty Sandra reflected on the growth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service at CKW, and said “How proud she was to be part of the growth and to see that the service was recognised right across Metro North with respect and equal importance”.

I think these words speak volumes about how we celebrate the positive, impactful achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our CKW community.

Living our values

Shout-out to the Ward 3C team with the GEMS and Palliative Care team celebrating their first month tomorrow in the new CSB.

When asked what the team’s biggest achievement in this time was, Nurse Unit Manager Rosalee Trent said,

“We are celebrating positive wins like transitioning our patients to this beautiful purposeful facility, we are a large multidisciplinary team focused on helping our patients gain positive outcomes.

Final words

On Day 8 (in my time here at CKW), I am so overwhelmed by all the kindness and welcoming I have been shown.

And while I am receiving this beautiful welcome, I am aware that so many in our community are affected by the flood disaster up North. I am aware that this may be impacting many of our staff, whether that is in the worst-case (family or friends injured or cut off) or disruptions to planned holidays and reunions.

I really encourage you to check-in on your colleagues and provide them support if they need it. Sometimes what is in front of us is not the full story and just like an iceberg, often what we see is only a small part of what it is.

‘Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle’
Charles F Glassman

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Regards,

Karlene.