2022 Awards

Midwife – Maternity Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

A patient had the following to say about Amber:

“I want to thank the midwives and doctors, especially Amber Borg, for helping me deliver my beloved baby on 21/05/22. When I was in labour, Amber constantly explained what she and the team were doing. She asked questions and would tell me what I needed to do, demonstrating her accountability and respect for me and the safety of both myself and my baby. But what amazed me the most about Amber is her contagious compassion. She’s so passionate about providing care to her patients. She’s full of energy, and even though it was midnight, she was there beside me, taking care of me, completing lots of paperwork, and buddying up with a midwife student. She consistently demonstrated confidence, knowledge, and high standards of care. Even when she handed me over upstairs, her parting advice and information were very touching and made me feel like she was not only a midwife fulfilling her role but also a family member and friend. Once again, thank you, Amber. You made my experience at JKWC hospital so memorable.”

Enrolled Nurse – Ward 2A

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Amrit came to Ward 2A as part of a graduate program and is now a permanent team member. Amrit is an exceptional employee and human on so many levels it is difficult to isolate one particular example or characteristic; however, I will highlight the most consistent and the one that I think most impacts, everyone. COVID has added many pressures to the ward, the network, and beyond. People are stressed, tired and at times overwhelmed. Some people have the ability to sense when others need someone to give them a moment, a kind word, a helping hand, support, someone to listen, AND also the desire and willingness to provide what they sense the other needs. Amrit is one of these remarkable people. It’s what makes him such a fantastic nurse and an exceptional colleague!! Amrit should be heralded for the difference he makes in so many people’s lives every day!”

Occupational Therapist

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Ann is always happy to share her knowledge and clinical reasoning/skills with all Occupational Therapists and Allied Health Assistants to continue our growth within our profession and her own. Ann is a great advocate for all patients she treats as she provides and continues to provide ‘best care’ and better outcomes for patients that come to Footscray Hospital, particularly those on Ward 1W. I know the 1 West team appreciates her as much as her department. Ann continues to provide high standards of care to all patients despite all the changes and challenging times. Ann has grown and shown exceptional leadership skills during the last few years and the pandemic, particularly during December 2021. She supported her team by listening, providing guidance, and helping others with their workload to ensure patient care was not compromised. Ann has made me feel like a valuable team member, and her willingness to listen and trust my point of view regarding patient care, discharge planning, etc., has helped build my confidence and knowledge within my profession. I am proud to work with someone who is a valuable, caring individual, colleague, and friend. Ann hasn’t complained once or taken a day off during this crazy time and continues to show leadership skills, positivity, and a smile every day she comes to work. I believe Ann should be acknowledged for her hard work, dedication, and consistent display of the Western Health Values – Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Safety, and most importantly, her contribution to a positive workplace. Thank you for all you do, Ann, and always remember you are a valued team member and an extraordinary human being who is greatly appreciated by those you work alongside.”

Registered Nurse – Lower West Ward (LWW)

“An was redeployed to CCU during the COVID pandemic when LWW was closed. She displayed resilience and professionalism during this time and did not complain once! An was adaptive to change. She increased her contracted hours, rotated on to nights, and participated in 12-hour shifts. An was valued at this time for bringing her expert surgical skills into the CCU space. She also was proactive in refreshing her cardiac knowledge, which hopefully gave her increased confidence when she returned to LWW. An displays compassion for patients by advocating for their wellbeing. She was proactive in connecting patients with their families during the COVID pandemic and would spend time with each patient to provide support. An always made sure her patients were aware of their medical plans and would update families accordingly. An was a pleasure to work with during her time with CCU. She was engaging, friendly, and consistently displayed the Western Health CARES values.”

MRI Receptionist – Footscray Medical Imaging

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Blaga is our irreplaceable MRI Receptionist who has done so much for our patients and staff over many years. She has a wealth of knowledge, is incredibly efficient, and has an incredible memory. Blaga is always cheerful and positive no matter the workload, has the loveliest manner with patients and speaks the best Macedonian. She’s a beloved team member who looks after the staff with endless coffee runs and other tasks. She brightens every day and makes the department run so well. One knows it will be a great day when she’s steering the ship. Blaga is a quiet achiever. It’s definitely time that she receives some love and appreciation in return for all she does!”

Clinical Nurse Consultant, Continence – Melton Health & Community Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Bridget is always available for staff to discuss clients and provide support to colleagues. She looks out for the whole team and proactively addresses complex issues with clients and the team. When I was having difficulty with a client’s unrealistic expectations of who could deliver care, she stepped in and contacted the client’s urologist and the family to set boundaries. Bridget is always happy to answer any questions, continence or general. She cares about you as a person and is always happy to lend an ear to provide support for both personal and workplace issues. Bridget provides education to staff and is a positive role model. She exhibits excellence in caring for clients and goes above and beyond. She works in a team who supports each other and ensures that she communicates the needs of clients who are joint continence/ community nursing clients. Bridget also supports the other members of the continence team.”

Registered Nurse – Ward 3 East

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Bronte has shown excellence in her role as a registered nurse. She is extremely kind, compassionate, and caring to her patients, ensuring that she delivers excellent nursing care for them. Bronte actively listens to her patient and their visitors and acts on their concerns for a positive outcome. She is an amazing team player helping her colleagues no matter how busy she is. Bronte has a very bright and bubbly personality which fosters a positive workplace for all in a dynamic environment.”

Anaesthetist and Pain Management Specialist

“Respectfully and affectionately called “Queen B” by the Pain Nurses, Dr Evans is truly inspiring. Dr Evans has so many admirable qualities. She has a remarkable depth of knowledge which she is always happy to share. She shows the deepest compassion and empathy towards every patient she encounters on the pain round and in her role as an Anaesthetist. Dr Evans takes the time to listen to patients, ensures they are heard, and respects their journey. She always provides care in a holistic fashion, centering on the patient’s complete health and wellbeing. Both patients and staff have benefited from her compassion and nurturing. Dr Evans is the backbone of the Acute Pain Management Service and provides exemplary leadership and guidance to all her colleagues throughout Western Health. We have the utmost gratitude for Dr Evans continued support and encouragement and consider ourselves fortunate to have this extraordinary doctor to work alongside within Western Health.”

Endorsed Enrolled Nurse – Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care

“Brunella is a fantastic team player- she shares her knowledge with the nursing students and makes them feel at ease. Brunella goes above and beyond and nothing is ever too much trouble. She is very accountable for her work and never leaves until all tasks are thoroughly completed. Brunella treats her colleagues and residents with the utmost respect and dignity they deserve and is very passionate about her job in aged care. She makes your day shine.”

Occupational Therapist – Ward 2H

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Callum is a highly dedicated clinician who truly goes above and beyond with our complex cohort of patients. I have observed Callum making time for others even during the busiest of days, tailoring his approach and recommendations to each patient, involving relatives and friends, and ensuring that the patient’s wishes and beliefs are met. He also advocates many “out of the box” ideas/plans to optimise his patient’s safety involving all members of the multidisciplinary team. The time he spends supervising students will see them learn a great deal during their rotation with him and become better OT’s in the future. Nothing is too difficult for Callum to troubleshoot, and during team planning meetings, he is engaging and works very well with all the other clinicians on the ward. Callum truly provides holistic and comprehensive patient-centred care to those directly under his care and helps fellow OT staff with their patient allocation. Thank you so much, Callum, for all your efforts for our patients. Keep up the great work.”

