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MCH
news
Hospital
Staff newsletter
February 2014
Celebrate Life Ball to support Monash
Children’s Hospital.
Nicole Kidman will be the guest of honour at the Celebrate Life Ball to support
the new Monash Children’s Hospital.
Set to be one of the biggest fundraising events
in Australia, the Celebrate Life Ball will be held
on Friday 13 June 2014 at the Grand Hyatt
in Melbourne. The glamorous ball will have a
masquerade theme.
Proceeds from the night will support the new
Monash Children’s Hospital.
The Ball is the first major event for the Celebrate
Life Foundation, which supports charity programs
that inspire wellness throughout the community.
Nicole said that as a mother herself, she didn’t think
twice about supporting the event.
“I am pleased to be able to lend my support to the
wonderful work of the children’s hospitals and in
particular to the inaugural Celebrate Life Ball,” she
said.
“As a mum, and as any parent would agree, there is
nothing more important in life than the good health
and happiness of your children.”
Corporate Australia has jumped on board to support
the event including Swisse, Qantas, the Nine
Network, Laurent Perrier, Audi Centre Melbourne
and Zagame Automotive, Wolf Blass and Grand
Hyatt Melbourne.
Guests will enjoy an evening of stunning food,
French champagne, premium wines and world-class
entertainment.
There will be a live fundraising auction on the night.
Prizes include the luxury 2014 Audi A1 Attraction
Sportback S-tronic valued at A$40,000, a dinner
Guest of honour Nicole Kidman
party for ten people hosted and cooked by George
Calombaris, a tennis lesson from Lleyton Hewitt, a
cricket lesson for ten people from Ricky Ponting,
along with a signed bat and 10 tickets to the Boxing
Day test, a lap in a Formula One car, and a trip to
Hollywood from Qantas. Keith Urban is tipped to be
performing on the night.
For more information or to buy tickets:
www.celebratelifeball.com.au.
MCHnews February 2014
From the Medical Director
We were very excited in
February 2014 to announce
the Celebrate Life Ball will be
held in June 2014 and will be
our biggest fundraising event
to date for Monash Children’s
Hospital (MCH). For more
information please visit the link
mentioned on page 1. If you
have any questions, please
contact the Monash Health Foundation on 9594
2700.
20 February 2014. I cant thank our supporters
enough for their on-going support for the cancer
centre, please see page 5 for the full story.
Our favorite Stormtrooper, Scott Loxley, who is
currently walking around Australia to raise funds
and awareness for MCH, has just recently finished
crossing the famous Nullarbor Plain and walked
from South Australia to Western Australia. Scott’s
project to walk around the country is by no means
an easy one. He is set to walk over 15,000km and
is away from his family back in Greensborugh for
up to 18 months. He has endured 45 degree heat
waves, bush fires, constant trolley breakdowns and
some really tough walking conditions since he first
set-off in November 2013. Scott’s dedication to
supporting our services is truly unbelievable and I
really encourage all staff to jump onto his Facebook
page, leave a comment or message for him, follow
his progress, share Scott’s FB page with friends
and family or make a small donation to his Everyday
Hero page. Please see full details on page 6.
Speaking of fundraisers, on Sunday 2 March
2014 we will be holding the second Friends of the
Children Foundation - Walk for MCH, in Jells Park.
This year is set to be a tremendous success with
already over 300 participants confirmed, many of
whom are longtime supporters and staff of MCH.
I cant stress enough how important community
fundraisers like this are for raising awareness and
generating support for our services and I hope to
see many of you there on Sunday. If sadly you
are unable to make it, please sponsor a fellow
colleague you know is going. Details on page 3.
We have a couple inspiring stories in this issue
including a staff profile focus on one of our longtime
NUMs here at Clayton (page 10), and a touching
story illustrating how we can overcome traditional
barries to understanding and helping people from
different cultural backgrounds (page 11).
