The Weekly Wrap: 29 November

All staff are invited to our annual Christmas lunches, which begin next week. The dates are below, so mark your calendars!

There will also be different entertainment at our sites, including our favourite furry friends from Lort Smith Pet Therapy, choirs and photo booths.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views in the People Matter Survey 2023.

The survey period for the Victorian Public Sector Commission annual survey has closed.

We will share the results of the survey with staff in the first quarter of 2024.

The three divisional prize winners, which will receive significant cash contributions to put towards team meals, are:

• Health Support Services, which includes Environmental Services and Clerical Support.
• Aged, Cancer and Continuing Care Services
• The Chief Financial Officer Directorate (excluding Digital Technology Services and Digital Health)

We’d also like to congratulation the individual raffle winners for the final draw: Fatima Awad, Jodie Antoniou, Michelle Kleeham.

The winners will be contacted by People and Culture to arrange for their prizes to be collected.

View the dashboard to see your team’s response rate.

The Bacchus Marsh Melton (BMM) Digital Health Transition Project is extending the functionality which is used to document and manage patient care at Western Health’s Footscray, Sunshine, Williamstown and Sunbury sites to the BMM sites to aid the flow of healthcare information across the organisation and support seamless, safe and effective care.

We are now in an exciting phase where work is underway on the second stage of the project, which involves the transition of a number of clinical and administrative systems to the BMM sites, to align with the wider organisation.

To help staff prepare for this transition, information sessions will be held at Bacchus Marsh Hospital and the Melton Health Hub in December 2023. 

The sessions will include a project overview and timeline, plus are an excellent opportunity for BMM staff to get a first glimpse of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system and future workflows.  

The sessions will be held on:

• Monday December 11, 2023, 2–3pm, Bacchus Marsh Hospital – Conference Room
• Wednesday December 13, 2023, 2–3pm, Melton Health Hub – Conference Rooms 1 & 2

Key project contacts will be in attendance and are looking forward to answering queries. The same information will be presented at each site.

For more information on the Bacchus Marsh Melton Digital Health Transition Project, please visit the dedicated project page on the Digital Health information site.

A new Western Health and Deakin University study is one of the first to investigate the longer term impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of health professionals.

The paper, published in the Australian Health Review Journal, found there was a significant and persistent negative impact on the wellbeing of health professionals over a 22-month period.

The research is being used to directly  inform the way health services support staff now and into the future.

Read the full news story on the Western Health website

If you ‘d like support with your mental health and wellbeing, there are lots of helpful services available, including  our Employee Assistance Program.

You can find more information here.

Are you a Western Health employee with lived experience of disability? Or do you care or work with a person who identifies as having a disability?

We want to hear from you about your lived experience as a staff member to help inform the Western Health Disability Action and Inclusion Plan.

Join us for a dynamic and engaging forum where you can freely express your ideas, share your experiences, and provide feedback. Together, we’ll pave the way for the 2023-2026 Western Health Disability Action and Inclusion Plan.

The forum is on Friday December 1 and the session times available are:

• 10am -11am
• 11am -12pm
• 12pm -1pm

To register your interest please email the Disability Liaison Service disabilityliaison@wh.org.au, a zoom link will be sent to you along with further information.

If you are unable to attend, we still value your feedback please email your interest for further information on how you can participate.

Registration deadline: 30 November, 2023.

The United Nation’s international campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, takes place each year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10 December (International Human Rights Day). 

*We’d like to advise that this story discusses family violence*

This year Western Health and the University of Melbourne are sponsoring an event called:  ‘Can I Ask That?’ A conversation with the children of women killed by men.

It tackle myths, assumptions and stigmas faced by people bereaved by domestic violence homicides.

Join Amani Haydar, Kathryn Joy, Beverley Attard and Rebecca Burdon for a frank discussion about their lived experience and the ongoing challenges facing victim survivors.

When: Thursday 30 November 2023

Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm

Where: Online and in-person at University of Melbourne, with limited capacity, at the William Macmahon Ball Theatre in the Old Arts Building. A map will be provided to attendees.

