www.sjog.org.au

Pomegranate JUL | AUG 09

PERINATAL RESEARCH BOOSTOur Burwood hospital has secured a prestigious research grant

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HEALTH AND SAFETYCommitted to caregiver’s safety, in the workplace and on the road

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OUR DOCTORSDelivering medical education to rural Western Australia

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St John of God Hospital Geelong has won a national award for its response to community need by building a dedicated Day Surgery Centre providing high quality care and processes which ensure patient privacy and dignity.

The 2011 Press Ganey Success Story Award, bestowed by the independent Press Ganey organisation which provides satisfaction surveys and benchmarking data for healthcare organisations, recognises innovation in using satisfaction data to produce outstanding clinical outcomes, improved patient perceptions, staff morale and operational efficiencies, as well as financial growth.

Patients ranked the Day Surgery Centre - which opened in April 2009 and, with a recently-opened third theatre, treats over 400 patients each month - at the 99th percentile in the most recent round of Press Ganey Satisfaction Surveys. It was the first survey in which the Centre (pictured) had participated and the results placed it at the top of over 100 Australian day surgery services surveyed, meaning it is now the benchmark for day surgery patient satisfaction.

Press Ganey said the hospital won the award for “their inspiring story on how they researched and responded to local community needs, and the strategic development of their world class Day Surgery Centre.”

Hospitality I Compassion I Respect I Justice I Excellence

The Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Roberts, said extensive research and community consultation had identified clear patient priorities.

“People wanted personalised and timely care in a location close to home,” Stephen said. “We pride ourselves on our distinctive service and on ensuring expectations are not only met, but exceeded with each patient encounter.”

In 2006, the hospital analysed community need in relation to day surgery facilities, revealing two main priorities: having a local facility to negate the need for extensive travel, and a service providing a streamlined journey to ensure privacy and dignity.

In line with this, the Day Surgery Centre focuses on clear communication with patients and families, minimising patient movement to reduce anxiety and privacy concerns, decreasing waiting times, and creating warm and modern surroundings incorporating the latest technology.

The Centre is also embracing medical innovations such as PillCam, a groundbreaking technology allowing gastroenterologists to diagnose conditions in the small bowel, which cannot be accessed by traditional endoscopy.

It has also introduced a Rapid Access endoscopy service enabling relatively fit and healthy patients to more easily access routine endoscopy procedures.

National award for day surgery success

SUMMER 2011/12

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Welcome to the Summer edition of Pomegranate. As always, the stories in this edition highlight the rich diversity of the St John of God Health Care group, the people who work for us, and the patients, clients and residents we serve.

Each edition, we distribute 3,000 copies of Pomegranate to a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders and friends. It is also available on our website and on our intranet. Reading Pomegranate is a great way for community members and prospective staff to gain an understanding of who we are, what we do and the way we do it.

With the end of 2011 nigh and Christmas fast approaching it is important to reflect on some of our key achievements for the year. For me, highlights reflected in Pomegranate this year have included:

• Ourongoingoutstandinghospitalaccreditation results across the group

• Theimplementationofsophisticatedworkforce planning to virtually eliminate agency use and enable us to have a sustainable workforce

• VariousindividualawardsincludingtheCatholic Health Australia Nurse of the Year (again!)

• Ourvariousleadingenvironmentalinitiatives that are assisting us to reduce energy use, water consumption, waste and our carbon footprint

• ThegrowthinourSocialOutreachandAdvocacy initiatives that support people experiencing disadvantage

• Theresilienceandcommitmentofouremployees, including in response to earthquakes (New Zealand) and bushfires (WA)

LEAdinG tHE WAy in CARinG foR tHE EnviRonMEnt St John of God Health Care recently took out the Corporate Business Leading by Example award at the WA Environmental Awards, for its innovative ‘Safeguarding Our Environment’ program.

The award reflects the depth and breadth of the organisation’s environmental sustainability strategy and its commitment to excellence in care, both for patients and the environment.