We had a very interesting Grand Round on
Thursday 20 February 2014, that covered
many important topics within MCH including:
new committees, MCH Strategic Plan, medical
hierarchy, communication developments, enhancing
and innovating care, surgical services update,
performance metrics, fundraising by the Monash
Health Foundation and new hospital project
updates. The session was recorded on video in two
parts and is available for all staff to view anytime via
the MCH Intranet page, including the presentation
slides: http://intranet.southernhealth.org.au/
programs/default.htm.
If you have a story to share for the March 2014
issue please email philip.blackman@monashhealth.
org.
Have a great month.
Professor Nick Freezer
Medical Director
Monash Children’s Hospital
I would like to thank all the staff who participated in
manning our first MCH stall at the recent Clayton
Festival on Sunday 23 February 2014. It was a
great success and next year we plan to gather a
team to actually march in the parade, see photos on
page 4.
Inside this edition
Congratulations to Casey Hospital’s SCN for
recently starting a new Music Therapy program
which will no doubt be a great benefit for children on
the ward. Please see page 4 for more details.
It was a truly moving experience to hear the stories
shared by patients, families and staff at the recent
launch of the MCH Children’s Cancer Centre on
2
•
Spreading the word, p4
•
Music to their ears, p4
•
Children’s Cancer Centre expansion, p5
•
Storming Australia, p6
•
DonateLife Week 2014, p9
•
Staff profile, p10
MCHnews February 2014
Friends of the Children Foundation
Walk for Monash Children’s Hospital
8.30am Sunday 2 March 2014
5, 10, 15km walk/run
Jells Park, entry off Ferntree Gully Road
Registration: Adults $20, Children 6-16 years $10, 5 and
under FREE, Family ticket $50.
To register for this event please visit
monashhealthfoundation.com.au/event/walkformonashchildrens2014
Tel 9594 2700 for more information
www.friendsofthechildren.org.au
www.monashchildrens.org.au
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MCHnews February 2014
Spreading the word
Music to their ears
Monash Children’s Hospital would like to thank all
staff that took part in managing the MCH stall at the
Clayton Festival on Sunday 23 February 2014.
Casey Hospital’s Special Care
Nursery (SCN) embarks on a new
journey with Music Therapy.
The nice weather made promoting the new hospital
project fun and easy to the local community.
The Music Therapy Department at Monash
Children’s Hospital has recently expanded
to include services at Casey Hospital, in the
Special Care Nursery. Registered Music
Therapist (RMT) Liz McLean, will be joining
the Allied Health team in providing music
therapy services to infants and families for four
hours every second Tuesday.
Many questions were asked and new hospital
newsletters handed out. The overall reception from
community members was very positive.
The program will be providing support and
education to families and staff surrounding the
role of music, singing and use of the voice to
engage, settle and interact with hospitalised
infants, while also supporting infant’s overall
development and well-being through music.
“This is a very exciting development for the
Music Therapy Team at Monash Health, as
it is the first funded music therapy position at
Casey Hospital”, said Liz McLean (RMT).
iNews
The next issue will be published on
Wednesday 5 March 2014. Deadline for
submissions is 8am Monday 3 March. Visit
the intranet page for submission details and
past issues.
Inside - iNotice
Please see the back pages of each inews
issue for the latest
organisation notices including New This
Week, Up Coming and Ongoing notices.
Visit the intranet page for submission
details
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MCHnews February 2014
Children’s Cancer Centre expansion
Aileen Boyd-Squires, Chief Executive Officer at
the Children’s Cancer Centre Foundation, Patrick
Tessier organiser of charity golf day Bailey’s Day,
Mandy Mandie, Programme Director of Koala
Kids, and members of the Bayside Blue Healers,
all joined in the celebrations.
The highly anticipated Monash
Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre
expansion was opened on Thursday
20 February 2014 after a $500,000
redevelopment that has added
capacity, space, new facilities and
comfort for young cancer patients.
