Western NSW Local Health District Awards

Proudly sponsored by Charles Sturt University, Three Rivers Department of Rural Health.

Welcome Baby to Bourke Ceremony - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The Welcome Baby to Bourke Ceremony welcomes babies back into the Bourke community by way of a cultural ceremony with families and communities. The ceremony focusses on alleviating the cultural disconnection experienced by Aboriginal women from not birthing on country, and establishing a cultural connection for babies and children.

The Welcome Baby to Bourke Ceremony is facilitated by Aboriginal Elders and Health staff and includes a traditional welcome, a formal welcome and a presentation of the children to the community. The whole family are involved and supported by other community members and importantly acknowledged by our Aboriginal Elders which provides the carriage for strengthening family capacity.

Bellies and New Life Project

The Bellies and New life Project aims to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Warren. Bellies and New Life Project empowers families to make educated and informed choices, involves women in their own care, fosters connections to Country and helps create bonds with their children from an early age.

The women are supported throughout their journey by a midwife in collaboration with the Aboriginal Health Worker. This relationship is developed with a continuity of care model.

The Child Family Health Nurse (CFHN) and Aboriginal Health Worker form a bond with the women by helping create a belly cast of her pregnant belly. This delivers education at the time of the casting and a long-term relationship with healthcare workers, and a trust is formed. The trusted relationship with the CFHN provides better outcomes for the child.

Walanmarra - Make Stronger through Aboriginal Art

The Tullamore MPS now proudly display more Aboriginal Artwork to help tell the Tullamore MPS story of Walanmarra - Make Stronger. The Aboriginal Artwork aims to promote, empower and encourage the community to take control of their health issues.

Local Aboriginal Artists have contributed to displays of Artwork and Signage throughout the facility. The display of the four fundamental components (signage, artwork, Welcome to Country and garden sculptures) was methodical in telling the story of Walanmarra.

An increase in the understanding of Indigenous patients, staff and community members, together with empowerment to take control of their health issues are positive consequences already evident within the community.

Proudly sponsored by Philips.

Remote Mobile CT service - AWARD RECIPIENT!

*Also recipients of the People's Choice and Board's Choice awards.

The Remote Mobile CT service aims to improve access to Computed Tomography (CT) to residents of remote communities in the north west reaches of our District. The innovative solution was to provide a CT scanner mounted in dedicated housing on a rigid truck, creating the first Mobile CT scanner in NSW and the first servicing hospitals in Australia.

The project was first proposed in 2011 by Dr Albert Gutmann, funding was secured and led to an order being placed in December 2020.

In May 2023 the mobile CT scanner was delivered to the District and commenced its rotations between Cobar, Walgett and Bourke multipurpose services.

The service increases access to a critical diagnostic service, CT, by providing it within the community, decreasing anxiety, discomfort and financial burden associated with long travel times.

Expansion of Modern Radiotherapy Service

*Recipient of the Chief Executive's Award

The aim of the ‘expansion of modern radiotherapy’ improvement project was to increase the utilisation rate of modern state-of-the-art radiotherapy eg; IMRT, VMAT, hypo-fractionated radiotherapy, and to make stereotactic radiotherapy available in the District.

A multi-disciplinary team of Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists and Radiation therapists developed an implementation plan for each treatment technique and expand radiotherapy service. With this initiative and the success of this project, currently the average IMRT/VMAT utilisation rate at WNSWLHD is above 95 per cent and advanced radiotherapy service is available in the District.

Cardiovascular Information System

*Recipient of the ACI Rural Health Innovation Award

The expansion of the WNSWLHD Cardiovascular Information System (CVIS) project built on the successful implementation of the CVIS at Orange Health Service. The CVIS project successfully delivered expansion of the current CVIS enterprise system to integrate Cardiac Catheter lab, Echocardiogram and other cardiology services performed at Bathurst and Dubbo health services.

This innovative project achieved the conversion of a standalone, paper-based Cardiology system to a fully-integrated electronic system. Clinicians from major referral hospitals in Sydney can access the system remotely to give local Cardiologists advice in real time to determine the best treatment outcome for patients thus dramatically reducing unnecessary treatment delays and travel.