St John of God Health Care’s forward-looking environmental fund allocates $1.2 million annually for priority initiatives not covered in normal budget processes. It is the first health sector employer to have adopted the Energy Carbon Information System to electronically gather utility and waste data for performance measurement and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, said the award reflects the hard work and dedication of the environmental teams and, critically, the senior management buy-in that is vital to the success and sustainability of any corporate environmental program.

“From our Board members and executives, who are pitching in by phasing out paper through the widespread use of tablet computers and taking part in sustainability leadership retreats, to our hospitals and other divisions which are enthusiastically embracing a number of environmental initiatives, we are determined to minimise the impact of our activities wherever and whenever we can,” Michael said.

GROUP UPDATE

• Ourincreasedcommitmenttoundergraduate and postgraduate education, especially of clinical staff

• Ourcommitmenttomeetingcommunity need, and supporting our workforce through major facility developments at several of our hospitals

Whilst we have many successes and achievements to celebrate, I would like to nominate the recent announcement of St John of God Health Care as the preferred respondent for the Midland Health Campus in Perth, Western Australia, as my personal highlight of the year. This transforming opportunity incorporates two hospitals totalling 367 beds, our first public hospital involvement in Western Australia, and a springboard for Social Outreach and Advocacy and teaching and research. This project will be highlighted in more detail in our next Pomegranate.

We are a large and complex organisation, likely to get more so. As always it remains imperative that we focus on our Mission and, as the title of our 2010/11 Annual Report indicated, bring people ‘A Reason to Hope’.

Maximising the potential of everyone we care for or support, as well as our employees, remains a key objective: perhaps it is the gift we can bring.

I wish all of you a happy and holy Christmas and hope you find time to recuperate and to socialise with friends and family.

Thank you for all you have done during 2011. It has been fantastic!

Dr Michael Stanford Group Chief Executive Officer

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PARtnERS in CARESt John of God Health Care is encouraging patient involvement in their own care with a new patient safety video urging patients and their families to ask questions of, and provide feedback to, the health professionals treating them.

The ‘Partnering in Your Care’ video is part of a global trend towards a shared model of care. There is evidence that informed patients have better health outcomes, are more likely to avoid adverse events, and recover more quickly.

The video project was managed by Group Manager Clinical Risk, Chen Anderson, and aligns with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care’s standard ‘Partnering for Consumer Engagement’, the Western Australian Health Department’s ‘Patient First Program’, and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards’ EQuIP5 program which focuses on patient-centred care.

Chen said that while the video was produced primarily as an effective method of communicating with patients, it was also an important tool in helping create a culture shift by caregivers from the notion of providing care to the shared care model.

“The benefits to patients and the organisation, including increased caregiver satisfaction, are potentially significant so we will be enthusiastically promoting the video. The video is an example of evidence-based practice at its best.”

The video is available at www.sjog.org.au/patientsafety

Perinatal research boostIn a significant boost for St John of God Health Care’s research activities, our Burwood Hospital’s Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health Research team – led by our Chair of Perinatal and Women’s Mental Health, Professor Marie-Paule Austin – has secured a prestigious $1 million dollar grant in partnership with the national depression initiative, beyondblue.

The three-year grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will fund Research Assistant positions across New South Wales, Western AustraliaandVictoriatosupportProfessorAustin’s evaluative research into the outcomes of Australian perinatal mental health reforms over the past decade.

Professor Austin (pictured) will examine the impact of routine depression screening and psychosocial assessment for perinatal women, and improved access to mental health services.

The study is unique in that it will use population health data on several million women giving birth over the past decade to examine the impact of reforms on maternal and infant health outcomes, service utilisation and the likely cost-effectiveness of available services.

Evaluation of mental health reforms is critical in order to optimise the quality and uptake of services in this vulnerable but eminently accessible population.

