Louise O’Riordan, Acting Executive Director

Redcliffe Hospital and Metro North Health are committed to preventing and responding to workplace sexual harassment. Last week, Chief Executive Jackie Hanson emailed everyone about our new Sexual Harassment Policy, Respect@Work.

I encourage everyone to become familiar with the new Sexual Harassment Policy and Statement of Commitment and Action Plan, together with the other resources available on the Respect@Work QHEPS page.

Sexual harassment is not only unwelcome at Metro North, it is unlawful. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work and to work in a respectful and inclusive workplace.

Preventing sexual harassment is everyone’s responsibility, and we all have an obligation to behave in a way that is respectful and inclusive and ensures the safety and well-being of others.

National Apology Yarning Circle

Next Tuesday, all staff are invited to join our Yarning Circle and Morning Tea in the Staff Courtyard to mark the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

Please join us, if you can, from 11am.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Program

Nominations are now open for the Metro North Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Program. This program is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members from all levels and streams.  The two-day program has been developed based on extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and involves mentoring and ongoing supporting activities.

For further details on nominations, sponsorship, and expressing interest as a mentor, please visit the QHEPS page or contact the program manager, Charlie Nugent, at MNTraining@health.qld.gov.au.

Team of the Month

Congratulations to nurse educator Kate Ducrou, who has been awarded our Team of the Month for December.

Those who nominated Kate say she is always smiling, offering support, and is a kind and compassionate team player.

At our Staff Forum this week, we congratulated the five other nominees for the December award, including Ellen Hazelman and Cath Craig; Annemarie Green and Briannon Groves; Arlene Wagner; the Paediatric Ward; and Occupational Therapy.

Nominations for the February award close soon.

Our next Staff Forum

We’ll announce the January Team of the Month at our next Staff Forum on Thursday 22 February at 3pm. Everyone should have an appointment for that session in their Outlook calendars.

At our next Staff Forum, we’ll also be featuring a presentation on the ieMR rollout and talking more about the Redcliffe Hospital Expansion and how car parking is changing for staff.

We hold our Staff Forums every fortnight, and if there’s something you’d like to present or know more about, let us know.

Agreed Behaviours update

One of the outcomes of the Have Your Say Staff Survey was the need to update our hospital’s Agreed Behaviours.

Our People & Culture team began this refresh last year with staff engagement sessions on how our Agreed Behaviours could work better. That work continues with People & Culture’s call for volunteers to be Agreed Behaviours Champions and take part in focus groups that will start soon.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help. If you’d like to be involved, please contact People & Culture on 3049 2339.

Lastly, this week, thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the career and contribution of Dr Catherine Yelland as she heads into retirement.

While it’s impossible to ever replace Dr Yelland, we have started the recruitment process for a new Medical Director in the Medicine Service Line. In the interim, we’re grateful to Dr Rabiya Farhat for agreeing to act in the role alongside nursing director Keith Von Dohren.

Louise.