Proudly sponsored by Philips.

Integrated Planned Care for Better Health - AWARD RECIPIENT!

Our Integrated Planned Care for Better Health team is made up of 20 multidisciplinary clinicians and administration staff who aspire to deliver quality health care to some of our most vulnerable and marginalised people living in Western NSW. Our philosophy of care focuses on placing the person and their carer at the centre of care, and promoting wellness.

The team have played a pivotal role in responding to the District's COVID-19 outbreaks, long COVID management, partnering with Mental Health Service for crisis response, supporting Justice Health and so much more.

The team are committed to developing strong partnerships across our health and social care networks.

Aged Care Assessment Service

The Aged Care Assessment Service has experienced a significant increase in demand, which led to the team exploring new ways of working to ensure that they are prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable in our community, implementing interim services and ensuring assessors and client’s time is used effectively.

The team have been on a continual cycle of workflow improvements; from reviewing how they prioritise the most urgent clients, helping increase client awareness, reducing time spent travelling to increase time for assessing.

The team have increased the number of assessments being completed including higher priority assessments. These achieved efficiencies has been noted by other teams in the State and who have visited to observe the team in action.

Biomedical

The Biomedical Team always work above and beyond to keep up with busy times and complete all scheduled work on time. The team introduce new technology to rural and regional facilities to strengthen access to better healthcare. In addition, the team do the services for all facilities (around 20,000 devices) not including Gas Therapy Devices.

In 2021, the Biomedical Team went above normal duties to help the multipurpose services during the COVID-19 lockdowns. In only a short time period the team helped setup multiple MPS’ to help with COVID activity. This is just one example of the team’s passion and commitment, there is so many more examples of this team going above and beyond to help provide world-class healthcare.

Dubbo Health Service, Department of Emergency Medicine

The Department of Emergency Medicine at Dubbo Health Service is nominated for the Inspiring Team Award in recognition of their successful response to the global COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.

As the pandemic evolved and new variants emerged, so too has the department’s response to each emerging challenge. New systems of patient triage and streaming have been developed and adopted many times through each phase of the pandemic, requiring the team to adjust and respond to each change.

As we move into a post-COVID paradigm it is important we recognise the incredible work performed by a Dubbo Emergency Department team who have been on the front-line of care since the very beginning of COVID, without a break, and remain so today.

​Coonabarabran Family Drop-in Clinic - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The aim of the Coonabarabran Family Drop-in Clinic was to build a culturally sensitive and inclusive model of care that provides a seamless transition from Midwifery care to Child and Family Health care.

Providing a ‘Drop In’ Clinic model with a dedicated, weekly time slot, the inclusion of an Aboriginal Health Practitioner as an integral member of the clinical team, and strong collaboration across the team has increased overall attendance rates; with attendance by Aboriginal women and children now 35 per cent of overall attendance.

​Hepatitis C Cure is within Your Reach - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The Hepatitis C Cure is within Your Reach project highlights how mobility, point of care technology and nurse led models of care improves access to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing and treatment. Collaborations with key stakeholders provided access to at-risk populations using the mobile van service. POCT provides reliable, finger-prick testing with results in 20 minutes to an hour. The Nurse Practitioner completes assessment and if positive provides script for direct-acting antivirals same day.

Mobility is required to reduce the geographical disadvantage as well as providing culturally appropriate care around this very stigmatised but curable illness.

Exercise Physiology in Cancer Care

Exercise Physiology (EP) is a lead pilot program designed to manage and improve the outcomes of people living with cancer. People living with cancer underwent individualised exercise programs at home and/or in a gym-based group class.

Clients were re-assessed after 12 weeks and had significant improvements in lower limb strength, upper limb strength and sleep.

This program empowers patients to manage their health conditions, supports individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices and improves lifestyles by targeting the public health priority area of physical activity. EP involvement in cancer care enables improved survival outcomes and quality of life for people living with cancer.