Grade 4 Occupational Therapist

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Chelsea received two nominations for an Inspire Award:

Nomination 1:

“In a short period of time (July at time of submission), Chelsea has already created such a positive workplace culture change. For a senior staff member who I imagine has so many time pressures, she is readily available and easily approachable. She has enthusiastically nurtured opportunities for learning and growth, demonstrating her strong values of accountability and excellence. I appreciate her compassion, generosity of time, and sharing of knowledge to better my skills as a clinician as well as my general confidence in myself. After spending so much time doing primarily patient work during COVID over the last few years, it feels really exciting to have quality improvement projects back into rotation.”

Nomination 2:

“Chelsea has maintained a beam of positive energy between the Footscray and Sunshine acute OT teams. As many of our quality projects changed tack or were placed on hold over the past 2 years she has demonstrated compassionate and respectful leadership in supporting the team to continue with this work alongside our clinical load. Chelsea models a commitment to excellence and safety in supporting staff with quality processes to provide the best service we can for our patients.”

Registered Nurse – Ward 2A

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Chris is a fantastic nurse who goes above and beyond to support his colleagues and patients. He works tirelessly as our OHS Rep to keep everyone safe and supported. Chris is an exceptional mentor and preceptor for students and is often observed doing more than is required to assist and support our next generation of nurses. He role models excellence, safety, respect, compassion, and accountability in all his undertakings and is one of the leading examples of living Western Health Values and providing ‘Best Care.’ Chris is a champion for positivity in the workplace and will never sit back and allow inappropriate behaviour to be directed at anyone, staff, and patients alike. He is a brave and tireless promoter of a safe and happy workplace and makes a difference in the lives of others.”

Registered Nurse – Ward 1A

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Dayna has always been a level-headed and approachable Registered Nurse that has supported students excellently. When asked if she ever does any nurse in charge shifts as I knew she would be capable. Dayna said, “no, I am here for the patients; that is what I care about.” Later that day, I walked past her holding a patient’s hand and talking tenderly to the elderly patient. The support shown was beautiful. I have seen Dayna compassionately advocate for her patient’s best interests, and she is a nurse that I would want caring for my loved ones. Dayna is patient-focused, an excellent team player, respects and supports all around her, and provides stability to ward 1A. Dayna is proactive in her professional development, participates in research to better nursing, and shares knowledge with others. Dayna is a very important cog in this wheel at Western Health.”

Senior ED Nurse – Footscray ED

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

A patient said the following about David:

“I felt like I was about to faint while waiting in line in the ED. David quickly responded and assisted me into a chair. He was thorough and patient in his care provision and very kind and compassionate. I was very unwell and was treated with the utmost respect and kindness when I was feeling very overwhelmed and vulnerable.”

Physiotherapist – Acute – Sunshine Hospital

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“I feel fortunate to have worked alongside Dee within the multidisciplinary team over the last few years. Co-treating patients has always been an incredibly positive experience, given her dedication to excellence and using these opportunities for shared learning. Dee demonstrates genuine compassion, care, and respect for all her patients. She shows this by quickly building a strong rapport with the patient, advocating for them directly with the team or during meetings, and thinking about the patient holistically when discharge planning. I would describe Dee as a “above and beyond” type of clinician, always looking for ways to support her patients better and helping them to achieve great outcomes.”

Associate Nurse Unit Manager – Williamstown Theatre

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Eva always has a positive attitude. She is one of those people that working with is such a pleasure. In the morning meetings, without fail, she says,” thank you, everyone, for coming today!”. Eva always treats everyone with respect, is compassionate to people’s situations, and is very understanding and rosters accordingly. When in charge of the floor, Eva demonstrates accountability, respect, safety, and excellence through her friendly approach to people and ensuring patient care is always at the forefront. Working with Eva, you feel like you are not only part of a team but part of a work family.”

Registered Nurse – Bacchus Marsh Theatres

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Fadzai is an excellent asset to the hospital. She is a good team player and works hard to provide optimum care to our patients. She always displays a calm and focused demeanour no matter how chaotic, and busy theatre gets. She is very passionate about her job and inspires other workmates and me to yield the same effort, ultimately providing a safer and highest standard of care. She shows respect to the multidisciplinary team and is the epitome of being an advocate for patients and staff members. In return, she has earned much respect from the healthcare team. She is very knowledgeable but does not use it to step down on others but instead shares her knowledge and experience with the team.”

Registered Nurse – Footscray Emergency Department

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

A patient had the following to say about Huseyin:

“Nothing was too much for Hus who was working the night shift in ED at Footscray. Hus was attentive, friendly, empathetic, was on the go all night, not sure how he does that. I was quite unwell overnight 13/1 but Hus was amazing and made me feel more at ease. He never once declined assistance if I needed it and made sure I was comfortable. What a legend and I am eternally grateful for him, he should be proud of himself. Nurses are LEGENDS.”

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Director – Safety, Risk, Emergency Management

“My sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer the day after I was offered my role at Western Health, so for almost a whole year, that was a huge focus for me. James was very understanding and flexible, which enabled me to attend appointments. When my sister went into palliative care and then passed away, James was really caring, reaching out to me and expressing his concern that I did not return to work too soon. I have felt so supported and believe he has modelled Compassion first and foremost, has Respected the difficult work/life balance that I’ve juggled, and has been concerned for my psychological Safety. He’s undoubtedly modelled the organisation’s value of Excellence in caring for staff members. I might add that this all occurred while another team member lost a family member, and we had several staff changes during this period. I know that these values are about James as an individual, but I’m so pleased to work for an organisation where leaders act in such a caring manner.”

Dietitian – Nutrition/Dietetics

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Jasmine comes to work with a positive outlook and friendly smile. She shows clinical excellence in successfully working across multiple areas at Western Health – Williamstown hospital, renal dialysis units, and intensive care. She shows accountability in ‘best care’ by also taking on a large number of non-clinical tasks, including arranging allied health grand rounds, pressure injury nutrition sessions, and dialysis nursing staff education sessions. Jasmine contributes to a positive workplace by respecting staff and patients and contributing to wellbeing initiatives within the nutrition and allied health teams.”

Chief Radiographer Footscray – Medical Imaging

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“As a manager, Jason works tirelessly to ensure all staff are well supported in every way, demonstrating compassion for all members of every modality in the Medical Imaging department. He respects the needs and privacy of all team members, always ensuring he has conversations with staff in an environment where discussions cannot be overheard by other staff. Jason shows compassion to all of the team and checks in daily, asking the team to reach out during our daily meetings. He is generous and very positive to all members of the team. As chief of Footscray Medical Imaging, he provides guidance, insight, and solutions to problems that arise in our department, demonstrating excellence in his managerial skill. In addition to the work Jason does, he has an open door policy and always has chocolate available to bring a bit of happiness to staff.”