Register your questions and attendance here.

You can also:

Visit Respect Victoria’s website or Safe and Equal for more information on 16 Days of Activism or join the Walk With Her or Walk Against Family Violence 2023.

Or listen to the Western Health podcast, If only someone had asked, which explores family violence: what it is, why it occurs and how health professionals can play a key role in identifying, responding and referring victim survivors. 

On the 4^th of December Sunshine Western Health Social Work Team and Strengthening Hospital’s Response to family violence Program leaders will be walking around Sunshine Hospital to highlight the International 16 days of Activism Against Gender based Violence.

We are inviting others to participate to help us acknowledge and highlight the wide range of impacts on the health and well being of women and children who are exposed to family violence. We are asking staff to meet at the front entrance at 12 noon wearing or carrying something Orange for a walk around the hospital grounds and ending with a photo at the main entrance.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, you can contact 1800 Respect: 1800 737 732 or Lifeline: 13 11 14 

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on 3 December each year. This year’s theme for IDPwD 2023 is ‘United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities.’

The 2023 theme for IDPwD asks everyone to work together to make the world better and fairer for people with disability.

IDPwD is a United Nations observed day celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

IDPwD is an opportunity for us to make positive changes to the lives of the 4.4 million Australians with disability.

This event is to celebrate People with Disabilities through recognition of IDPwD at Western Health.

The Disability Liaison Service will be visiting each Western Health site during the week of 4th-7th December promoting awareness, providing material and raising participation in completing our very own Disability Awareness We Learn package.  

Access the training package here.

Come and see us on the following dates and times:

To celebrate, activities and prizes for participation and enthusiasm will available across the week.

Join us for the Western Health and University of Melbourne Medical Grand Round on Wednesday 29 November 2023 from 12-1pm.

• Title: Not just skin deep – Multidisciplinary cases from Western Health
• Brief outline: Approach to a number of dermatological presentations requiring multidisciplinary input – including morphology, differential diagnoses, investigations and treatment
• Presenters: Dermatology registrars Dr Natalie Wong and Dr Kate Simpson
• Chair: A/Prof Laura Scardamaglia

Join on Zoom: https://westernhealth.zoom.us/j/91565664494?pwd=cUhabGh5bUZ6VGpsZE43TTFkL3JVdz09

The Western Health Foundation is proud to announce a $20,000 grant, sponsored by Medirest.

The Medirest Support Services Improvement Grant aims to improve patient care/experience, or upskill staff working in the Health Services Division, which includes food and nutrition, security, patient services, cleaning, clerical support or waste management.

Expressions of Interest close: 30 November, 2023.

Apply now.

We have face to face support sessions for e-PACE:

• 11 December 2023, 10:00am to 12:00pm, Mavis Mitchell Room – Footscray Hospital

To book your support session, please contact the Contracts Team at 

whs-contracts@wh.org.au and include the following:

• Full name of attendee
• Job title
• Department
• Email address
• Contact number
• Date of support session

Western Health Foundation are thanking Western Health staff for their sensational efforts in 2023 with Krispy Kremes! Celebrate the season with a free donut and say hello to the friendly Western Health Foundation team. 

Dates, times, locations:

Sunshine Hospital: 18 December, 10am – 12pm, opposite the pharmacy
Footscray Hospital: 19 December, 10am – 12pm, opposite the security office
Melton Hospital: 20 December, 9am – 11am, upstairs staff room in the Melton Community Services Building
Bacchus Marsh Hospital: 20 December, 12pm – 2pm, staff tea room
Williamstown Hospital: 21 December, 10am – 12pm, 1st floor, administration corridor
Sunbury and Western Central Production Kitchen: staff tea rooms

Donuts will be put aside for those staff working night shift.

Many thanks to Krispy Kreme for donating donuts through their Doughforce program, which is based on expressing thanks to those who work hard to support their communities.

If you would like to know more about their fundraising efforts, you can visit their website. Alternatively, visit their western suburbs store at Highpoint to purchase a sweet treat!