The Fingergym program: a collaborative approach

The Fingergym program is an early intervention program that promotes the development of integrated fine motor skills that underpin educational success in early childhood. Fingergym was developed by educators and Occupational Therapists (OT). The OT team at Dubbo Primary and Community Health have facilitated this program in partnership with Dubbo Public School since 2016 - including through COVID.

Over 600 Kindergarten students have participated over this timeframe, with 139 students receiving targeted support. Each year Kindergarten teachers identify students who require extra support for fine motor activities. These target students complete screening assessment with the OT team per and post implementation of the program. The results are used to evaluate progress and guide recommendations for ongoing education or therapy supports. The program is implemented within the classroom. This program is an example of a cost-effective, sustainable and collaborative partnership between Health and Education.

Proudly sponsored by QBE Insurance (Australia) Ltd.

GradStart Revitalising the Workforce - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) GradStart Revitalising the Workforce project addresses the challenges of providing a skilled mental healthcare workforce, while improving outcomes for consumers, staff wellbeing, and mental health nursing culture through innovative approaches to attract and professionally develop new graduate nurses.

By redesigning the new graduate program, incorporating scenario-based learning, simulation, reflective practice, planned skill development and establishing a partnership with the University of Notre Dame Australia, this work sets our district apart from others in Australia and offers greater value to successful applicants.

The comprehensive approach to recruitment and retention will enhance service delivery for the future and supports the professional development of both new and existing staff. This work embraces collaboration, fosters innovation, demonstrates creativity and adaptability, and a commitment to improving MHDA.

Bathurst Health Service Acute Response Model

The Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Bathurst Acute Response Model Trial is an approach that frontloads mental health resources, to better respond to the existing needs of individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. It involves the development of specific tools and resources to increase efficiency and improve outcomes.

The team-based approach ensures more holistic assessment and support, catering to the diverse needs of mental health consumers. The Acute Response Model enhances the ability to provide timely interventions and adapt to varying levels of acuity, resulting in improved outcomes for individuals in crisis.

Proudly sponsored by the University of Sydney, School of Rural Health (Dubbo/Orange).

Seeing the individual story before the waitlist - AWARD RECIPIENT!

‘Seeing the individual story before the waitlist’ aims to identify vulnerable clients who have requested an aged care assessment and put support in place to promote safety while their request is escalated and triaged.

Senior Assessors review incoming assessment requests and consider and commence any immediate at home support required. Senior assessors then refer a client for an urgent assessment. Clinical leadership team review all urgent requests for assessment and assign for assessment.

By utilising existing processes and existing staff, vulnerable clients waiting for assessment are now easily identified, supported and assessed in a timely manner.

All-inclusive Dementia Sing Out Choir

*Recipient of the Chief Executive's Award

The All-Inclusive Dementia Sing Out Choir provides meaningful support via a community-based music therapy program tailored to preferences and ability.

The Choir enables music therapy to provide the improvement of cognitive function and quality of life.

The benefits include access to experienced professionals in Dementia Care and Music Therapy, decrease in stress and an increase in the overall wellbeing, coping strategies for both the person with dementia and their carer/families, respite from responsibilities for the carer, and networking opportunities for the carer to talk to other carers.

From little things, big things grow!

The Nyngan Multipurpose Service garden is an initiative created for the residents to increase their time outside, as well as being an indirect form of exercise, that has also given residents a sense of purpose and increased their self-esteem.

Residents have experienced wonderful harvests that the cook has used in her meals and flowers have also been exhibited at local shows. This has been a fabulous project for Nyngan MPS and could be implemented at all MPS sites across the District.

​Yaganda Bulabul Art Project: nothing for us without us

Yaganda Bulabul Art Project provides a culturally appropriate, welcoming and safe environment for young people and families through site-specific artworks.

The project transformed the space in which mental health care is provided; the experience of young people accessing that care is also transformed.

The project relates to the NSW Health Future Health goal of ‘Patients and carers have positive experiences and outcomes that matter’. In partnership with Arts Out West, and through consultation with young people, Elders, staff and the artists themselves, workshops were held with numerous stakeholders as the ideas for appropriate artworks were explored and developed.

The outcome is a suite of purpose-designed artworks throughout the Yaganda Bulabul building on the Bloomfield Campus, produced by a selection of locally connected Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal artists.

