In an exciting step forward for research and innovation within the District, the Liverpool Hospital Liver Cancer and SWSLHD Diabetes Services have been awarded the highly coveted title of SWSLHD Academic Unit.Stroke and Health Services Research has been granted an enhancement to reach the standard of an Academic Unit.

This announcement marks the second round of SWSLHD Academic Units granted, with the District investing even more into the initiative in 2016. The new Units will receive $2.25 million ($750,000 per year for three years), and the Stroke Unit will receive an enhancement grant of $1.05 million ($350,000 per year for three years). SWSLHD Chief Executive Amanda Larkin congratulated all of the teams that submitted applications.“These Units place our District in a stronger-than-ever position to invest in the future health of our community and beyond. “The successful units have been selected on their ability to address our District’s most important health issues, and inspire and invigorate a workforce that delivers ground-breaking outcomes. “The status of an Academic Unit will greatly help our expert teams run clinical trials, initiate research, employ staff, deliver cutting edge care and ultimately revolutionise health outcomes. “Congratulations to these teams,” Ms Larkin said.

Prestigious second round selected

March2016

SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT

To submit a story contact the Media Unit on 8738 6848 or swsmedia@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

Congratulations to the SWSLHD Diabetes service, headed up by Professor David Simmons, which has been established as a SWSLHD Academic Unit.

Head of Liver Cancer at Liverpool Hospital A/Prof Miriam Levy and head of Stroke and Health Services Research at Liverpool Hospital A/Prof John Worthington.

Welcome aboard to this year’s cohort of Graduate Health Management Trainees. Our new trainees have been put straight to work, taking up placements at Fairfield and Campbelltown Hospitals. Kendra Luong and Chelsea Nichols have taken up roles at Fairfield Hospital and Molly Sinclair has begun work at Campbelltown Hospital.The Graduate Health Management Program aims to produce innovative and successful health managers by offering a complete package of training, education and career development. As part of the two-year program, each trainee undertakes a number of placements in different areas across the District. For more information visit www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/jobs/Graduate/ or email grad.mgmt@sswahs.nsw.gov.auI am very pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Valerie Jovanovic

to the position of General Manager for Bowral and District Hospital.Ms Jovanovic has spent 22 years in SWSLHD and brings a wealth of experience to this role including Acting General Manager for Bowral and Acting Director Corporate Services at Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals.Please join me in welcoming Ms Jovanovic to this role and I look forward to the future development of Bowral and District Hospital.HealthShare NSW is inviting us to provide feedback about the services we receive from them in their 2016 Customer Value Survey. The survey will be open until 11 March 2016 and everyone is encouraged to complete it here healthshare.nsw.gov.au/survey

My congratulations also go to Secretary of Health Dr Mary Foley on her appointment as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day 2016 Honours List. Dr Foley will be missed when she retires from her position as Secretary in April.

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March 2016

Message from the Chief Executive

Amanda Larkin , Chief Executive

Record rates Well done to our Organ and Tissue Donation team, who made some great progress last year, greatly improving donation rates since 2014. Some of our major achievements include an increase in both consent rates and notification rates at all facilities across the District. Liverpool Hospital achieved an outstanding 100 percent notification rate, while Bankstown increased their notification rate by 20 percent, reaching a near perfect 98 percent notification rate. In total, 12 donors came from SWSLHD, up from 7 last year. Well done to our Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units, Operating Theatres and our Organ and Tissue Donation team members.

Katie Grooby, Myra Sgorbini and Antonietta Natoli from the SWSLHD Organ and Tissue Donation Service chatted with students about organ and tissue donation during Western Sydney University O Week.

New Graduate Health Management Trainees Kendra Luong, Molly Sinclair and Chelsea Nichols with CE Amanda Larkin (second from right).

Congratulations to Annie Walsh, who was nominated for the NSW Women of the Year Awards. Annie is a senior podiatrist at Liverpool Hospital and a researcher with the Liverpool Diabetes Collaborative Research Unit at the Ingham Institute, where she is leading new research on the effectiveness of wound technologies for diabetic foot disease.

Annie hopes to create better pathways to tackle the severe symptoms experienced by diabetes patients in NSW, specifically in south western Sydney.

