Premier visits STARS
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has made several visits to STARS to check out what’s been going on in the new facility.
The rehab gym was a hive of activity in March when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and Member for McConnell Grace Grace visited to commemorate the commencement of clinical services at STARS.
Minister D’Ath also visited the COVID-19 vaccination hub to chat with staff and vaccine recipients and thank them for their involvement in the historic program.
And in June, STARS staff had the privilege of vaccinating Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Steven Miles, and Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation Stirling Hinchcliffe.
STARS wins at the Metro North Nursing and Midwifery Awards
STARS nurses Alexis Austin and Amanda Hazelman were honoured at the inaugural awards.
The awards were launched as part of the celebrations for International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May).
STARS Day Surgery Nurse Unit Manager Alexis Austin was named the Metro North Nurse/Midwife Leader of the Year.
STARS nurse Amanda Hazelman was named the Metro North Assistant in Nursing of the Year.
Congratulations to both Alexis and Austin on their well-deserved wins!
STARS Reconciliation Action Plan working group named
The STARS Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group was named during STARS’s Reconciliation Week celebrations.
The STARS RAP will help build better relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians whilst also trying to close the gap of disadvantage.
Working group co-chairs:
- Kellie Stockton, STARS Allied Health Director
- Tracy Grant, Cultural Capability Officer
Members:
- Allira Schafer – Administration Support Officer
- Jaide Maguire – Manager, Administration Services
- Timothy Horne – Administration Officer
- Donna Shi – Elective Surgery Coordinator
- Joy Dunbar – Risk Coordinator
- Daniel Carlyle – Registered Nurse
- Lillian Emery – Pharmacist
STARS starred at Australian Institute of Architects
The STARS facility was formally recognised by the Australian Institute of Architects at their awards ceremony in May.
STARS was awarded a commendation for the best Public Architecture in the Brisbane region for 2021 and will be running for the best Public Architecture award in Queensland at the State Architecture Awards in June.
Congratulations to the Metro North team and all of the partners that share in this wonderful achievement including Australian Unity, Hassell, BESIX Watpac and Cushman & Wakefield.
This was a whole team effort, and it would not have been possible without the support of all of the consultants, contractors, staff and stakeholders who worked to deliver our new facility.
Smiles from our first patients
Earlier this year, we all excitedly welcomed the arrival of our first patients.
This included new and existing outpatients attending a range of specialist clinics, new surgical and procedural patients, inpatients who have recently transferred from GEM and GARU, as well as Rehabilitation Engineering patients.
To commemorate this wonderful occasion and to pass on our special gratitude, we presented our first 200 patients with a beautiful Primus Curae lapel pin to mark their arrival through our doors.
Our hearts were filled by the warm response from our patients who welcomed our kind gesture. Together we were able to celebrate their trust in us as we looked after them as they took the next step of their healthcare journey.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
STARS has played an important role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
On 1 March 2021, Ward 5B at STARS opened as one of Queensland’s first six vaccination hubs has part of the national rollout to begin administering the vaccination to those belonging to phase 1a.
This was then expanded to include people of any age from phase 1b and now includes people aged between 40 and 59.
STARS has now delivered over 50,000 vaccines!