IMBED - AWARD RECIPIENT!

IMBED aimed to improve the prevention and management of Incontinence Associated Dermatitis (IAD) by implementing the international best practice guidelines and the Ghent Global IAD Categorisation Tool in a bundled approach.

The IMBED project strived to achieve the highest quality of patient care, specifically focusing on skin care, in people suffering from incontinence to prevent the development of IAD. The intervention comprised: education; practice guidelines and categorisation tool; patient skin protection measures; incontinence assessment and management; and education of patients.

This study evaluated the impact of the intervention by comparing the pre-intervention and post-intervention in Bathurst Hospital across three wards: Medical, Rehabilitation, and Surgical.

A Virtual Collaboration Improves Medication Safety

The Virtual Collaboration Improves Medication Safety project implemented an innovative, collaborative, hybrid face-to-face and virtual clinical pharmacy model to improve access to pharmacy services with a focus on medication management on admission.

The pharmacist collaborates with on-site nursing and administration staff to complete Best Possible Medication Histories via videoconferencing, documents a Medication Management Plan and follows up any medication issues with the clinical team.

Novel approach to Massive Transfusion Protocol in rural NSW

A District Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP) was developed and implemented in 2020, utilising WNSWLHD Haematologists, with local knowledge of inventories, laboratory locations and the geographical distances in WNSWLHD.

Since then protocol results have improved on key performance indicators, resulting in improved patient safety, as well as cost savings across the District.

Same, same but a little different: Standardising

Same, same but a little different: Standardising documentation project was commenced as a patient safety initiative as a means of streamlining how pharmacists across the WNSWLHD document patient activities and interaction(s) to increase efficiency and accessibility of notes within the multidisciplinary team (MDT).

A documentation guideline was developed in consultation with the pharmacy team. MDT education was provided on documentation processes, setting up pharmacy filters and developing and using autotext. The procedural change was implemented in January 2023. Training packages were developed to maintain the change. This great project demonstrated collaborative and standardised approaches to documentation of clinical activity results in improved accessibility of pharmacy notes.

Proudly sponsored by Downer.

PharmAssist: Elevating the Pharmacy Technician Role in Medication Safety - AWARD RECIPIENT!

PharmAssist: Elevating the Pharmacy Technician Role in Medication Safety is a collaborative pharmacy approach to patient care via an extension of the traditional technician role which can function to improve medication management at the transition of care.

The integration of appropriately trained technicians into a patient-facing role aims to increase the number of patients reviewed by the pharmacy team.

A 'Super' Medical Model of Care

A 'Super' Medical Model of Care was implemented at Bathurst Hospital that aimed to distribute workload and patient care safely and equitably among reduced Medicine workforce.  Two super teams were developed and a framework for morning medical handover was developed.

March Medication Madness: It’s Contagious!

March Medication Madness: It's Contagious! project aims to provide standardised medication safety education to nursing staff across the District.

Overall, this initiative successfully delivered standardised medication safety education, promoted collaboration, and engaged nursing staff through interactive quizzes.

STOP. A collaborative and empowering handover tool

The STOP. A collaborative and empowering handover tool improves health support services (HSS) ability to provide patient-centred care when allocated to 'watch over' a patient in the Emergency Department.

The 'STOP' handover was introduced in 2023 in the Emergency Department to not only improve health support services engagement with patients they have been allocated to 'watch over' but to also manage actual/potential work health & safety risks for the staff member. Health support staff have reported feeling able to gain relevant, concise and accurate information that allowed them to better understand their role in the care of the patient.

Dr Simon Heppell - AWARD RECIPIENT!

Dr Simon Heppell, in his role as Director of Trauma at Dubbo Health Service, has provided excellent leadership and collaboration through the multi-year program to have Dubbo Health Service re-accredited and re-instated as a Regional Trauma Service.

This campaign has been a mammoth task and has required close collaboration and coordination with multiple stakeholders at the facility, district and state level. At the facility level, Simon has provided leadership that led to the formation of a Trauma Committee and has reinvigorated the local Trauma Morbidity and Mortality meetings that are well attended by members from all relevant departments.