Finalists were chosen from a highly competitive field with hundreds of women nominated. Annie is in the running for the Harvey Norman Young Woman of the Year Award, for women between 18 and 30 who have shown drive, determination and motivation in their chosen field. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House on 9 March 2016. For more visit www.women.nsw.gov.au.

March 2016

Healthy offer of help

Budding artists and patients are invited to help transform masks used during cancer treatment into works of art.When people undergo treatment for head and neck cancer, a close fitting mask is moulded over their face and neck and secured to a table so they remain perfectly still during the radiation treatment. Most patients do not enjoy the experience and want to throw the mask away when the treatment is finished. In 2009 Cookie Kerxton, an American cancer patient, turned her mask into a work of art and ‘Courage Unmasked’ was born. The project showcased the work of 56 artists, with the masks subsequently auctioned as a fundraiser.A similar project is being established in SWSLHD, to transform hardship and painful experiences into hope and healing. An art workshop was held at Campbelltown, with another to be held at Liverpool on 18 March. For more information call 8738 9816.

Unmasking the courage within

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Fingers crossed for Annie

Giving more than their timeAside from the practical and emotional support our Palliative Care Volunteers provide to patients and their loved ones, they also run fundraisers throughout the year. Through their hard work, funds have been raised for the District to buy five hospital beds and two pressure care mattresses. This specialised equipment is particularly important for palliative clients, to enable their choice to die at home and ensure the provision of high quality palliative care services.We would like to sincerely thank our Palliative Care Volunteers for the contribution of $16,860 towards this worthy cause.

Fairfield Hospital and members of a local Vietnamese group have joined forces to strengthen ties within the community while supporting the Hospital.After an Open Day at the Hospital last year, the Vietnamese community wanted to find a way to show their support. An organising committee was formed and a fundraiser has been planned for 11 March at Crystal Palace Restaurant. The night includes authentic Vietnamese food and entertainment. For details or tickets call Robyn El-Khair on 9616 8830 or Dr Xuyen Tran on 9724 5580.

Fairfield Hospital GM Arnold Tammekand, Fairfield GP Dr Xuyen Thi Tran, Multicultural Health Worker Hien Le and ED Co-Director Dr Harry Doan. Our wonderful team of Palliative Care volunteers.

NSW Woman of the Year nominee Annie Walsh.

Artist Lucja Ray will help run the workshop.

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March 2016Q

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Printed on 100% recycled paper

Baby Brandon helps population boom

Meet Brandon, the maybe-24th-million baby. As the country’s population ticked over to 24 Million just after midnight on 16 February, Fairfield Hospital patient Peina Milosia welcomed baby Brandon into the world. While it’s unknown if Brandon was officially the 24th million Australian, his birth was celebrated by Fairfield Hospital staff, and the state’s media outlets. Whether or not he holds the momentous title, one thing is for sure - he will always be one in 24 million in his mum’s eyes.

Valentines surpriseLove was in the air at Liverpool Hospital’s maternity ward on Valentines Day, where Cassie and Rajiv Pothen (who met while working at Liverpool Hospital) celebrated the birth of their third baby Harry, born a few days prior. Channel 9 were there to capture their romantic date on the ward!

New providerThe District has reviewed the current salary packaging arrangements and has selected Maxxia as the new salary packaging service provider. To provide staff with all the information needed, Maxxia will be visiting work sites regularly over the coming months. Maxxia has a range of modern capabilities including an online portal and a smartphone app. The District would like to thank the SWSLHD Salary Packaging team who have done a fantastic job looking after our staff for many years.

SWSLHD transition to NDISFrom 1 July SWSLHD will transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the Commonwealth Government’s program to support people up to 64 years who have a disability that will have life- long impact. SWSLHD is working closely with the Ministry of Health, Department of Family and Community Services and other key organisations to ensure we are ready.Information will be included in a monthly SWSLHD NDIS newsletter, or can be found here: www.ndis.gov.au. Inquiries can also be emailed to the District project email address: SWSLHD.NDISProject@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.

Karitane is celebrating the beginning of a beautiful partnership - a five year Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Academic Partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW).The collaboration welcomes Dr Jane Kohlhoff as Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychiatry, UNSW.This exciting partnership further strengthens Karitane’s research profile, and the new role enables Dr Kohlhoff to enhance her knowledge and skills through collaboration with other academics within a university environment.

Karitane’s new collaboration

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Dr Jane Kohlhoff