Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital

"I was an engineering project manager, and I worked 25 years in Queensland power stations. Hong Kong for 4 years, Iraq for 2 years, the Philippines for 5 years; my wife was a fly-in, fly-out wife whilst I was in the Philippines. All of these were very good experiences. I had 3 or 4 guys that really changed the direction my life. I come from a blue-collar background, but I was able to go to university because it was free. That's where I met my wife, now we've been together for 52 years."

💭 Monday Mantra, Joe, general surgery patient at RBWH. ... See MoreSee Less

For young women looking to enter the workforce, "manufacturing" is no longer defined by the manual labour focused industry of the past. It has evolved into a high-tech, clean-room environment where biology meets engineering. 👩‍🔬

The Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI) at RBWH is the first facility of its kind dedicated to advancing 3D scanning, modelling, and printing of medical devices, bone, cartilage, and human tissue, bringing together clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and consumers.

One of these people is Issy - a Biofabrication Educator who combines her background in fashion with her passion for human experience and helping people to create products and systems that meet consumer needs.

“Fashion and healthcare may seem worlds apart, but they share a core focus on the human body. Both require customisation and tailoring to individual needs,” Issy said.

“Most people do not spend much time in hospitals. When they do, the environment can feel overwhelming and unfamiliar. My work has explored everything from rethinking how medical devices are designed, to improving how people navigate hospital spaces, to supporting clinicians in adopting new technologies.”

This week ahead of International Women’s Day, HBI welcomed 33 female students from across Queensland as part of an initiative to inspire the next generation of female leaders in manufacturing and engineering.

One of these students is Bree who is keen to pursue a career as a boiler maker and is excited by opportunities like these that make it easier for women and girls to pursue manufacturing careers.

A big Shoutout Saturday to the team from HBI and the work they do to continuously improve our ways of working. 👏🏥 ... See MoreSee Less

If your weekend plans include binging The Pitt, the latest Emmy-winning TV show set in the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre, then you're not alone - even Dr Sean, Director of Emergency at RBWH will be doing so! 🍿

The show is proving popular with the general public and our ED team alike, with many parallels to what our emergency and trauma teams deal with each day.

Sean reflects on a day in the life for our emergency staff, which can be very busy depending on who needs help.

"One of the reasons people choose to work in emergency is because we don't have a 'normal' day, and no two are ever the same," he says.

"The afternoons and evenings are always buzzing, at RBWH we are the leading trauma centre but also the stroke centre for North Brisbane, and remain busy tending to all the other emergency presentations too.

"An important part of the care we provide is not just treating the patient clinically but keeping the family up to date and supported - and we are all trained to do this, but also have our amazing 24/7 social workers who support loved ones during what can be a difficult time."

#ShoutoutSaturday to our incredible emergency teams, our real-life The Pitt stars! 📺⭐ ... See MoreSee Less

Gina has a fighting spirit that won't let her become one of the 51 per cent of ovarian cancer survivors who don't make the five-year mark. 👊

As the deadliest cancer for all women, and with 'everyday life' symptoms that don't immediately spark concern, it's important that we know what to look out for and always seek extra testing to detect ovarian cancer as early as possible.

Gina caught her cancer at Stage 4, and with the help of GynaeOncology Clinical Nurse Consultant Tara and the treating team at RBWH, she's now in remission, with an important message for all women.

"I knew in my heart that something was wrong - I had just turned 50 and was trying to lose my tummy for my son's wedding, and felt tired and had a sore back, which I put down to years of wearing heels," Gina says, reflecting on the weeks prior to her diagnosis in mid-2024.

"My GP sent me for a scan and I was admitted to hospital that same day, where I underwent rounds of chemo and surgery for my aggressive Stage 4 ovarian cancer, and I am now in remission but that does not mean cured.

"I have four kids and actually had one of my ovaries removed at 32 when I had my twins - so if you can believe it, I got ovarian cancer with one ovary.

"The goal now is to be as healthy as possible, and encourage women to talk to their GP when they are bloated, have pelvic pain, feel full after small meals, and have irregular bleeding - it's important to advocate for yourself and don't discount the symptoms, as it can be diagnosed with an ultrasound and a blood test." ❤️‍🩹 ... See MoreSee Less