Aquatic Physiotherapist

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Judy has tirelessly advocated and worked to restart a safe, effective aquatic physiotherapy service through the challenges of the covid-related shutdown of the service. Judy demonstrated Excellence when she reintroduced the high quality, evidence-based, and well-loved aquatic sessions for our Sunshine hospital subacute inpatients. Her passion for this project didn’t come without its challenges. She addressed Safety by going above and beyond to tick all necessary boxes to enable this to occur in an unprecedented time of infection prevention. While the pool has been closed, Judy has ‘pivoted’ to provide outstanding support to our Inpatient Rehabilitation physiotherapy team, sharing her knowledge and skills in amputee rehabilitation and supporting our team’s education with this new patient group. Despite a significant change in her job description, Judy demonstrates Accountability in whatever role she takes on. She not only moved to work in a new team but increased her work hours to support this team further. All members of the team value her Compassion. She has supported many staff through a very challenging time and provided supportive guidance (and just the right amount of firm encouragement) to her patients.”

Executive Assistant to Director Community Services
Melton Health and Community Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Julie always strives to help others even when she is extremely busy and is always willing to lend a hand and impart her knowledge to others. Julie shows up to work every day with a positive work attitude which is very contagious. She shows compassion for others and demonstrates excellence in her diverse level of knowledge of all aspects of the organisation. Julie is a wealth of knowledge and a beautiful, funny, and enthusiastic person who brings laughter to an office environment. I cannot think of anyone more fitting for this award than Julie.

Registered Nurse  Ward 3E

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

A patient had the following to say about Kalyan:

“Kalyan was by far the best nurse I have ever encountered. He was easy to talk to, showed compassion, respected my privacy, and always ensured I was comfortable. I was really struggling with being bed bound and having to use a bed pan. He made every effort to make sure he got me onto the commode so that I was comfortable. He respected my dignity and always reassured me nothing was too much trouble. He is certainly one of a kind and an absolute asset to your hospital. I hope he is recognised for his efforts.”

Clinical Nurse Consultant – Infection Prevention

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“For the first time, Victorian Health legislation mandated the influenza vaccination for all Category A and Category B healthcare workers in 2022, a significant change from Western Health’s previous influenza campaigns and a vital strategy for maintaining the safety of our patients, staff, and community. Katerina put her hand up to take on the Influenza Vaccination Coordinator role. During this time, we transitioned paper-based consents to an electronic system, entered vaccines into Air, and created lots of communication, including redcap surveys to capture information and data and a Map platform for managers to access staff vaccination information. Nurse immunizers (including roving immunizers) have also been available to our staff. Western Health acheived an amazing 97% of category A&B staff are influenza vaccinated, a record for our organisation, which would not have been achievable without Katerina’s hard work and dedication at the helm of this campaign.”

Communications Coordinator – Public Affairs and Communications

PICTURE CREDIT: Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Katherine has worked closely with the Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) and West Metro COVID Vaccination Program, supporting communication and engagement during periods of high workload and constant change. More recently, Katherine has supported WPHU in delivering targeted communications as part of Winter preparedness campaigns, ensuring messaging reaches those most at risk in the WH and WPHU catchments. Katherine is a highly valued and respected colleague who collaborates widely with the team. She demonstrates accountability through her commitment and dedication to getting the job done despite the ever-changing guidance and messaging typical of COVID. Katherine delivers high-standard work, often juggling multiple priorities and requests in a high-pressure environment but always with goodwill and a positive can-do attitude.”

Chief Radiographer – Sunshine Medical Imaging

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Kath is a dedicated, energetic, respected member of the Medical Imaging department and across Western Health. Kath has worked at WH for over 25 years and in that time has mentored and supported countless staff to ensure a high quality service to our community as well as been involved in many improvement initiatives. Kath’s approach is friendly and determined, while she is always willing to help and go the extra mile to benefit WH and develop the workforce.”

Director of Pharmacy

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Kent is a dedicated staff member focused on ensuring that Pharmacy is well represented across Western Health (WH) and the public health sector and continuously contributing to care improvement for the WH community. Kent goes the extra mile to ensure that Pharmacy service is met and that essential involvement and leadership are provided for many key projects such as the New Footscray Hospital, the Sunshine Expansion of Pharmacy (SHEP), community hospitals, and automated dispensing cabinets plans. Kent ensures that the care provided to our community and the Pharmacy workforce support is central to his practice and role models this daily.”

Registered Nurse – Newborn Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Kerrie helps staff morale by ensuring she comes around and offers help and assistance when she can, demonstrating accountability by being positive and ensuring she is productive with her time. She is always friendly and quick to smile. She is very compassionate and demonstrates this through her empathy towards the neonates in the newborn services department, a trait that some parents in the neonatal ward have noticed too. Kerrie demonstrates excellence by being more than willing to assist in teaching new parents fundamental skills in their journey in parenthood, and sometimes it’s as simple as showing them how to handle their newborn confidently. New parents and staff learning from Kerrie often walk away empowered by their new skills.”

Clinical Nurse Consultant – Infection Prevention

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Kim has been amazing to work with during the COVID surges. She is a very calm and reassuring presence on the wards, gives sound and understandable advice, and is always willing to visit different departments to review infection prevention principles and plans. In particular, Kim has done a wonderful job producing the COVID zoning maps as needed over the past few years and gave an outstanding zoom presentation to all wards regarding this concept. Kim’s contribution to a positive workplace is evidenced by her ability to listen to staff concerns, explain infection prevention principles, and role model excellent and evidence-based practice. She is very supportive to all staff and has assisted me many times when visiting the wards during the COVID surges. Compassion/Respect – Kim listens, cares, and respects all staff and patients. She explains things clearly and sensibly, assisting in easing others’ concerns. Her demeanor is always very pleasant and positive. Accountability – Kim ensures infection prevention policies and procedures are in place and followed to the highest standard possible. She has also appropriately escalated concerns so they can be followed up, which is greatly appreciated and an asset for us. Excellence – Kim’s commitment to Western Health and, in particular, infection prevention principles throughout the past few years have been outstanding. She has a depth of knowledge that she is happily and readily able to pass along to others. She has produced numerous documents, maps, and zoom presentations regarding infection prevention during COVID and responds quickly to the changing environment. Every time I’ve asked, Kim has always visited the wards to review their infection prevention practices, and she always takes time to speak to the staff and educate/update them about the latest changes. Safety – By nature of her role, Kim contributes to the safety of all staff, patients and visitors. She takes this role responsibly and professionally and doesn’t hesitate to point out unsafe behaviours and advocate for safe behaviours. Kim is an inspiration.”

Nurse Unit Manager – Sunshine and Sunbury COVID Testing Clinics

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Leonor contributes to a positive workplace by valuing all members of the COVID testing clinics (CTC) team and their role within the COVID testing clinics. Leonor remains professional, courteous, and a great role model for others, even in the most challenging circumstances. Leonor works with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the COVID testing clinics can provide the highest standard of service to the public and WH staff. Leonor demonstrates compassion and care in her daily interactions with the people who present for testing. She listens to each individual and provides them with the information and care they require. Leonor is accountable for the highest quality of service provision. She leads by example, ensuring that she and the team are updated with annual competencies. Leonor is responsive to any feedback provided to the CTC. She has been key to developing and rolling out testing strategies that enable staff to test on their WH site to reduce the hours lost due to travel for testing at Sunshine. Leonor is responsible for collecting, maintaining, and submitting data to the Department of Health from the public testing sites operated by Western Health. Leonor is respectful in her interactions with the public or staff that present for testing and is mindful that for some people, COVID testing is stressful. Leonor is always respectful in all her communications and models this as an example for her team to follow. Leonor has maintained an excellent service in a dynamic environment with several stakeholders. She manages both public testing with Department of Health requirements and staff testing with Western Health oversight. Leonor has, at short notice, set up testing at Footscray and Williamstown to provide staff at these sites access to the same level of surveillance testing as Sunshine. At all times, the safety and well-being of staff and clients are Leonor’s focus. She has always sought OH&S and infection prevention consultation to ensure that the COVID testing clinics operate at the highest possible standard.”