Rest of the year free! Plus up to a $100 visa prepaid card. 

Your onsite Health Club EFM is excited to Launch its first ever Black Friday Gym Membership sale. Rest of the year absolutely free! No charge until January.

Set up 2024 for your best year yet with 6 weeks of free gym membership to finish 2023 and a $100 visa prepaid gift.

Only 15 memberships available for our biggest and best promo ever so call Jarrod on 0401951734  or email sunshine@efm.net.au 

BankVic are available to chat about financial wellbeing at Sunshine Hospital.

A BankVic representative will be offering home loan health checks, which include assessing your current financial situation, financial goal setting and evaluating whether your current home loan still suits your needs.

Sunshine

Date: Thursday 30 November
Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: Open foyer space at Sunshine Hospital (near main reception) 

Registrations not required.

Greenbag Espresso Bar is offering $3 organic, fair-trade coffees to staff at Western Health’s Bacchus Marsh, Williamstown, Melton, and Footscray hospitals from 8am-9am Monday to Friday.

This offer runs until the end of November and is part of a plan by Greenbag to introduce a number of offers to acknowledge the hard work of healthcare professionals and show their appreciation for Western Health staff.

Melbourne Comedy Festival favourites are back in town and free tickets are available.

Dates: 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 December.

Doors open: 6:30pm

Show starts: 8pm (runs for 2+ hours)  

Cost: FREE (normally $35)

Location: The Comics Lounge (26 Errol Street, North Melbourne).
Bookings: email laughs@thecomicslounge.com.au with your name, the number of tickets and the date of the show you’d like to attend.

Maxxia will be on-site to help with salary packaging queries for all employees.

Book a 15 minute face-to-face consultation here.

Upcoming visits

Melton Health Services (Community Services Building- upstairs staff room)

• Thursday December 7 – 12.30pm-2.30pm

Bacchus Marsh Hospital (staff lunch room)

• Thursday December 7 – 9am-11am

Sunbury Day Hospital (Consulting Room 5)

• Wednesday February 7 – 9am-11am

How we can help

• How salary packaging works
• How to use pre-tax funds towards daily living expenses such as mortgage, rent, clothes, school fees etc.
• How to use pre-tax funds towards restaurant  and holiday expenses
• Manage your salary packaging benefits through one smart card.
• How to set up and navigate the Maxxia app.
• Salary packaging a new, used or existing vehicle with a novated lease and current vehicles available.

Cant make it? Email: education@maxxia.com.au.

On behalf of the Western Health Foundation, our corporate partner, Nike, are offering all Western Health staff 40% off at the exclusive Nike Company Store in South Melbourne. The space is a VIP invite-only store.

This offer is available between 1-30 November, 2023 and is only redeemable in-store by appointment. Monday- Sunday visits require a booking using the link on the invite.

How to redeem:

1. Download the Nike App and sign up to become a Nike Member.
2. Make an in-store appointment. Download the flyer to access the booking website.
3. Present your employee staff ID and Nike Membership Pass via The Nike App at your in-store appointment.

Terms and Conditions

• One visit per invitation only. The invitation is valid for employees only and is non-transferable.
• You may bring only one adult guest with you and the guest must check in at the same time (children under 18 may accompany adults).

Fernwood have partnered with Western Health Foundation to fundraise for much-need cardiotocography (CTG) machines at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s at Sunshine Hospital.

Read more about how crucial CTG machines support healthy and safe birth outcomes here.

The offer:
1. Sign up to trial Fernwood for 30 days for just $30. All proceeds will be donated to Western Health Foundation.
2. Register as a Fernwood member after your trial, and an additional $100 will be donated to Western Health Foundation. Western Health staff members can enjoy an ongoing 15% discount on their membership fees.

How to register:
1. To purchase your 30 day Fernwood trial for $30, click the link below
2. Select your local Fernwood club and purchase the $30 for 30 Days pass online
3. The Fernwood team will be in touch to help you activate the pass.

Register for your trial today: https://www.fernwoodfitness.com.au/shop