The expansion was largely made possible thanks
to the generosity of a very special woman who
was determined to help sick children. Sadly
passed away last year. Staff were moved
meeting members of her family, to see the
difference she made and to have the opportunity
to say thank you.
The new space will enable more treatment
appointments in a positive and engaging
environment. The redevelopment was largely
funded through philanthropic donations from the
community.
“It is a tremendous new space for treatment,” said
Dr Peter Downie, Head of Monash Children’s
Cancer Centre.
Ms Shelly Park, Chief Executive of Monash
Health said that “by expanding our centre, we are
not only providing patients with more comfort, but
we will also be able to reduce waiting times and
enable more children to receive treatment close to
their home – which is tremendously important.”
The opening was an opportunity to invite longtime supporters of the Monash Children’s Hospital
Cancer Centre and thank them for their incredible
ongoing support and celebrate this wonderful and
much needed new space with them all.
Professor Nick Freezer (centre) celebrates the opening with
Monash Children’s Hospital Cancer Centre supporters –
(L-R) Linda Robbins, Albert Middleton, Mandy Mandie and
Inspector Nigel McGuire White.
(L-R) Dr Peter
Downie, Head
of Monash
Children’s
Cancer
Centre with
Patrick
Tessier,
Organiser of
Bailey’s Day
and longtime Monash
Children’s
Cancer
Centre
supporter.
Seven year old Charlie Garcia, a Monash Children’s Hospital
Cancer Centre patient, officially opens the new expansion
with Shelly Park, Monash Health Chief Executive and Dr
Peter Downie, Head of Monash Children’s Cancer Centre.
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MCHnews January 2014
Storming Australia
The great Nullarbor Plain
Scott Loxley, MCH’s favuorite friendly Stormtrooper,
has conquered the famous Nullarbor Plain and the
90mile straight road, Australia’s longest straight
road, of the Eyre Highway. He has crossed from
South Australia into Western Australia and is
currently not far outside of Kalgoorie WA, and about
one month’s walk from the Perth CBD.
Scotty has made some impressive friends and fans
along the way including couple Colin Schriever and
Judy Williams, SES volunteers from South Australia
who volunteered their time to support Scott as he
walked the Nullarbor and followed closely behind
and ahead in their camper van.
Scotty is trying hard to make his $100,000 target for
MCH and hopes to reach it by the time he returns
to Melbourne in March 2015. Scotty could greatly
do with your help and support and would appreciate
even a small donation made online at:
https://give.everydayhero.com/au/scott_MCH.
To follow Scott’s progress and view his daily video
logs, visit the Storming Australia Facebook page
here: https://www.facebook.com/StormingAustralia.
For more information please call 47787.
(Left-top) Scotty at the start of the Nullarbor Plain, (Left-bottom)
Scotty describing how much he loves MCH as he walks the
famous 90mile straight road, (Right-top) Scotty and Judy
stop to make some much needed repairs to the kart, (Rightmiddle) Scott meets fellow traveller Imran Mughal from Indian
in Balledonia, who is currently riding across the world to raise
money for charity, (Right-bottom) Scotty, Judy and Colin stop
after a long day and fire up the BBQ for dinner, somewhere in
Western Australia.
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MCHnews February 2014
Kids Fun Sunday Appeal to
support Monash Children’s
Hospital
Save the date - NAMAS
dinner
There will be great fun to be had for
kids and adults alike at the upcoming
‘Kids Fun Sunday Appeal’, a special
event raising funds and awareness for
the new Monash Children’s Hospital.
The 2014
Nursing and
Midwifery
Awards and
Scholarship
Dinner will
be held on
Friday 9 May
2014.
You are invited to come along for a day of fun
activities including live bands, barefoot bowls,
jumping castle, face painting, fairy floss, slurpees,
popcorn, sausage sizzle, raffles and much more!