St John of God Health Care’s Executive Director Eastern Hospitals, Tracey Burton, said the grant was prestigious and clinically

significant and would, in conjunction with the beyondblue partnership, take St John of God Health Care’s research profile to a new level.

“By placing us firmly in the research arena, this grant further cements our commitment to research and clinical leadership,” Tracey said. “Our Burwood Hospital already operates New South Wales’ only Parent-Infant Unit and our increasing involvement in research initiatives allows us to directly link the benefits of research to our care.”

The grant is the second NHMRC grant secured by Professor Austin; the first being $556,650 for an ongoing 2010 study examining the effect of maternal anxiety in pregnancy on infant behaviour regulation.

Her success in securing research grants has also included a $1.79 million grant to examine the effects of the 2011 Queensland floods on pregnant women and their children, and a $250,000 grant to examine psychosocial screening of pregnant and postnatal women.

St John of God Health Care has significantly increased its research activities over the last five years, with 55 new research proposals approved over the 2010/11 financial year. The organisation conducts studies in the fields of oncology, neuroscience and dermatology, as well as an expanding molecular research program. Nursing and midwifery research, under the guidance of the group’s recently-established Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Research Council, is also a focus.

Three St John of God Health Care nurses are amongst the first recipients of an industry professional development grant designed to enhance their care of patients through a skills exchange between hospitals.

The inaugural Australian Catholic University – Catholic Health Australia (CHA) Nurse and Midwifery Unit Manager Professional Development Grant Program assists senior nurses to visit other hospitals to gain insights into how other units in their clinical area are run. Applicants can choose a hospital of interest to them.

Murdoch’s Manager of Midwifery Services, Helen McAllister (pictured); Bendigo’s Critical Care Unit Nurse Manager, Penny Spencer; and Bendigo’s Maternity Unit Nurse Manager, Shirley Lechmere, have been awarded grants.

Penny will visit both Epworth and Cabrini Coronary Care Units in Melbourne to investigate how best to implement a nurse-led service to assist patients transitioning from Critical Care to a general ward.

BRAND NEW LOOk

You may have noticed that this issue of Pomegranate is sporting a fresh new look. The makeover is the result of a 12-month project to review our branding, including our logo, colour palette, fonts, stationery, brochures, advertising materials, website and many other materials. The new branding will be rolled out progressively as older items are used up.

TIMORESE NURSES IN BALLARAT

Four East Timorese nurses are better equipped to deliver life-saving care in the Emergency Department of Dili’s National Hospital after taking part in an intensive residential training program at St John of God Hospital Ballarat. The three-week program developed in partnership with St Vincent’sPrivateHospitalinMelbourneinvolvedthenurseslearning practical skills in priority areas identified by St John of God Health Care’s National Nursing Development Program, which is now in its second year of operation in Dili.

Skills exchange for our nurses

NewsPASTORAL SERvICES BOOST

St John of God Hospital Warrnambool’s Pastoral Services Manager, Bernadette Wurlod, has been accredited as a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor by the Australia and New Zealand Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, the professional body for pastoral services practitioners and supervisors. In preparation for accreditation, Bernadette coordinated and supervised four part-time CPE programs at our Warrnambool and Ballarat Hospitals.

NEPEAN gROWTH

St John of God Nepean Rehabilitation Hospital is continuing to expand, with an upgrade creating four additional beds for overnight patients through recommissioning two patient rooms, and freeing up space by relocating some back-of-house administrative functions to an adjoining residential property owned by the hospital. Renovation works have also begun in the main Physiotherapy Gym to improve the space for patients and caregivers.

“I wanted to choose a like-sized hospital to get a sense of how their transitioning service could be applied at Bendigo, and I will also visit a larger hospital to see how the service could grow,” Penny said.

Helen hopes her visit to the Mater Mothers Private Hospital in Brisbane will help further herresearchinVenousThrombosisEmbolism – blood clots in the lung and legs – in maternity patients.

