Glynis Schultz, Executive Director, Community and Oral Health
Around a hundred staff from across Community and Oral Health and Metro North participated in the Compassion Labs hosted by Mary Freer this week. It was great that we were able to welcome Mary to our directorate, even though we had a few false starts with date changes due to COVID-19.
This was a great and worthwhile opportunity to pause and reflect, and hopefully many of you came away with new insights around self-compassion and compassion to others. I recognise that we all have had a difficult time over the past few years, and for many this has included personal challenges and hardship.
At the Compassionate Lab, we learnt that compassion is a strength that allows us to be more mindful of the distress that we personally feel, so that we understand how others feel around us.
To be compassionate to others we must first create time and space for ourselves … take the time to pause and be still. Mary highlighted that through empathy and understanding we empower people.
She discussed the Four Steps of Compassion which highlighted the importance of showing up and being present in each moment and every interaction at work especially when you have a lot on your mind.
The steps included being curious about what others are doing or experiencing and connecting with your colleagues so that we are able to be compassionate when they need our help or support.
I hope many of you took something away from these sessions like Andrea.
“I would like to pass on my thanks and compliments for putting on the compassionate lab this week. I felt it was exactly what many of us needed at the moment, it was really well run and I really appreciated having the opportunity to be able to attend this and refill my cup.”
Thank you to Nikki Scott for all her effort and patience rescheduling and making sure the days ran smoothly.
Celebrating our wonderful operational staff
Many of our executive members had the chance to get around to some of our sites to say thank you to our operational staff as part of Operational Services Week last week. The operational team are a crucial and integral part of our service, and they don’t usually get the recognition they deserve.
Their work ensures that our services continue to operate smoothly, and we can provide the high level of care to our patients and residents.
Thank you!
Their work ensures that our services continue to operate smoothly, and we can provide the high level of care to our patients and residents.
COH Allied Health Professions Day Awards
Tomorrow we will be celebrating Allied Health Professions Day and our Allied Health leaders will be attending many COH sites to meet, greet and eat with our staff. This will also be an opportunity to present our Allied Health awards to successful staff.
Award categories:
- Student supervisor of the year 2022
- Recreation Officer of the year 2022
- Clinical Assistant of the year 2022
- Early Career Allied Health Professional 2022
- Allied Health Professional of the year 2022 (all nominations eligible).
Morning or afternoon teas will be held at Caboolture, Redcliffe, North Lakes, Brighton, Zillmere, Chermside, Nundah, Keperra and Halwyn (with more detail provided by Centre Managers).
Please take the time to enjoy the celebrations and acknowledge our award winners which will also be announced tomorrow!
Quote to ponder
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: “Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”
Glynis Schultz
Executive Director
Community and Oral Health