Western Health

🐶Therapy dogs Leo, Sally, Pippa, Olivia and Sterling brought their expressive eyes, wagging tails and all-round adorableness to our Footscray, Sunshine, Bacchus Marsh and Willy hospitals today, helping us mark R U OK? Day. 🐕These doggos never fail to put a smile on our dial, even on tough days, bringing warmth and affection and helping reduce stress levels. They’re a lovely reminder that the small act of taking a moment to check in on someone – showing support and empathy – can have a big impact. ❤️ 🙏Thank you to Leo, Sally. Pippa, Olivia and Sterling and their human companions from the Lort Smith Pet Therapy Program. 🐾 🐾 #pettherapyprogram #lortsmith #RUOKDay!

It was a pleasure to welcome CEO Peter Bishop, Board Garry Thompson FAICD FRAIA MPIA and the entire team from Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania today to celebrate the opening of the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital. The light-filled space on the Children's Ward on Level 6 offers families access to a kitchen, donated snacks and refreshments, two computers, toys and books, and a lounge and dining area. There is also the opportunity for families to take a breather outside the hospital without leaving the building in a colourful outdoor play area with expansive views. Western Health is proud to provide first-class paediatric care for children across Melbourne's west. We know that the opening of the Family Room today will be a further boost to the wellbeing of our patients and their families. Thank you, Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania.

More than 130 passionate professionals came together for an inspiring and engaging Victorian Translational Simulation event at Sunshine Hospital today. 💡 We explored how translational simulation serves as a critical quality and safety tool that can directly enhance patient care. The day was opened by Western Health Board Chair, Prof. The Hon. Jill Hennessy GAICD, and closed by Western Health Chief Executive Prof. Russell Harrison. Dynamic presentations ranged from how graphic design principles, famous Hokusai wave painting, can make major haemorrhage protocols more engaging and effective, to creating resilient healthcare systems that help us deliver the best care to our community. Panel discussions sparked thought-provoking insights, and new connections were formed, laying the foundation for future collaborations and innovations. 🙏 A big thank you to our partners at the Victorian Simulation Alliance (VSA), keynote speakers Dr Benjamin Symon, Dr Chiara Santomauro, Professor Janet Anderson, our Master of Ceremonies Dr Nancy Sadka, and all the teams who shared their incredible projects! 👏 Looking forward to sharing more highlights from the day soon.

Western Health helped welcome 695 beautiful babies into the world in August – our biggest month of births ever! Thank you Herald Sun , David Caird and Robyn Riley for coming to meet our dedicated maternity team, along with six of our newest community members. And thanks to the very generous parents who allowed their beautiful babies to be photographed. The maternity staff at Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital are very proud to care for local families during such an important time in their lives.

Congratulations and best of luck to all the finalists in this year's Women+ for Western Health $50k grant.

This year’s Women’s Health Week celebrates the power of women’s choice and voice. It will lift the lid on shame and raise the voice of women who feel unheard. By providing free, practical health information and advice, Women’s Health Week gives women with the tips, tools and confidence to talk to their doctors, workplaces and families about their health concerns. The daily topics are: ▪️ Know your body ▪️ Courageous conversations ▪️ Shame and stigma ▪️ Point of difference ▪️ Trust your gut Some health decisions can be hard; Women’s Health Week is a trusted guide, showing women their options so they can make the choice that’s right for them. For a full list of wonderful resources, checklists, stories, podcasts and more, visit the Jean Hailes for Women's Health website to help you make the choice that’s right for you. #JeanHailes #WomensHealthWeek

Important and inclusive work happening in our consumer partnership space. Great work team!

Congratulations to our CEO Prof. Russell Harrison who has been recognised as a finalist at the Workplace Health and Safety Awards held in Sydney last night. The awards were hosted by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety and celebrates national excellence and innovation in workplace health and safety (WHS). Under Russell’s leadership, Western Health has significantly reduced WHS incidents by 44% and become a leader in implementing safety practices that are recognised as a model for the healthcare sector. His focus on employee wellbeing, gender equity, and work life balance has led to the creation of innovative programs like the Employee Positive Workplace Issue Resolution (EMPOWIR) and advanced Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) protocols. Russell's initiatives extend beyond Western Health, influencing WHS practices at national and international levels through collaborations with health authorities and his active participation in industry forums. Congratulations to the winner of the Australian WHS Champion (CEO) of the Year (more than 1,000 employees) Award, Ross Taylor of the Fletcher Building Group, and fellow award finalist Jason McGarry of the Eureka Group. Image below: Western Health CEO Prof. Russell Harrison pictured with Elisa Ilarda, Western Health Operations Manager, Occupational Violence and Aggression at our 2023 OVA Conference.

👋 Introducing Dr Nancy Sadka! As an Emergency Physician and our Simulation Program Director, Dr Sadka is passionate about using translational simulation to transform healthcare systems. If you want to find out how you can use this powerful tool, don’t miss your chance to attend the Victorian Translational SIMPosium on September 6 at Sunshine Hospital. Limited spots available. Register today: https://bit.ly/3L3ayeU You will: 👉 Hear from keynote speakers from Mater Education, Griffith University and Monash University 👉 Engage in in peer presentations 👉 Hear interactive panel discussions 👉 Network with leaders in the field. 😄 We are proud to deliver the event in partnership with the Victorian Simulation Alliance. Thank you to our sponsors: Laerdal Medical, Mediquip Pty Ltd, Simovation and Chivaune Technologies.

⏲️ Countdown to the Victorian Translational SIMposium! Don’t miss your chance to attend the special one-day event on September 6 at Sunshine Hospital, brought to you by Western Health and the Victorian Simulation Alliance. Join us for a deep dive into how translational simulation is transforming healthcare. Hear from experts from Mater Education, Griffith University and Monash University on topics like using graphic design to improve healthcare algorithms, human factors and safety science and creating adaptive systems of care. Plus, engage in peer presentations and interactive panel discussions and network with leaders in the field. Secure your spot and be a catalyst for change in healthcare! 👉 Register today: https://bit.ly/3L3ayeU Nancy Sadka, Benjamin Symon, Chiara Santomauro, Janet Anderson