“I would also like to use the opportunity to gain insights into leadership strategies, maternal risk management, patient, doctor and caregiver satisfaction and workforce strategies,” she said.

Shirley will research models of care involving team nursing at Calvary’s maternity service in Adelaide.

Applications were invited from Nurse and Midwifery Unit Managers working in CHA member organisations, supported by the applicant’s Director of Nursing. Applicants had to detail how funds were to be used and demonstrate a commitment to the Catholic health and aged care ministry.

St John of God Hospitals Subiaco and Bendigo, and Nepean Rehabilitation Hospital will host nurses from hospitals in Melbourne and Tasmania.

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SAfER dRivinG by CHoiCESt John of God Health Choices is ensuring its nurses are safe on the road by launching a Safe Driving Handbook, aimed at identifying and reducing risks associated with occupational driving.

Unlike their hospital-based colleagues, one of the most significant occupational hazards for nurses in our home nursing division relates to driving.

Currently, Health Choices’ staff average 8,250 patient visits per month during which they deliver 6,750 hours of care, and travel a combined 72,000 kilometres per week.

The Handbook includes the latest information and advice on managing driving hazards, as well as providing instructions on what to do in the event of an accident or incident.

Health Choices also recently revised its Safe Driving Policy and introduced VehicleLogbookstomonitorvehiclesafety checks.

In early 2011, Health Choices also surveyed caregivers to identify preferred car models and features for the fleet to help support the safe delivery of services. The results have influenced fleet purchases and contributed to the content of the Safe Driving Handbook.

Over the 2010/11 financial year, Health Choices vehicles emitted a total 195 tonnes of carbon dioxide. St John of God Health Care is undertaking a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of carbon emissions as part of the Group Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2011-2015, including a move to 4 or 5 green star rated vehicles.

Health Choices’ nurses travel a combined 72,000 kilometres per week.

Caregivers will be healthier, safer, and better supported in caring for themselves and others as the results of a survey of caregivers are used to inform future health and safety initiatives across St John of God Health Care.

Caregivers from all Australian divisions offered their insights on health and safety through the 2011 Occupational Health and Safety Perception Survey.

The survey was designed to gain a better understanding of occupational health and safety throughout St John of God Health Care, from both an organisational and divisional perspective.

The survey explored six key health and safety themes – safe work practices, training and supervision, consultation, reporting safety, management commitment, and injury management and return to work –

which are all integral components of our Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy 2011-2015.

Group Manager OHS, Kym Kaptein, said the very good survey results provide a baseline to measure progress of caregiver participation and understanding as the Strategy is implemented.

“Responses indicated a good level of health and safety knowledge among caregivers, and highlighted the areas of caregiver consultation, and safety leadership and commitment as priority areas for improvement,” Kym said.

“The target for good OHS perception is 80% and we scored well above that on the Injury Management and Return to Work measure with a score of 88%, and only a little below that in the five other measures, with our overall average at a very respectable 76%.”

Perceptions on health and safety

5Caring for each other’s health and safety, as well as that of our patients and clients.

PRoMotinG oUR PEoPLE

Irene Burlein, Bunbury

Irene Burlein has been appointed to the new role of Community, Engagement and Marketing Manager at our Bunbury hospital, focusing on identifying and developing opportunities to

partner with other organisations for the delivery of services. Irene has extensive experience in community relations gained from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors and postgraduate qualifications in communication, journalism and events and services marketing.

Michael Courtney, Pathology

Michael Courtney has been appointed Finance Manager at St John of God Pathology. Michael has held the role of Finance Manager with St John of God Health Choices for the past two

years, overseeing its financial management during its formation and subsequent growth. Prior to this role, Michael worked in the finance department at St John of God Pathology in Western Australia.

Mark graham, Pinelodge Clinic

Mark Graham has been appointed Nurse Unit Manager at St John of God Pinelodge Clinic. Mark brings a wealth of experience as a registered mental health nurse to his role, having worked in both

the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom, and at The Melbourne Clinic in the roles of Associate Nurse Unit Manager and Nurse Unit Manager.