Workforce Learning, Culture and Wellbeing Coordinator

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Not much thought is given to how the wellbeing programme happens, how the donated goods get delivered to staff, and whose idea it is to supply beanies and gingerbread cookies to Western Health staff in the dead of winter. My nomination is for the person who cares about making our day just a little bit brighter and spreading some fun and joy. Leesa Cooke! What might not be obvious is how much is involved in developing the concepts, their implementation, and delivery. Leesa cares about Western Health employees and puts considerable effort and kindness into what has made the last couple of COVID years more bearable. In addition to her pop-ups, which have included Mr Whippy soft serve, Easter eggs, Footy Colours Day, donuts, endless coffee vouchers, and perhaps her most creative idea; Winter Wonderland beanies and cookies, she cares deeply that people have the resources to get assistance, talk to someone and a multitude of other tools to help struggling staff. I’ve been the recipient of a few of her ‘how are you doing? Anything I can do?’ visits. In the first wave, it was Leesa who organised the delivery and distribution of goods, meals and donated food. Although others assisted her, it was no small feat to coordinate the endless donations from our grateful community. It would have been a lot less fun around here without her. She is available for anyone at any time. She regularly works for the team and all at WH on her day off. She reaches out to those who have been doing it tough out of hours and lets the right people know in the most confidential and respectful way when things are not right, or someone is not right. She is always looking at ways to improve or make things better. “How will that make the patient feel” is often a phrase she uses, showing Leesa sees the connection to purpose in the work of WH. Leesa Cooke is the embodiment of WH values and much more.”

Registered Nurse – Ward 2 East

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Linda is, without a doubt, an exceptional nurse. Not only does she encompass the Western Health values in her practice, she also goes above and beyond to care for her patients and is a great team player. I was anxious and nervous when I first began working on 2East as a graduate nurse. Linda showed me compassion which was reassuring to me as a new employee. She is extremely compassionate to all her patients, team members, and anyone she encounters. Her integrity and empathy always provided a positive experience for her patients. Being proactive and resourceful is also one of Linda’s many strengths, and she always upheld high standards of care by ensuring she followed best practices. I have never met anyone like Linda who provides such excellence and high-quality care, which inspired and motivated me. I hope to be an exceptional nurse like Linda one day. She consistently displays the utmost respect for her patients from all walks of life and treats them equally. Linda always ensured the safety of her patients and displayed good practice, providing a positive lead and making her a positive role model. I am so thankful to have met a nurse like Linda, who is so giving and helpful and never expects anything in return. She is an overall all rounder and excels in everything she does. I am truly inspired by her.”

Team Leader Admissions and PACU Recovery Nurse – Williamstown Theatre

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Linda has a quiet and calming influence on all patients and staff who come in contact with her. She often goes above and beyond to make everyone’s hospital experience pleasant. Linda is a quiet achiever, incredibly supportive, and highly skilled. I believe most of her colleagues would agree that her positive and encouraging personality should be celebrated. I credit her most of all for encouraging me to remain a nurse through the last few difficult years of Covid. Her kind, cheerful style of nursing is inspirational. Linda is very much adored and valued by her peers.”

Director, Best Care Operations

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Lisa was nominated for her role as Project Director, West Metro COVID Vaccination Hub

“Lisa utilised her amazing leadership skills, can-do attitude, and incredible work ethic to deliver the West Metro COVID Vaccination program. In the 2021/22 financial year, the West Metro COVID-19 Vaccination Program led by Western Health administered 1,134,736 doses across the catchment. At its peak, the program employed 250 FTE staff, including nurses, pharmacists, medical and support staff. The activity levels at the three busiest Western Health sites (Sunshine Hospital, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, and Melbourne Showgrounds) were among the six most busy in the state. Western Health was at the forefront of innovation, opening Australia’s first drive-thru vaccination clinic in Melton. The outreach service worked with local councils and community groups to provide ease of access vaccination opportunities for older members of the community, school children and their families and other high priority groups (including the Aboriginal community and homeless) in locations generally accessed by these groups (such as in-home, shopping centres, schools, festivals, community centres, local pools and parks). Since August 2021, the program has delivered over 570 ‘pop-up’ vaccination clinics across the community, bringing vaccination directly to people who hadn’t yet prioritised it. As a result of an initiative advertising COVID and flu vaccinations through Meals on Wheels and a Letter Box Drop, 162 in-home appointments for COVID and Flu vaccinations have been provided to the elderly since April 2022. Under Lisa’s leadership, the service implemented a custom-purpose vaccination van with provisions for one cubicle inside the van and an external awning for an observation area. It is designed to provide a mobile pop-up service to enable a convenient and accessible vaccination service to the community and the broader public. Another innovation led by the Western Health VicSIS Service was the establishment of the first adult sedation service through collaboration with Disability Liaison Officers and the Day Procedure Unit at Sunshine Hospital and a Paediatric Distraction +/- Sedation clinic, which successfully vaccinates children and adults purely through distraction techniques. The service has received highly positive feedback from clients and families with severe needle phobias and has now delivered significant numbers of successful vaccination episodes through this specialised service.”

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Ward 2A

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Lou is an extraordinary member of the 2A nursing team. Lou is a leader in our EMR committee and has contributed to our ongoing success and compliance with each stage of the EMR rollout. Lou is one of the most compassionate, inclusive, and respectful people I have ever had the pleasure to work with. She does whatever is necessary for her patients, colleagues, and visitors. We recently had a patient pass away, and the patient’s mother asked Lou if she would pray with her. Lou immediately sat with the family, prayed with them, and at the family’s request, supported the mother at the time of the patient’s passing. When the family was unable to source a priest at late and short notice, Lou sourced a priest able to come immediately. Lou genuinely cares about each and every patient and family. She upholds the principles of ‘Best Care’ and is a positive and productive role model. One of the ways I measure a nurse is ‘would I want this nurse to care for my own family?’ I can honestly say that if given a choice of anyone to look after my loved one, Lou would top that list.”

Associate Nurse Unit Manager – Orange Team, Antenatal Clinic

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Maddie demonstrates all the values of Western Health every day without exception. She is Compassionate to her staff and patients and is Accountable for ensuring the patients in her team receive the best care possible. This is evident when the team has discussions about patients – Maddie is aware of the patient’s complexities and ensures they receive the care they need. Respect – Maddie treats each patient with the respect they deserve, whatever their health choices are. This is evident on a daily basis when communicating with her patients. Excellence – her work ethic is outstanding. She is always pleasant to work with regardless of the pressure the day brings, and she ensures she completes her work to a very high standard. Safety – Maddie ensures the safety of her staff by supporting them during their clinic. If they are falling behind, she will try and ask another clinician to see the patient. This ensures that the patient is seen in a timely manner and preserves mental health from stressors of the day. Positive workplace – Maddie sets an exceptional example for her team to promote a positive environment. She listens to their needs and proactively tries to implement measures to support their working environment.”