Simon has brought together team leaders from Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Anaesthetics, Pathology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NSW Ambulance, Medical Administration and the Hospital Executive in order to prepare Dubbo Health Service for a site visit in late 2022 by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and ITIM.

Phil Kent

Phil is an amazing employee and colleague who is committed to providing the best possible service to the teams he works for and with. Phil has a positive attitude every day and brings a smile to anyone he is working with.

Phil is versatile, resilient, and responsive to ensuring that all tasks are completed and has a great innovative mind to achieve this, whether it be with creating a My Health Learning module or a fun little cartoon video.

Phil is a collaborative team member who we can rely on for help and support whenever needed, no task is ever too big or small and he goes about completing them with delight. Phil is passionate about helping others and is always lending a helping hand to those within his own team as well as others across the District.

Beverley Tyson

Over decades of service, Beverley has provided excellence in specialist community-focused care, being both a role model and inspiration to her colleagues and community.

As a specialist clinician in a stigmatised area of work, Bev has worked tirelessly to promote positive health practices in culturally appropriate and responsive ways, supporting innovations in practice, research and collaboration across the District and State while being a leader in the community.

Commanding respect for her long work in the field, Bev’s insights are sought after when shaping new programs within and without the LHD, while her day-to-day work in the community exemplifies the CORE values and ensures people are front and centre in all her work, bringing best practice and clinical expertise to some of the most remote communities in NSW.

Amelia Haigh

Amelia Haigh is an innovative team member of the Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS). VRGS provides comprehensive Rural Generalist medical support for Western NSW hospitals when local doctors are not available.

Amelia demonstrated leadership in setting up this service, showed innovation by coordinating the Rural Sectors COVID-19 response program, was involved in time-critical setup of new clinical services – COVID Care in the Community (CCiC) and assisted facilities in response planning and solutions development during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Amelia has facilitated the general practitioner support for the 4Ts (Tottenham, Tullamore, Trundle and Trangie) and established primary care services under a single-employer model in these four small rural communities.

Ana Vastag - AWARD RECIPIENT!

Ana is a passionate advocate for migrants, with a particular focus on health and wellbeing. Arriving in Lightning Ridge as a migrant, Ana understands and identifies with the challenges faced by people whose first language is not English.

Ana is a champion for the health and welfare needs of migrants in Lightning Ridge. At every opportunity she speaks to organisations to lobby, advocate and raise awareness of the challenges faced by families; the difficulties in accessing and navigating services; and the need for additional support services.

Ana works closely with the health service, advocating for the needs of people who have English as a second language and promoting early access to health care for migrant communities.

The community recognises Ana’s expertise in supporting people to fill out forms, understand health information, and make appointments.

James Hamilton - AWARD RECIPIENT!

James has been a voluntary member of the Trangie Health Council and Trangie Health Community Group for 18 years.

James values working in partnership with the Trangie Multipurpose Service (MPS) for improved health care outcomes.

During his time as a member and chair of the Trangie Health Council, James worked alongside and guided the community to work in a collaborative partnership with WNSWLHD. Through this partnership the community have been able to make improvements for patients in the Trangie MPS.

James has always staunchly advocated for the community and particularly elderly patients living in the Trangie MPS to have a homelike environment; including access to lifestyle, leisure and activity options.

More recently, James has been an integral member of the Trangie Health Community Group, partnering with WNSWLHD to implement the Meaningful Engagement Program.

Our Local Health District has a long-standing and productive relationship with the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI).  The ACI is our partner and friend in finding and developing opportunities for innovation that advance how we provide clinical care.

In 2014, the ACI Rural Health Network introduced an ‘Innovation Award’ to reward rural innovation and capture models of care which have potential for broader rural transferability.

The ACI Rural Innovation Award is presented to the rural team which has gone the extra mile in creating an innovative and original project to address an issue, embed the change with clinical / system outcomes and shows potential for transferability.

Cardiovascular Information System - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The expansion of the WNSWLHD Cardiovascular Information System (CVIS) project built on the successful implementation of the CVIS at Orange Health Service. The CVIS project successfully delivered expansion of the current CVIS enterprise system to integrate Cardiac Catheter lab, Echocardiogram and other cardiology services performed at Bathurst and Dubbo health services.