Michael krieg, Ballarat

Michael Krieg has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of St John of God Hospital Ballarat. Michael has extensive experience in the health sector, in the for-profit, Catholic and regional sectors in

bothVictoriaandTasmania.Hismostrecentrolewas Chief Executive Officer of Calvary Health Care in Tasmania, overseeing four hospitals with a combined 400 beds.

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All paws for puppy loveSt John of God nepean Rehabilitation Hospital has recruited a new volunteer – Maya, a black Labrador who narrowly missed her intended career as a guide dog.

Along with her human companion, Charmaine Thompson, a former employee who is also volunteering, Maya visits patients in their rooms and the patient lounge on most Sundays.

Chief Executive Officer, Sally Faulkner, said Maya, who even has her own hospital identification card and coat, was adored by patients and caregivers alike.

“Many studies have shown a positive correlation between the presence of animals, especially dogs, in healthcare settings and improved physical and emotional health,” Sally said.

“We can certainly see that at Nepean in the smiles on patients’ faces when Maya comes to visit.”

Recent research has shown that even brief interactions with an animal produces measurable physiological benefits such as reduced heart rate and stress chemicals. Beneficial effects are reported after spending just five minutes with a friendly dog.

Charmaine chose Sunday as their visiting day because patients and caregivers have identified the need for additional diversional therapy over the weekends, particularly Sunday when there are no structured therapy sessions.

She said Maya’s duties were clear: “Whoever wants a bit of love, Maya can give it.”

Maya meets Stan Coley and Barbara Coley at Nepean.

A surgeon from St John of God Hospital berwick is making a significant difference in the lives of some of South-East Asia’s poorest people, recently returning from his third trip to a remote region of Cambodia where he provided free surgery to those most in need.

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, Dr Adnan Safdar, is part of a team of surgeons, anaesthetists and audiologists who travel twice a year to the Battambang Province, 300 kilometres northwest of Phnom Penh, to operate on patients with chronic ear disease.

The trips are mainly self-funded with the aid of some donations. St John of God Hospital Berwick assists Dr Safdar by donating medical supplies.

Dr Safdar said middle ear disease was a common but neglected area of healthcare in Cambodia.

“Ear clinics are poorly equipped, so donations of medical supplies are essential so the team can perform the surgery and after care that is required,” Dr Safdar said.

“In addition to loss of hearing, chronic ear infections can lead to life threatening complications such as brain abscesses and meningitis. The project really does improve the quality of life for people and that is very satisfying for us and the local staff.”

The project has successfully treated several hundred people in the 10 years since it was established by Albury Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, Dr Kevin Howell.

Healing hands from Berwick to Cambodia

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Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Dr Adnan Safdar examines a patient in Cambodia.

A GRAnd RoUnd of MEdiCAL EdUCAtion

St John of God Hospital Subiaco and the Western Australian Country Health Service are partnering to deliver weekly live telecasts of the Hospital’s General Practitioner Grand Rounds education sessions.

The new initiative provides doctors and other health professionals around rural Western Australia with access to quality, ongoing medical education through the medium of contemporary clinical material presented in the traditional teaching format of a ‘grand round’.

The ‘grand round’ is an interactive format where consultants, registrars and junior medical staff present a broad mix of challenging, clinical cases while engaging contribution from specialists in the audience and questions from the floor.

The program aims to provide quality education across areas of medical practice, informing GPs of the latest in assessment, treatment, management, technology and service available for patients in their care, as well as giving GPs the opportunity to hear from some of Perth’s most respected and influential specialists, physicians and surgeons.

Past topics have included peripheral artery disease, infectious diseases, substance misuse, chemotherapy and back pain.

Offering this education format to doctors in rural Western Australia means they can link into current and quality clinical education on a regular basis without travelling extensive distances.