There will also be prizes awarded for children who
dress up for the day in their favourite costume.
This year’s theme will be ‘swinging 60s’.
Award nominations and scholarship applications
are now open. Please visit the 2014 NAMAS
intranet page for further information. Table
reservations are now available and tickets will
be on sale from Monday 3 March 2014.
If you can’t make it on the day but would like to help
out, you can donate on the event page at
https://newmonashchildrenshospital.everydayhero.
com/au/fun-sunday-appeal-1.
Please contact Katie Durdin
[email protected] for further
information about the event.
The event is being generously organised by Priscille
Rouillon, along with other staff from the Southern
Clinical School, in her own time, to support this
important cause.
Details: Kids Fun Sunday Appeal
11-5pm, Sunday 16 March 2014
Caulfield Bowls Club, Caulfield Park, Caulfield
For more information contact event organiser
Priscille Rouillon [email protected].
Join us!
Support Monash Children’s Hospital by becoming
a member of our online community today, LIKE our
Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for the latest
news, developments, media stories, events info and
more.
Visit our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/monashchildrens
In the News
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/monashchildrens
For all the latest Monash Children’s
Hospital positive media coverage, visit our
website In the News page at: http://www.
monashchildrens.org.au/page/Media/News/.
MCHnews available online!
If you have a positive story to tell, contact the
Monash Health Media Unit on 9594 2935.
MCHnews is available to view and download from
the Monash Children’s Hospital website: www.
monashchildrens.org.au, via the Quick Links
menu on the Home page.
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MCHnews Hospital
8
February 2014
MCHnews February 2014
Donate Life Week 2014
DonateLife Week is Australia’s national
awareness week to promote organ and
tissue donation.
It is led by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of
the national DonateLife campaign and supported by
community events and activities across Australia.
From 23 February to 2 March 2014, all Australians
are being urged to discover the facts about organ
and tissue donation and to register their donation
decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
Most importantly, we are asking everyone to have
the chat with their loved ones about organ and
tissue donation and to know each other’s decision.
people die in hospital in the specific circumstances
where organ donation is possible, although many
more people can become eye and tissue donors.
To optimise every opportunity for potential donation,
have the chat that saves lives this DonateLife Week.
Monash Health employs specialist donation staff
to help facilitate organ and tissue donation within
the hospital, and to provide ongoing education
to hospital staff to increase understanding of the
topic. The DonateLife team at Monash Health will
also dedicate their time to raising awareness about
organ and tissue donation in the local community,
participating in multicultural festivals and speaking
to community groups.
So please
• Discover the facts about organ and tissue
donation
• Decide and register your organ and tissue
donation decision on the Australian Organ Donor
Register
• Discuss your donation decision with close
friends and family, it’s the chat that saves lives!
“With one organ and tissue donor able to transform
the lives of 10 or more people, it’s a conversation
that could one day save lives.” said Nicola Stitt,
Nurse Donation Specialist at Monash Health.
For more information on how you can participate
and help raise awareness for organ and tissue
donation during DonateLife week, please visit
www.donatelife.gov.au
People from all walks of life depend on organ and
tissue donations regardless of age, race, ethnicity,
religion or language. Less than one per cent of
Medical
Videography
For medical videography, inhouse recordings, and DVD
production and duplication
contact Julia Payne at Audio Visual Resources,
Health Technology Services on extension 16455 or
email [email protected].
The latest edition of HR Advisor contains
information about career vacancies,
professional development courses and other
essential employment information.
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MCHnews February 2014
Staff profile
Gina Ruwoldt, Nurse Unit Manager
Ward 42 North, Paediatrics and Renal
Monash Children’s Hospital
When and where did you start in paediatrics?
I decided to specialise in paediatrics back in the
1980s and studied at The Royal Hospital for Sick
Children in Edinburgh, Scotland.
What first inspired or influenced you to get into
paediatrics?
