Helen Boocock, Executive Director, STARS

Staff Excellence Award winners

I would like to congratulate our Allied Health teams for taking out the Values in Action category at the recent Metro North Staff Excellence Awards. I would like to share part of their award nomination submission as I think it is also representative of the wonderful culture we have developed here at STARS.

“STARS Allied Health pride themselves on not only their ability to deliver exceptional care to their patients, but also on their supportive, curious and nothing is too hard culture … With integrity, they see strengths in their differences, and together they push the boundaries to discover smarter, more effective ways to deliver care“.

Congratulations also goes to our STARS Pharmacy pre-admission clinic team for their Highly Commended Award in the Excellence in Performance category.

Congratulations as well to all the award nominees from STARS: Dietetics and food services (Innovation category), Kellie Stockton (Leadership category), Pharmacy technician-led counselling (People Focus category) and STARS Education Team (Excellence in Training and Education category). Out of over 170 nominations, STARS were shortlisted in six of the nine award categories, so well done to all our 2022 finalists.

The Excellence Awards were well attended by STARS staff and many people commented on the amazing energy of our tables and the collective support for STARS across the room on the night. Thank you to everyone who attended in support of their colleagues and their amazing efforts.

If you weren’t able to attend, you might like to watch the Thank you video for Metro North staff that was shown on the night. It’s a thank you to all of you at STARS, for your commitment and care.

For more information on all award category winners see here.

Kirsty Leo, Assistant Nursing Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, presenting Sam with his awards.

Congratulations to Sam Tochterman-Talbott

I would also like to extend my congratulations to STARS Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer, Sam Tochterman-Talbott who recently won the Cultural Governance Award and the Rising Star Award at the NAIDOC and Reconciliation Excellence Awards for his work at TPCH. The awards recognise the contributions of First Nations and non-First Nations staff towards achieving a culturally safe, appropriate and respectful healing experience for First Nations people at TPCH. Well done Sam.

Christmas decorating competition

This year, we had 21 departments or wards register for our Christmas decorating competition, including our partners Cushman and Wakefield. Judging took place on Monday and the competition was very close, with the Day Surgery taking out the win this year. Their entry was based on an original poem which led people through several decorated areas. Congratulations to everyone that helped decorate the space.

A few other special mentions: ground floor reception for creating a tasteful and elegant display that was befitting the lobby area of the hospital, 5B’s dining room where many of the decorations were handmade by patients and the ability centre’s daisy chains which were made by patients as part of their therapy and their unique crutch tree.

The winning team received a fantastic trophy, a sweet treat hamper and the chance to name the theme for next year. A big thank you to Ollie from the Rehabilitation Engineering Centre for making the beautiful trophy and thank you for all your wonderful entries – see a selection below. In the New Year we will load all the photos onto the Christmas decorating STARS webpage.

If you get the chance, take time to visit the different areas to have a look at their entries: SEALS; Ground floor outpatients; Ward 4a; Level 5 Gastro OPP/CCC; Endoscopy; Gastroenterology outpatients; Ward 6B; Ward 5A; Ground floor reception; Scanning unit- basement; Cushman & Wakefield; Allied Health (L7); Revenue/ Finance (L7); PACU1; Day surgery; Safety and Quality; STARS Pharmacy; Ward 5B; Level 4 Ability Centre; PACU Admin Hub and Level 7 Nurse Educators.

Staying home when sick

Just a friendly reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect our patients and but also colleagues from acquiring COVID-19 in the healthcare setting. Many of our patients and colleagues have some element of immunosuppression or chronic disease that places them at risk of severe disease, and we should all try our best to ensure we all have a wonderful festive season, COVID-19 free.

• Do not attend work if you are unwell or symptomatic for any potentially infectious reason. If you’re not familiar with COVID-19 symptoms please click here.
• Perform a RAT test if your unwell, ensuring you are following the directions and all time frames for swabbing and the observed time is followed. You can obtain RAT tests from Infection Management and Prevention by calling 77961 or your local supermarket or chemist.
• If your RAT is negative and you are still unwell please refrain from attending work and perform another RAT test or present for a PCR (see PCR options below).
• If you’re positive notify Infection Management and Prevention by following the QR codes in the notification guideline. Click here.
• If your RAT and PCR are negative please ensure you are asymptomatic before coming back to work.
• A reminder that all staff who are positive are not to attend a hospital, aged care, disability service or correctional centre for 7 days from a positive result and must be asymptomatic.

PCR test options

• Visit your GP
• Visit one of the respiratory clinics. Click here for more information
• QML drive through with no GP referral at Chermside, Taigum and Brisbane, Visit QML site for up to date details.
• Mater pathology COVID-19 information – Mater Health, no GP referral required. View site for locations and hours.
• Purchase a pathology form from Xtracare Health, this can be taken to any pathology collection company.

Best wishes and Merry Xmas.

Helen