Doctors and other health professionals wishing to join the Grand Rounds at Subiaco or via telelink should contact doctor Liaison Coordinator, Sarah Wilson at sarah.wilson@sjog.org.au.

Caregivers from St John of God Hospital berwick helped teach children the importance of proper handwashing with soap to prevent disease and infections as part of Global Handwashing day 2011.

Global Handwashing Day saw over 120 million children worldwide wash their hands with soap, with 170 of those doing so as part of hand hygiene lessons delivered by our Berwick Hospital.

In a fun and interactive session, Berwick Infection Control Nurse, Suzie Marquez, taught children from St Michael’s Primary School how to correctly lather up to reduce potentially life-threatening diseases such as diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections.

Suzie said the driving force behind Global Handwashing Day was children and schools. “Children acting as agents of change can take the good practices of hand hygiene learned at school back into their homes and hopefully on into their adult life,” she said.

The simple act of correctly washing hands can reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal rates among children under five by almost 50 per cent, and respiratory infections by nearly 25 per cent.

Global Handwashing day started in 2008 and is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organisations, non-government organisations, private companies and individuals around the world. It is held annually in October.

MEntAL HEALtH PRoGRAMS ExPAndSt John of God Pinelodge Clinic, our psychiatric and drug and alcohol services hospital in Dandenong, has developed two new programs for day patients addressing the prevalent mental health issues of anxiety, depression and low self esteem.

The Young People Living Well program is designed for people aged 18 to 28 who are suffering from anxiety or depression, which are amongst the most common mental health problems faced by young people.

The program is aimed at helping participants build self confidence, improve relationships, explore what matters to them, and make room for emotions and self-compassion.

The Building Self Esteem program aims to address the many life and mental health issues associated with low self esteem, such as depression, under achievement, and drug dependence. The program also addresses unhelpful beliefs, known as schemas, arising from low self esteem.

Both programs are available to patients on referral by a psychiatrist.

Day programs at Pinelodge cover a wide range of mental health issues for young people.

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Children taught clean hands save lives

Infection Control Nurse, Suzi Marquez, uses a UV light device to show kids where dirt still remains on their hands.

Turning life around at Accord John Scardoni’s challenging behaviour is a thing of the past thanks to St John of God Accord’s disability support workers, who have provided tailored behavioural support designed to meet his unique capabilities and need for engagement.

John struggled through adolescence with an intellectual disability and his resultant move into shared support accommodation at age 15 – moving from family and friends and into an unfamiliar environment.

When he became upset, support staff found it difficult to manage his behaviour.

In 2011, staff reassessed his support with an entirely new approach; asking John what he was passionate about, planning within his current skill sets and creating more opportunities for his engagement at home and in the wider community.

Team Leader at John’s supported accommodation, Dan Maloney, describes a dramatic transformation.

“For some of the people we support, adolescent mood swings, unpredictability and teenage angst don’t disappear at the end of the teenage years,” Dan said.

“Between effective behaviour support and natural maturation, John has been able to throw off the unhelpful baggage of the past and is now perhaps the cheeriest, most helpful, and definitely the most resilient man I have ever met.

“It has taken John a little longer than most people to unlock his skills and passions, but his support team are well-positioned to help him make up for lost time.”

John is now a familiar figure greeting the morning staff at the door, with a smile from ear to ear and a “How ya goin’ mate?”

He then helps with household tasks such as mopping, folding clothes, making beds, vacuuming, taking bins out and washing dishes.

With the support of Accord staff, John goes to the local milk bar to buy bread and milk, and enjoys the movies, eating out and going for walks.

Dan said he thought John had mastered the walk to the supermarket until recently, when what should have been a short trip to buy carpet cleaner took longer than expected.

“I went to look for him and was starting to get a little bit worried, when suddenly I saw him wandering down the street with a knowing grin, a coke and chips. When I asked him why he didn’t go to the supermarket, John replied ‘Na mate, wanted a coke’.”