I was lucky enough to be given my first job as a
registered nurse on a children’s ward and loved it
enough to specialise.
Did you have any particular mentors or people of
inspiration that influenced your career?
Not really. But along the way I have met some
wonderful people and many remarkable nurses.
What is the most positive aspect about working
at Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH)?
The camaraderie, support and the many valued
friendships that I have made. Because of the
support that I have received from Monash Health,
I have been able to continue studying and have
gained a Masters in Nursing from Monash
University.
Are you currently involved in any new or
exciting projects?
I am currently involved in the new children’s hospital
project which is very exciting and which will no doubt
be a state of the art facility which we can all be
proud of. I am also clinical lead of the planning team
looking at schematic design for the multi-day beds,
including inpatient units, the acute paediatric care
unit and the short stay unit. I am also involved with
the MCH Enhancing and Innovating Care working
group, which is looking at the future delivery of care
at each site for paediatrics.
What new initiatives do you think could improve
the way we work at MCH?
I do have a keen interest in climate change and
health and I think we need to have a bigger focus
on this topic and more information sharing and
education for hospital staff and our community.
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Gina Ruwoldt (Right), Nurse Unit Manager, Ward 42 North,
MCH.
Staff Profiles
Do you have a work colleague with
an interesting story to tell?
Email us your nomination for
a staff profile article at philip.
[email protected], or
call ext 47787.
MCHnews January 2014
Word from the wards
Cultural Connections
From Sarah Ong, Padiatric Aboriginal Health Nursing
Coordinator/ Nursing Cadetship Program:
“On 7 February 2014, Monash Health welcomed
another Aboriginal baby into the world. Smiles filled
the operating theatre as Temara and Preston’s
second baby girl was born. Due to a positive past
birth experience at the Monash Medical Centre, the
couple engaged with the Aboriginal Paediatric Team
and Monash midwives very early in their pregnancy.
This enabled Temara to receive comprehensive
antenatal care and for trust to build - an essential
element in an Aboriginal relationship.
Preston Thomas (Father), Temara Blackwood (Mother), Sarah
Ong (Back)and Pamela McCalman (Front).
In Aboriginal culture, child birth is ‘women’s
business’ and this was acknowledged in the
preparation of a culturally safe operating theatre.
An enormous thank you is expressed by the couple
to the midwives and Helene Cripps, Aboriginal
Paediatric Nurse Coordinator, who facilitated
this environment. This occasion was also more
culturally significant as Pamela McCalman, Monash
Health’s Aboriginal Midwifery Cadet, was able to
support Temara and Preston through the delivery
and hand their baby to them for the first cuddle.”
Preston, a proud and happy father.
Aboriginal Midwifery Cadet, Pamela McCalman, providing
encouraging words to Temara pre delivery.
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MCHnews February 2014
Improving patient care through online learning
A centralised online learning hub will
enable staff to easily manage and monitor
their professional development and
workplace training.
Monash Health Learning goes live on the intranet
this month providing staff with 24-hour access to
enrol in training courses and view their record of
completed training.
Initially, the Learning Management System will
provide access to mandatory training programs
including Fire Safety and iBelong, along with
programs relating to Leadership, Workplace
Health and Safety and National Standards.
Additional clinical, professional development and
workplace health and safety training programs will
be added over the next 12 months as part of a
progressive rollout.
staff can generate Continuing Professional
Development evidence.
“It will also automatically alert staff when they are
due to undertake their mandatory annual training
programs such as Fire Safety and iBelong training.
Director, Talent Management, Michael Holman
said Monash Health Learning will provide all staff
with a one-stop portal where they can view, book,
complete and report on their training.
“The learning management system allows us
to expand our learning to be more interactive,
while also reviewing and streamlining our
interprofessional training.
“From an employee point of view it will provide
them with control of their training and reduce
confusion.
“Monash Health Learning is about improving
patient care through learning.”