Marketing and Design Projects Coordinator – Public Affairs & Communications

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Maddie has played a key role in supporting the Western Health focus on diversity throughout the past couple of years. This culminated in managing an excellent piece of design and promotional work to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ activities in May, including IDAHOBIT Day and a social media ‘takeover’. The material produced was of an excellent standard and projected a vibrant and engaging theme throughout. Maddie’s respect for diversity extended to the highly respectful way she developed social media posts, communicated about the activities, and the way she orchestrated an organisation wide dissemination of material. In all of these tasks, Maddie was highly accountable and ensured everything was promoted, delivered, distributed, and published within a complicated set of timelines.”

Senior Resident – Obstetrics & Gynaecology

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“It was my first time in the OR due to Covid-19 last year, and I felt quite petrified about getting in the way or affecting the running of the procedures with my presence. Before the procedure, Manisha sought me out to engage me in conversation. She spent time getting to know me as a person and made me feel like I was welcome. She took the time to explain what role she envisaged for me during the procedure, introduced me to the other staff in the room, and stepped me through without overwhelming me. She also took the time to address what I was feeling nervous about and addressed those concerns through reassurance and instruction. Between procedures, she took the time to explain RANZCOG training pathways, tips and tricks as a medical student and junior doctor, and general life advice. She was extremely generous and courteous with other theatre staff and me and took the time to educate and involve me during surgery despite being a trainee herself. She took the time to explain the rationale for the procedure, involved me in assisting (passing tools and retracting), and communicated when she needed to focus on the procedure and when it was appropriate to ask questions so that I felt comfortable, aware of what was going on and part of the team. Manisha went above and beyond what I ever could have expected and made the OR an exciting and wonderful place to be. Manisha’s conduct and attitude are the standards I will strive for in how to treat others in the workplace.”

Clinical Psychologist – Clinical Psychology – Inpatients

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Meriana achieved her AHPRA supervisor status earlier this year and has taken on the role of secondary supervisor to Provisional Psychologists on placement at Western Health. Meriana has supported students by providing mentoring, supervision, and guidance. In a short period of time, with compassion, respect, and excellence, Meriana has supported to a very high standard the orientation of several new trainees on placement. She is an asset to the team of supervisors within the Psychology Department, and we look forward to continuing to see her grow in this area.”

Program Coordinator and Welfare Worker

Community Residential Withdrawal Unit

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“I have been working with Michael and Rudy for just over a year. During that time, I have seen how they always present with a positive, respectful, and supportive attitude towards their clients and colleagues. I believe this contributes to fostering a positive workplace in our unit. They both have positive working relationships with their colleagues and managers. I have received specific feedback about their respectful and positive engagement with others within Western Health and external agencies. Michael and Rudy run groups and other activities on the CRWU. They approach this with sound knowledge, positivity, and vigour, especially where our clients may be having difficulty engaging as they will be undergoing substance withdrawal. Michael and Rudy demonstrate daily compassion, good judgement, and skill as they engage with clients who present with different substance and other psychosocial histories. This has been demonstrated on multiple occasions with letters that clients have submitted after their discharge, where Michael and Rudy have been specifically mentioned in terms of their support, engagement, compassion, knowledge, and skill. Michael and Rudy hold our consumer engagement portfolio. To ensure we continue to engage and review our clients’ experience, Michael and Rudy collect surveys completed by clients concerning their experience on the unit to ensure we continue to strive for excellence and provide a positive client experience. Both with family life commitments, including Michael working full time and studying, his work standard has remained high and inspirational. In situations where we have had staffing challenges, Michael and Rudy have not hesitated to step in and support the unit, including assisting in ensuring meals for clients are prepared and supplied to clients on the unit. With the positive feedback received over time, Michael and Rudy remain modest and respectful and are still able to accept and receive support from their colleagues.”

Community Engagement and Health Promotion Officer – Western Public Health Unit (WPHU)

PICTURE CREDIT: Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Nyanhial is a person who brings a positive attitude to all that she does. She is always ready to take on new things and hard tasks. Her behaviour has always been selfless and focused on the people that her work can help. She is undoubtedly a favourite team member in all the teams she works. Despite her youth, Nyanhial is known for her calm and wisdom. Her role within the Community Engagement Team means she is in contact with vulnerable communities and CALD groups. She is compassionate and empathetic to all those that she deals with. Her communication style is versatile, respectful, and highly effective. Her hard work and determination to make a difference are inspirational to others. Nyanhial is always accountable for getting things done and goes the extra mile. Examples of her exemplary work include her role as the co-ordination of WPHU’s involvement with the First Nations Music Festival at Federation Square in April and her membership of the Aboriginal Homelessness Working Group, which the City of Melbourne convenes.”

Dental Manager – Melton Health Dental

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Peter has been exceptional in carrying the Dental team throughout the pandemic. We have all felt supported by his kindness and compassion throughout this time, and we all appreciate the time he takes to listen and talk to us individually. Peter treats all his patients with the utmost respect in the dental clinic and community. He is also very respectful towards staff, especially regarding our family. Staff are very apologetic when needing to take time off for family reasons. For example, if their children are sick or school meetings/awards come up at the last minute. Peter always reassures staff that it’s okay and family comes first. This shows Peter’s respect for his staff as people and not just team members, which helps to instill a level of calm within the team. It makes them feel understood with the pressures faced with work and family life balance. Peter is an excellent manager and has supported all staff in all areas. He is a wealth of knowledge and always does his best for our team and the patients.”

Occupational Therapist – Sunshine Acute

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Phoebe has demonstrated a high level of compassion when working with complex acute patients needing support with NDIS for discharge. She has remained client-centred, compassionate, and motivated to provide ‘Best Care’ and lead the multidisciplinary team to facilitate complex discharge planning to optimise patient outcomes. Phoebe has demonstrated a very high standard of care and excellence in wanting the best for the patients she works with and helping others improve their skills. She has helped lead the team in acute to ensure team members are accountable, shared her positive outlook, and shared resources to help improve the work of others, ultimately improving the outcome of patients.”