John Scardoni making the most of a beautiful summer’s day on the trampoline at his home in Melbourne.

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bLUE, iS tHE nEW GREEnSt John of God Hospital Geraldton’s environmental group, The Kermits, recently worked out a fun way to create environmental awareness, staging a recycling competition challenging caregivers to create an item or accessory out of the blue sterile instrument wrap used in theatre.

The Hospital’s visiting Orthopaedic Surgeon, Professor Riaz Khan, judged the competition and awarded first place to a kimono made by theatre caregivers, Wendy Fahy (pictured) and Lizzie Shiosaki, second place to a ‘horse head and tail’, and third place to a bag and hat made by Pastoral Services’ caregivers.

A temporary transportable accommodation unit has been installed at St John of God Hospital Murdoch to house departments displaced during its $234 million expansion.

The transportable, pictured, has been nicknamed ‘Castle Lodge’ after one of the facilities operated by the Sisters of St John of God in Ballymote, Ireland.

With building services currently out to tender, building is expected to begin in early 2012, with an additional 165 beds, eight theatres, medical clinic, and cancer centre progressively coming online between 2013 and 2015.

The hospital is using, for the first time, an Early Contractor Involvement procurement method which will ensure the builder and architects are aligned in trying to improve buildability, reduce the time and cost of construction, and enable routine hospital operations to be undertaken with minimal disruption. Preparatory works will soon be underway to facilitate the construction of a new training and education centre, while construction of a new medical records area is about to begin.

The 14th annual St John of God Foundation Corporate Charity Golf Day, held in October, raised $64,147 for our Horizon House service, a group of nine homes in Western AustraliaandVictoriaprovidinglong-termaccommodationfor young people who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.

Approximately $250,000 is needed annually to run each Horizon House. Substantial funds are raised each year towards each house by local committees and corporate fundraising, with the Charity Golf Day forming a significant aspect of this support.

Businesses which supported the event included community organisations, banks, mining companies, mechanical maintenance businesses and hotels.

Murdoch Redevelopment starts with a castle

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GoLf dAy RAiSES $64,000 foR HoRizon HoUSE

Golfers Bill Heron, left, and Keith Johns from KD and Associates with Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, and Group Manager Youth Services, Mike Board.

Pathology’s Lucy Bunter during a recent visit back to her village in Sierra Leone, with a local school teacher and village children.

Pathology’s Lucy Bunter during a recent visit back to her village in Sierra Leone, with a local school teacher and village children.

SCHooL’S in, bUt in AfRiCAA Pathology caregiver has spearheaded an ambitious project to build a primary school in an East African village called Bo to provide much-needed education for children from pre-primary to year seven.

Pathology Accounts Clerk, Lucy Bunter, who works at our core laboratory in Osborne Park, Western Australia, grew up in Sierra Leone, East Africa. She has seen first-hand the hardships faced by poor families with children, particularly girls, who receive little or no education because of family commitments and an inability to cover schooling expenses.

The school will be free to students. Construction, which will also provide short-term employment for locals, should be finished by September 2012.

The project has been met with much enthusiasm by Pathology caregivers, who have assisted Lucy by donating clothing, toys, books, linen and electrical goods such as televisions and VCRs,aswellasbyraisingmoneytohelp fund the project.

Lucy has also secured donations of school furniture from local schools and businesses throughout Perth.

The school will initially welcome children from pre-primary to year three but with continued support it is hoped a new classroom can be added each year.

Degree mastery for scientist StephenSt John of God Wellington resident Stephen tauwhare wasn’t going to let a brain haemorrhage stop him from graduating with the Master’s degree he had worked so hard for, receiving his degree scroll in a special ceremony attended by family and friends.

Two and a half years ago, Stephen was a highly-respected scientist, specialising in extracting the healing properties of harakeke (flax) and had just completed the last of his work towards a master’s degree in Maori studies. He wanted to maximise the benefits of harakeke for his own people and encourage young Maori to do something with their lives.