“The system features an online course catalogue,
booking calendar, and a reporting function where
Monash Health Learning will go live this
month and will be accessible at http://learning.
monashhealth.org or via the desktop icon.
Walk or run for Cystic Fibrosis
The Physiotherapy Department at Monash Medical Centre are participating in the
65km for Cystic Fibrosis Walk or Run.
We would like to extend the invitation to Monash Health staff. The course is 10.8km around inner
city gardens and you can commit to as many laps as you would like. You also have the option to
walk or run together as a group.
The cost is $50 and all profits go towards the Cystic Fibrosis foundation. You can sign up here
https://65km-cysticfibrosis.everydayhero.com/au/sign-up
Once you register yourself you can click 'join a team' and search for 'Monash Physiotherapy'.
Otherwise you are welcome to donate.
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MCHnews February 2014
Amalgamation of Monash Institute of Medical Research with
Prince Henry’s Institute
The Monash Institute of Medical Research
(MIMR) and Prince Henry’s Institute (PHI)
officially joined to form a new institute on 1
January 2014.
MIMR, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer
of the institute, and all academic staff are being
appointed adjunct staff of Monash University.
Monash University will remain the administering
organisation for all grants.
The interim name for the institute will be MIMR-PHI
Institute of Medical Research. While the institute is
yet to receive a formal name, the merging of MIMR
and PHI will create Victoria's fifth largest medical
institute and one of the top 20 nationally.
The MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research will
lead the way in innovation and translational medical
research.
With 75 years combined research experience, more
than 300 of Victoria's brightest scientific minds,
access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology
platforms and strong clinical linkages, the institute
will have a stronger position in the industry and
greater influence to make a lasting difference to the
health of generations to come.
The MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research is one
of the partners of the Monash Health Translation
Precinct (MHTP), together with Monash Health and
Monash University.
Construction works have begun on the MHTP
Translational Research Facility which will develop
the precinct's capacity for translation of clinical
research into advances in healthcare.
A great deal of work is underway to ensure a
smooth and seamless transition.
Professor Bryan Williams, who was Director of
Booking system for Public
Affairs equipment
National standards patient
information
Public Affairs and Communication is introducing a
new equipment booking system to book banners,
cameras, audio equipment, and display boards.
While many staff at Monash Health may know a
bit about the National Quality and Safety Health
Service Standards, it‘s probably fair to say the
majority of our patients don’t.
All requests will need to be made via a request
form and emailed to the above address. The
Communications team will receive and process your
request. They will then confirm your booking with
you.
Which is why Monash Innovation and Quality
is excited to share that after working and
consulting with several Monash Health
departments and consumers, they have
developed a series of messages to help set
patient expectations about:
• the standard of care they can expect to
receive from us at Monash Health
• how we can work together to not only
ensure their safety, but provide the care and
treatment that best meets their needs.
While Public Affairs and Communication
understands that some equipment may be needed
at short notice, all bookings should be made via the
above process.
All requests for equipment should be sent at least
48 hours before the required date to
[email protected]
Keep an eye out for these messages on posters,
corporate televisions (at Monash Medical Centre
and Dandenong Hospital only) and in other
common communications over coming months.
For more information, contact Grace Lewis on
9594 6199.
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MCHnews 4th Monash
Cardiovascular
Symposium 2014
February 2014
MCHnews:
The next edition of the staff newsletter will be
published at the end of March 2014, deadline for
submissions is noon on Wednesday 19 March.
(Fetal, Neonatal and Paediatric)
Please send items and submissions to philip.
[email protected]
6-7 October 2014
Past issues are available on the intranet: http://
intranet.southernhealth.org.au/programs/
newsletters.html.
Monash Medical Centre
Download the application/program
from: http://www.monashchildrens.org.
For more information on submissions and dates of
publication please ext 47787.
au/icms_docs/14064_4th_Cardiovascular_
Symposium_2014.pdf
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