Nurse Unit Manager – Ward 1 West

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“From the moment Rachel started her role as a Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) in 1 West, she had a vision for education and career growth in her ward. Although COVID had put a hold on her vision, that did not stop her from trying to continue to build on her team’s professional development. She has a strong passion for education and has worked closely with her leadership team and the ward educator to ensure that nursing staff are up to date with education requirements. Rachel displays excellence by fostering team members’ key strengths and encouraging growth and development of skills. She facilitates her team’s development of leadership skills by providing opportunities to do the acting NUM and nurse in charge roles. Rachel is always on the floor, working alongside her team as a leader. She is rarely found in her office, and her door is always open when she is. COVID put a lot of strain on staff with increased sick leave, so Rachel would work on the floor as in charge most days during the peak of COVID to ensure her nursing staff were supported. Even when she was not working in charge on the floor, she would be found most days on the floor helping her team to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Rachel immediately acts on risks (through meetings, emails, education, and audits) to ensure safe patient care is provided, and she keeps her team well updated and values their input. She has hands-on experience with staff complaints/concerns and, as a result, advocates to ensure staff satisfaction and safe patient care. Rachel strongly advocates for her team’s well-being and satisfaction in the workplace through open communication and keeping her team up to date. She listens to her team’s concerns and acts accordingly. This same value is also seen in the way she approaches the care of the patients in her ward. During our first Covid lockdown, Rachel organised times to do an online, face-to-face meeting with families of patients who wanted updates about their parent/partner. She would bring the ward’s tablets to the bedside and ensure that both patient and family were kept updated about the patient’s care. She ensured the patients who came to her ward would be treated as individuals and attempted to address their and their family’s needs. Rachel is considerate and respectful of the multidisciplinary teams that enter the ward and has done a fantastic job integrating their input into patient care through MDT ward meetings. She also welcomes new students and graduates and greets them with a warm smile (even under a mask, you can tell she’s smiling), making them feel at ease. Student nurses have found her so approachable that they often approach her first about concerns before their educator.”

Acting Manager – ASPIRE

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Bec is a Manger, Educator, and Clinician who regularly demonstrates the Western Health CARES values. Staff wellbeing is always at the forefront of her mind when she initiates, promotes, and implements positive workplace strategies that are innovative, accessible, and practical. These occur within her own team, across Allied Health, and at a broader organisational level. Bec has been instrumental in rolling out The Resilience Project and Culture Hero workshops, hosting numerous wellbeing seminars, leading staff recognition initiatives, and fostering staff connection. Bec demonstrates compassion and kindness for her colleagues, always encouraging them to care for themselves in the midst of a busy work environment. She has supported the Allied Health Profile and Culture Committee in running many uplifting activities throughout the past two years, such as bingo, meditation, and Wordle challenges. She is able to work across and connect with a wide variety of groups and teams in both a clinical role and a clinical education role. This was demonstrated when volunteering to step back into a clinical role as a Senior Physiotherapist in ICU during COVID Peak in 2021. Bec always ensures that staff are acknowledged for the work they do, shares opportunities for staff development, and encourages new ideas. She has established creative methods to allow key Allied Health events to proceed in a COVID-safe manner, notably the Allied Health ‘Thankyou’ lunch and ‘Making a Difference’ peer awards. Bec strives to bring joy to the workplace, and we would like to acknowledge and thank her for her outstanding efforts to make Western Health a wonderful place to work.”

Clinical Psychologist – Clinical Psychology – Radiotherapy and Inpatients

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Robert achieved his AHPRA supervisor status earlier this year and has taken on the role of secondary supervisor to Provisional Psychologists on placement at Western Health. Robert has supported students by providing mentoring, supervision, and guidance. As a relatively new supervisor, Robert has compassion, respect, and excellence in a role that fosters the academic growth of our future workforce. He has been a welcome addition to the team of supervisors within the Psychology Department, and it has been very much appreciated.”

PICTURE CREDIT: Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Ron is a Theatre Technician and Jonathan and Brett are Scrub Scout Nurses

Theatre Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s hospital (JKWC)

“I was petrified as a male medical student entering the Operating Room (OR) for the first time, let alone for obstetrics procedures. As soon as they learned that it was my first time in the OR, they took the time to explain who everyone was, how everything worked, and the procedures that take place at JKWCH each day. They were incredibly compassionate and generous with their time and actively advocated for me to be involved at every stage of the operation. They made me feel welcome, part of the team, and vital to the procedures for these patients. This was despite their many responsibilities in educating other new staff members and their own clinical responsibilities. Clearly, this generosity was extended to all training staff in the room, and it was an absolute pleasure to interact with all three of these wonderful men. To cap it off, it was my birthday – it was the best day I have experienced as a medical student by far!”

Chief Executive (CE) – Western Health

“A long-term employee of WH, Filomena Anania, was sadly diagnosed with a terminal illness. Unfortunately, her treatment was not favourable. I contacted our CE, via email, who responded almost immediately and advised that his secretary would get in touch with me to organise a time to meet with Filomena once he returned to work from leave. As time was critical, I assumed that Russell would forget. A few weeks later, I received an email from his secretary to organise a time for Russell to meet Filomena. The day Russell could come and meet Fil clashed with her appointment; however, his secretary advised that it was not a problem and that Russell would come when Fil was next rostered. We chose May 13th, which ended up being the last time that Fil would be at Western Health (WH). Fil was sick that week and came in on the pretext that I was celebrating my wedding anniversary. Russell displayed so much compassion and respect during that meeting. He made it so casual, just the way Fil liked it. He thanked her for her service, chatted about his family and plans for WH, and included how much he appreciated our hard work. The conversation was so casual; it felt like a visit from an old friend sharing memories of Fil’s ICU days. After he left, Fil and the others around (who did not know Russell’s position) were surprised that a leader came down to visit an employee in such a casual way. That week Russell brought the rainbow to Fil, who had sadly received the news that she only had a couple of months to live. Those moments Russell took to respect and thank Fil were great support and comfort for her and demonstrated the qualities of an excellent and outstanding leader. Russell inspires me through his actions of compassion and kindness. At Western, we know he promotes kindness, and seeing his words in action is truly inspiring and makes me proud to be an employee of Western Health. Russell is the epitome of kindness, a star leadership quality, especially during these challenging times. Sadly Fil passed on July 16th, but with joy, knowing that the CE appreciated all she did for Western Health.”

Nurse Unit Manager – Sunshine ICU

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Sam shows exemplary leadership; this was poignant and highlighted during the last Covid Surge. Her unit expanded by 80% into the Sunshine Theatre Recovery unit, and she managed a team of novice nurses moving into Intensive Care by supporting and nurturing them into her team while deploying a new model of care. Sam is a quiet, inspiring role model who demonstrates ‘best care’ for her patients and their families. She has a strong focus on staff wellbeing and cares deeply for her people, ensuring they are acknowledged and equipped to do the best they can. Sam generates a positive team spirit. Even through an extended period of extremely challenging pressure, when the unit was inundated with Covid cases (including some WH staff members), she remained calm, compassionate, approachable, and in control, ensuring her team received psychological support. Sam led a number of initiatives to create a positive atmosphere and working environment despite the sadness and helplessness of the team. Sam inspires those around her to be the best they can be for their patients and each other. The learner nurses in the ICU look to her for mentorship, and she respectfully guides and develops her team to perform to their best capability whilst advocating for safety and quality, ‘Best Care.’ She acknowledges her accountability for the nursing care in the unit and delivers this responsibility with her leadership team in true partnership and collaboration with the medical, allied health, support services, and administration teams.”

Registered Nurse/Midwife – Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS)

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Samantha Francis is a registered nurse/midwife who works in the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (EPAS) caring for woman with early pregnancies complications such as bleeding in early pregnancy miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. Sam is very passionate about providing best care for these woman who are often very distressed about their pregnancy complications. A patient had the following to say about her: Samantha went above and beyond to get me an emergency appointment to the EPAS clinic during holiday season. Her impeccable and friendly attitude made such a visit filled with trepidation into a reassuring one. Her telephone and face to face manners are just excellent. She is such an great asset to Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s.