This innovative project achieved the conversion of a standalone, paper-based Cardiology system to a fully-integrated electronic system. Clinicians from major referral hospitals in Sydney can access the system remotely to give local Cardiologists advice in real time to determine the best treatment outcome for patients thus dramatically reducing unnecessary treatment delays and travel.

Each year, following the finalist presentations given at the Awards Symposium event, the Chief Executive selects recipients for the Chief Executive's Award.

This year Western NSW Local Health District Chief Executive, Mark Spittal, selected two projects to receive this award.

Expansion of Modern Radiotherapy Service - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The aim of the ‘expansion of modern radiotherapy’ improvement project was to increase the utilisation rate of modern state-of-the-art radiotherapy eg; IMRT, VMAT, hypo-fractionated radiotherapy, and to make stereotactic radiotherapy available in the District.

A multi-disciplinary team of Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists and Radiation therapists developed an implementation plan for each treatment technique and expand radiotherapy service. With this initiative and the success of this project, currently the average IMRT/VMAT utilisation rate at WNSWLHD is above 95 per cent and advanced radiotherapy service is available in the District.

All-inclusive Dementia Sing Out Choir - AWARD RECIPIENT!

The All-Inclusive Dementia Sing Out Choir provides meaningful support via a community-based music therapy program tailored to preferences and ability.

The Choir enables music therapy to provide the improvement of cognitive function and quality of life.

The benefits include access to experienced professionals in Dementia Care and Music Therapy, decrease in stress and an increase in the overall wellbeing, coping strategies for both the person with dementia and their carer/families, respite from responsibilities for the carer, and networking opportunities for the carer to talk to other carers.

Each year, following the finalist presentations given at the Awards Symposium, a nominated Board Member selects a recipient for the Board’s Choice Award.

This year WNSWLHD Board Member, Amanda O’Brien, selected one project to receive this award.

Remote Mobile CT service - AWARD RECIPIENT!

*Also recipients of the Health Innovation and People's Choice awards.

The Remote Mobile CT service aims to improve access to Computed Tomography (CT) to residents of remote communities in the north west reaches of our District. The innovative solution was to provide a CT scanner mounted in dedicated housing on a rigid truck, creating the first Mobile CT scanner in NSW and the first servicing hospitals in Australia.

The project was first proposed in 2011 by Dr Albert Gutmann, funding was secured and led to an order being placed in December 2020.

In May 2023 the mobile CT scanner was delivered to the District and commenced its rotations between Cobar, Walgett and Bourke multipurpose services.

The service increases access to a critical diagnostic service, CT, by providing it within the community, decreasing anxiety, discomfort and financial burden associated with long travel times.

Each year, voting is opened up to attendees of the Symposium to decide on the People’s Choice Award.

This year voting was extended to all staff of the Local Health District (not just attendees) to select their favourite project to receive this award.

Remote Mobile CT service - AWARD RECIPIENT!

*Also recipients of the Health Innovation and Board's Choice awards.

The Remote Mobile CT service aims to improve access to Computed Tomography (CT) to residents of remote communities in the north west reaches of our District. The innovative solution was to provide a CT scanner mounted in dedicated housing on a rigid truck, creating the first Mobile CT scanner in NSW and the first servicing hospitals in Australia.

The project was first proposed in 2011 by Dr Albert Gutmann, funding was secured and led to an order being placed in December 2020.

In May 2023 the mobile CT scanner was delivered to the District and commenced its rotations between Cobar, Walgett and Bourke multipurpose services.

The service increases access to a critical diagnostic service, CT, by providing it within the community, decreasing anxiety, discomfort and financial burden associated with long travel times.

Each year an outstanding senior staff member is selected to receive the Senior Leader of the Year Award.  The award goes to an individual who has demonstrated inspirational standards of leadership, collaboration and of ethical, professional and personal conduct.

The recipient receives funding support to participate in professional development opportunities.

AWARD RECIPIENT - Sandra Duff, Executive Director of People & Culture