Glenn wanted to give back to the community so he joined WeCU in January.
WeCU Family Care Program recruit Glenn Ellis may be new to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environment but caring for extended family is something he has committed to most of his adult life.
WeCU is an Australian first program and was created by the RBWH Foundation in 2022 to provide families with information, care and comfort, and to facilitate communication with a loved one’s healthcare team and assist with accommodation bookings and patient travel subsidy support.
“While I may not have a medical background, my life experiences – caring for loved ones, navigating difficult situations, and overcoming personal challenges – have instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and a genuine desire to help others during their most vulnerable moments,” said Glenn.
WeCU is staffed by a dedicated team seven days a week and, on average, helps about 200 people every day. The RBWH Foundation also refurbished the ICU waiting room, which now offers welcome packs, a library and coffee vouchers.
Glenn joined WeCU in January, returning to work after retiring at the end of the worst period of COVID-19. The former program manager for Queensland Environment wanted to give back to the community and the first job he saw advertised was with WeCU.
“I believe my strong communication skills, bicultural background, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life are valuable assets in this role,” explained Glenn.
“I’m eager to learn and contribute to the compassionate care provided at RBWH.”
WeCU was co-created with RBWH patient families, particularly Mat and Bianca Jones-Umina, who lost their 17-year-old son Nikias to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy in 2021, and Russell and Belinda Leary, whose 19-yr-old daughter Alexa was treated in RBWH ICU for traumatic brain injury in 2021.
“The WeCU Family Care program is a wonderful example of how the community can partner with the RBWH Foundation, to create life-changing projects which help RBWH go above and beyond,” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.
As one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest trauma hospitals, RBWH ICU treats patients from as far afield as regional and remote Queensland, Northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Pacific Rim.