Nephrologist – Dialysis Units/Home Therapies – Sunshine

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Sandra is responsible for a large number of renal patients across the Western Health (WH) renal service, dialysis, home therapies, and outpatient services. She shows excellence by being approachable, available, and respecting all of the multidisciplinary team who help with the care of her patients. Sandra is available to help with policies and guidelines that help with safety and efficiency across the service. She is invested in the interests of her individual patients, and she contributes a lot of her own time to help with the care of her patients and the WH Renal Service.”

CT Supervisor – Sunshine Radiology

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Shane always has a positive attitude – even through the pandemic- and always ensures that his colleagues are safe and comfortable. Accountability – Shane is incredibly productive, even with the increased workload, and always provides an excellent standard of care to both patients and staff. He manages his own administrative duties and his input on the floor incredibly well. Shane always volunteers to help out and pick up extra shifts when the opportunity arises. Excellence – Shane’s high level of knowledge is always utilised when working with others, and he will always take the time out to teach and assist others as best as possible. Compassion – working with Shane is always a great day. You go to work knowing that even if it’s a busy day, Shane will create a workplace you are happy to be a part of. He continuously improves the experiences of others around him.”

General X-ray Supervisor – Footscray Radiology

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Siphoi continuously goes above and beyond for the department without any complaints. Siphoi acts with compassion and responds sensitively to issues, always regarding the perspectives of those involved. She listens respectfully, acknowledging all ideas, opinions, and concerns others have. Siphoi is always accountable and continues to work with excellence in her daily work. She is always looking for more ways to improve how things are done and demonstrates excellence through ventures such as her Reject Analysis project. Through initiatives such as these, we as a department can improve as a whole as professionals whilst increasing the quality of service to our patients. Whether it is through ongoing projects or her day-to-day work, there is no doubt that Siphoi has shown a great deal of dedication to our department and contributed profoundly to its overall standing.”

Occupational Therapist – Sunshine Actute

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Stacey receive two nominations for an Inspire Award:

Nomination 1:

“Stacey has a wonderfully bright and bubbly attitude that never fails to lift the spirits of everyone in the team. But alongside this, Stacey has taken her role within the Occupational Therapy Culture committee and enthusiastically led culture improvement within her team. Stacey recognised that we couldn’t do our usual social events within the team like we used to and has found new ways to foster social connection. She researches different food events in her own time and comes up with fun, Covid-safe ways to celebrate. Italian food on ‘World Lasagna day’ and hot chocolates on ‘national chocolate day’ were particular highlights. These small events lift the team’s spirits, provide great opportunities for sharing stories and help the team to check in on and support each other.”

Nomination 2:

“Stacey’s bright and friendly manner has been a welcome pick me up within our team during recent times. Stacey goes out of her way to ensure everyone is feeling welcome and included, improving the experience of team members and contributing to a positive workplace. She has planned many spontaneous “International day of the …” to involve members of the team, keeping us well fed, rested and connected as a team. We thank Stacey for her endless stories and working well within the many teams that she is a part of.”

Registered Nurse – Williamstown Theatre

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Susan is a wonderful RN nurse who makes a huge contribution to the theatre department and Western Health. She is a positive person and a mentor to many. She always offers to help others and always puts her hands up to help with teaching graduate nurses, undergraduate nurses, and anyone who needs help. She is highly experienced as an anaesthetic and recovery nurse and always does her job to an excellent standard and wholeheartedly. She never cuts corners and will always stand up for what is right and never lets that slide. Compassion: Susan is compassionate and caring towards her colleagues and patients and is always a person you can go to for support and debriefing. She regularly checks in on others to see how they are. Accountability: Susan is honest and will own up to her actions and how things can be changed to improve patient safety and care. Respect: Susan displays respect in how she works in a team, sharing tasks and patient delegation. She is excellent with patients and ensures that their dignity is a priority and the family’s concerns and questions are addressed. Excellence: Her love and courage to better herself and to continually learn and improve patient care. Safety: Patient and staff safety is always shown through her actions, from how she positions a patient and maintains confidentiality to her management and provision of medications, airway devices, and backup airway equipment. She is always thinking one step ahead and responds quickly with her actions.”

Manager Events and Production – Public Affairs and Communications

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Susan has managed a very heavy load of filming and production management throughout the pandemic, and she does this with the utmost commitment, professionalism, and sheer hard work. She has a great degree of commitment to quality productions for Western Health. When Susan is in charge of an event, a film shoot, or any other matter, you can be assured that it will be run meticulously and Western Health will be shown in the best possible light, generating the resulting benefits for our staff and patients and community. Susan’s attitude and skill have led to multiple events of a very high calibre, in fact including the staging of the INSPIRE Awards themselves over a period when this had to be done online – they were nevertheless engaging and clever.”

Registered Nurses – Ward 1A

Monica Kiplagat PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

A patient had the following to say about Sue and Monica:

“Sue and Monica were highly professional and thoroughly explained much of what was going on. I felt very secure with them, especially Sue, who has been nursing for quite a long time. They were concerned because I wanted to sleep in the chair, which was more comfortable than the bed. When I explained that lying in bed was just too painful, they respected my decision and didn’t force me to do so. On the occasions that I got into bed, I would get tangled up in the bedding, and when Sue saw the problem, she remade the bed for me without any fuss. They both took the time to ensure I understood what was happening and what they were doing, like when they were issuing medication or asking questions in general. Sue and Monica were incredibly kind and compassionate and made my hospital stay as comfortable as possible. I truly appreciate all they did for me.”

Physiotherapist – Community Health/Community Services – Melton

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Tara was nominated twice for her role as Acting Manager Adult Health:

Nomination 1:

“Tara took on an acting role as manager over the past year during a time of high stress and constant change and flux. During this time, she was always respectful towards the team and the manager she was acting for. Tara fostered a positive team environment aiming to provide ‘best care, ‘ safety, and compassion towards each other. She did this by demonstrating it herself and working collaboratively with the team. This leadership developed a strong team dynamic and support for implementing system changes in line with funding changes and transition needs. The implemented changes will support the community services as they grow and expand. This demonstration of excellence and accountability has supported the manager in stepping back into the role. Tara is a person you can go to for support. She is always willing to help patients and colleagues and is a pleasure to work with.”

Nomination 2:

“Tara is compassionate and caring and someone who will give you a hug if needed. She is one of the few people I know that if you ask a question, you will get an answer with no need to question it. And if you do, it is discussed, and you are never shut down because of her role as Acting Manager. Other entities in MCHC even approach Tara as she has knowledge and years of experience that spans not just Physiotherapy Acute but community services as well. She has been a source of knowledge I didn’t know I needed. “

Patient Services Assistant – Transit Lounge

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Terhas goes above and beyond her role and is a valued and respected team member in the Transit Lounge. Compassion – Terhas is integral to the comfort and experience of the patients who move through the transit lounge. She offers them food and drinks (and ensures the pantry and fridge are well stocked), assists with transferring patients, and ensures they are warm enough by providing blankets. These may seem like simple tasks, but it is often the simple tasks that are missed when we are busy. Her positive and joyful attitude is a pleasure to be around for staff, patients and visitors. Accountability – Terhas has exceptional attention to detail, and she takes on initiatives without needing to be asked. She is a hard worker, and her flexibility to move from task to task and take on additional support roles, i.e., monitoring and advising of broken equipment and completing stocktaking on pantry items, enables others to fulfill their jobs. Excellence – Most significantly, the entire staff involved within the Transit Lounge value Terhas’ positivity and “can-do” attitude. Terhas is an integral and highly valued team member, and her flexibility and reliability ensures that patients moving through the Transit Lounge receive ‘Best Care.'”