Everything changed on the morning of 11th May 2009. What began as a headache progressed into a blinding pain, which left Stephen in a coma for three weeks. Stephen’s wife Elaine, whom he had married a year before, was told to prepare for the worst.

Stephen was left brain-damaged, paralysed on his left side, and unable to speak. He now communicates with the aid of a ‘talk-link’ machine, which speaks words for him as he punches them into a keyboard.

He is a resident at St John of God Wellington, which provides long-term residential support for adults with a physical disability.

Elaine said the last two and a half years had been tough, but with determination the pair had stayed positive.

“We went through sheer hell…he was just going so well before it happened, he was going places definitely. But you can’t change what’s happened, so let’s make the future work as much as we can,” Elaine said.

St John of God Wellington General Manager, Debbie Brinsdon, attended the ceremony along with several other caregivers, and said they were privileged to support Stephen.

“All of our staff are extremely proud of what Stephen has achieved and we were so pleased we could attend his graduation,” Debbie said.

“You could tell that Elaine and the rest of his family were so proud of him, and he’s still beaming about it, and points to his framed Master’s Certificate when people enter his room!”

Stephen Tauwhare and wife Elaine share a special moment before Stephen graduated with a Master’s Degree (photo courtesy of Fairfax NZ)

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Bendigo’s Biggest Winner

Entrants in St John of God Hospital bendigo’s weight loss health challenge, ‘bendigo’s biggest Winner’, have lost a combined 494 kilograms, 2599 centimetres, while reducing their blood pressure and improving overall health.

Bendigo’s Biggest Winner is a 12-week challenge in which members of the public are supported by the hospital and other local organisations to lose weight, get fit, and eat healthily.

The hospital involved a number of community organisations including the Bendigo Weekly newspaper (weekly updates, features on team entries, and helpful articles), the local Lifestyle Fitness Gym (free sessions for entrants), the UFS Pharmacy (where all weigh-ins occurred and whose naturopath wrote a weekly column), Bendigo Wholefoods (discounted fruit and vegetables), and Bicknells

food SAfEty ExCELLEnCEThe Catering Department at St John of God Hospital Subiaco has won a National Systems Excellence Award in recognition of its exceptional food management system.

The award recognises organisations demonstrating exceptional management systems that exceed standard requirements and show innovation and leadership.

Recently, Subiaco also became the first private hospital in Western Australia to earn the highest possible Food Safety Management accreditation through the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards – a risk management methodology used by the food and related industries for the control of food safety hazards.

Subiaco’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Shane Kelly, said the award was recognition of the hospital’s pursuit of excellence in all areas of operation.

“We always strive to exceed patient expectations by providing high quality, nutritionally balanced and tasty meals tailored specifically to their needs, which in turn helps ensure their stay in hospital as pleasant as possible,” Shane said.

Independent Sports Store (discount on purchases). Other sponsors included the VictorianObesitySurgeryCentre.

The Hospital’s Allied Health Unit provided entrants with use of the hydrotherapy pool and rehabilitation gym, as well as free body balance classes with an exercise physiologist.

Bendigo’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Hogan, said the competition was a way to help the community with the serious issues of rising obesity levels, poor diet and insufficient exercise.

The competition targets workplaces but individuals can also sign up. The most entries came from Coliban Water and its contractor Campaspe Asset Management, with 50 entries between them.

All entrants received a starter kit of sponsored items and prizes were given to people with the highest percentage weight loss, most centimetres lost, most improved blood pressure, and best team results.

The award was bestowed by international company SAI Global, which provides organisations with information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement. Subiaco was one of seven organisations nominated in the Food Safety Management Systems category.

The hospital’s Catering Department has spent the past two years preparing to achieve the HACCP standards – a feat only accomplished by a handful of Australian hospitals.

Catering Department caregivers Marcel Willimann, Cheryl Hughes and Michael Abeyakoon proudly show off their HACCP accreditation certificate.