Helen Boocock
Congratulations to the STARS and QARC teams who won the Consumer Engagement Award at the 2022 Metro North Research Excellence Awards for the ‘Implementation of the intensive Comprehensive High Dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) into clinical rehabilitation’ project.
The comprehensive, high-dose aphasia treatment program is offered to patients with post-stroke aphasia as part of their speech pathology rehabilitation at STARS in collaboration with UQ’s Queensland Aphasia Research Centre. They were also a finalist for the Health Services and Implementation Research Award.
Professor Nadine Foster, Director of the STARS Education and Research Alliance, won the 2022 Chief Executive Award, which is also a fantastic achievement. Congratulations to all our nominees and winners of the Research Excellence Awards.
STARS was also recently recognised at the Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare (IHHC) National Excellence Awards. The STARS Dietetics and Food Services team were finalists in three of the four categories. Congratulations to:
- Nicole Aitcheson who was highly commended in the IHHC Values in Action/Exceptional Customer Service award
- Rajesh Pundir who was a Brightest Stars finalist
- The STARS Dietetics and Food Services team who were finalists in the Project of the Year award for opening STARS with customer focused digital food services.
I am delighted to share that the STARS Dietetics and Food Services team also won the National Award for Project of the Year for opening STARS with customer focused digital food services.
I’d also like to also recognise the Outpatients Administration team for their hard work, perseverance and commitment to patient-centred care. The team recently received a ‘Shout Out’ for consistently demonstrating the Metro North Values. Thank you to the team for all that you do. COVID-19 surges and floods, and now challenges associated with staff and patient sickness with flu and acute respiratory illnesses, has resulted in many cancellations and rebookings for care. This has created a great deal more work for both Outpatient, Ambulatory and Procedural Services than anyone could have anticipated.
We Are STARS polos
The moment many of you have been waiting for is finally here… we are launching our We Are STARS polo shirts! The We Are STARS polo shirts cost $37.84 each and can be ordered online through the portal. Orders are open from now until 18 June, so make sure you keep an eye out for more emails and get your order in quickly.
Changes in the leadership team
There have been some recent changes in the leadership team that I wanted to make you all aware of. Dr Martin Byrne, our Director of Medical Services, will be leaving STARS next month to return to general practice in Toowoomba, where he lives with his family.
Martin has been an essential part of the STARS executive team, having joined STARS during the project phase. Martin has worked tirelessly to ensure STARS delivers patient-centred clinical care, and we are thankful for all that you have contributed over the last two years, Martin. Opening a new hospital has been a rewarding but challenging experience for all involved, so we appreciate Martin’s medical leadership.
Please continue to look after yourselves, your families and teams in these challenging times. I very much appreciate what you do, and I know both the STARS executive and Metro North Health leadership teams also greatly appreciate your dedication and commitment.
Best wishes and thank you.
Helen Boocock
Executive Director
STARS