Senior Project Officer – Chronic & Complex Care

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Tessa Johnson has provided exceptional leadership to the Western Health’s COVID-19 Positive Pathway (CPP) team, which is a virtual care program that provides daily monitoring and support to patients in the community diagnosed with COVID-19. Alongside the COVID-19 Infusion clinic, the CPP has been an integral component of Western Health’s COVID-19 community response, resulting in over 8376 patients receiving care being monitored safely in their homes without the need to attend a hospital for care. The Chronic and Complex Care Division has ensured that patients receive best and timely care and reduced the risk of adverse events and hospitalisations of patients in our community. The team was supported by Tessa, a truly authentic, dynamic, and inspirational leader. Tessa navigated a myriad of obstacles and workplace challenges whilst working in close partnership with other WH divisions, West Metro Health Service Partnership, and the Department of Health to ensure the program delivered on the key success factors for safe patient care. With her high levels of compassion, competence, and professionalism, Tessa quickly took control and provided the required direction and leadership the team required. In a time when there was so much uncertainty and daily change, the team felt supported and reassured. They responded to the challenges and delivered. The team grew rapidly from 3 staff to over 44. This was achieved through a truly innovative approach to staffing – using students of nursing and allied health, school students, registered nurse and allied health practitioners, pharmacists, and medical staff to deliver a 7-day-a-week service, which has adapted and responded according to community demand. The pathway has provided virtual care for over 8376 patients and potentially lifesaving medications to 1863 patients. “

Speech Pathologist

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Theresa fosters a positive workplace by demonstrating a positive attitude, boosting team morale, and promoting and valuing the importance of mental health in the workplace. Theresa is passionate about providing ‘Best Care’ for her patients and is an approachable clinician who shares her skills and knowledge with other staff and her students. Theresa demonstrates all of the WH Values in her day-to-day practice. She demonstrates compassion by always acting with empathy and integrity; she demonstrates excellence by leading by example, involvement in workplace initiatives, and motivating other staff to practice to the highest standards. She motivates and helps others to improve, learn new skills, and gain valuable knowledge in the workplace. Theresa also demonstrates respect for her patients and fellow colleagues, particularly regarding respecting and promoting each individual’s rights, beliefs, and choices. She also demonstrates the value of Safety at work by prioritizing this for all patients and families, being a strong advocate for mental health in the workplace, and being a clinician who looks out for her team.”

Surgical Registrar – General Surgery, UGIG

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Tilly Anderson is hard working, compassionate, and inspiring, not only for her exceptional clinical and technical abilities but also for the way she treats all those around her, patients and staff alike. She showed exceptional abilities stepping up to cover leave in the UGIG Fellow role during a challenging time for the entire team, with the extra pressures of Covid 19 restrictions on top of an already busy workload and after completing her final surgical exams. Throughout this, she showed extraordinary leadership qualities, not only in her ability to keep the team afloat but also in supporting and encouraging her team members to be the best that they could be. She did this all without any fuss or recognition while simultaneously managing the pressure of a busy workload and the pressures of family life. Tilly Anderson is an example of the sort of doctor and person you would want to be like. She demonstrates all the inspiring qualities that make her a wonderful leader and colleague. “

Operations Manager – Critical Care Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

Toni was nominated for her previous role as Nurse Unit Manager – Ward 2F

“Toni consistently promotes staff wellness. She organises “pork roll Thursdays,” ordering banh mi rolls for the ward nurses, doctors, PSA’s, and bed managers, and she has set up a wellness station in her office, with various teas and snacks available for the team. In the past (pre that nasty pandemic), Toni often had staff get-togethers at her house, arranging “Ponies at Toni’s,” where she would encourage staff to bring their families to her farm for a BBQ and horse riding. Tony is very dedicated and works a ridiculous amount of hours, usually 10-12hrs a day, as she always wants the ward to be in the best position to succeed and be a safe environment. She is prepared and able to have difficult conversations with upper management to push for a better, safer work environment for her staff. Toni has built positive relationships with all her employees. She regularly completes staff “well-being” check-ins to ensure everyone is okay and has an ‘open door policy.’ Toni takes criticism on board, no matter who it is providing to her. She genuinely cares about how she is perceived and how her actions impact others. She offers many opportunities for feedback through emails, surveys, and general conversations and takes the input she receives into account in future planning. Toni is involved in multiple projects. In the past, she has been actively involved in the “pajama paralysis” and “quiet wards” projects. Toni is always looking for ways to improve the ward and is passionate about staff safety. She will check in with staff after every OHS issue and encourages everyone to use the different services available at Western Health. i.e., EAP and EMPOWIR. Toni genuinely cares about the well-being of staff and their development and encourages staff to be involved in different projects. She is willing to help them achieve their career goals, even if this inevitably means they may leave the ward.”

Education & Learning Manager – Women’s and Children’s Team

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“During the past 12 months, Val has been the Education & Learning Manager – Women’s and Children’s Team and the Acting Director of Education and Learning from January to July 2022. She demonstrated excellent clinical leadership during this time by guiding the wider education team to provide meaningful educational experiences. This included overseeing education programs within the nursing and midwifery domains. Using her positive nature and approachable leadership style, she fostered improved bedside care and instilled a positive workplace culture for the education team. Although COVID has been a barrier to providing education programs during this time, Val demonstrated persistence to ensure that educational programs continued within the constraints of the COVID restrictions. Val has demonstrated all the WH values. Compassion – Val has a compassionate nature. During the past 12 months, several team members have fallen ill, and she has personally contacted them or their families to see if she could provide support. She demonstrated understanding and compassion when staff or learners (that the teams are responsible for) required additional educational support and coordinated this. Accountability – Val is a true leader by taking accountability for when programs are well run and when programs could be improved and has provided additional resources for the educational programs run within the division to ensure improved learner experience. Respect – Val is very respectful towards the education staff and the learners she is responsible for. When seeking guidance about a learner and their progression within a program, she is always respectful with the information provided and when offering guidance to the learners. Safety – during the past 12 months, the organisational requirement to alter workforce planning and recruitment has been challenging. Val has been a leader in getting RN’s working within the midwifery areas while adhering to the EBA and ANMF requirements. She always ensures that patients and pregnant women are provided with excellent care to improve their outcomes and decrease LOS as required. Val has been an excellent colleague and leader over the past 12 months. Without her guidance and leadership, the education and learning team would not have been able to provide education support to graduate nurses, midwives, new staff, and existing staff.”

Clinical Category Manager & Clinical Product Advisor – Procurement Services

PICTURE CREDIT : Penny Stephens – www.bypennystephens.com

“Valentina has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Procurement, particularly in Tender management, which she utilises and shares successfully with the larger team to ensure excellent outcomes that impact Western Health (WH) in many ways. Valentina always ensures that actions are followed up in a timely manner and always has time to support the team to achieve outcomes that will benefit the WH community. Many complex Procurement processes would not be possible without Valentina’s input, and many have learned from her leadership in this area.”