Allied Health Newsletter – April 2024

Join us on Thursday 2nd May at Fraser Rise Community and Children’s Centre from 9:30am – 4:00pm, showcasing current work and discuss opportunities for continued and future collaboration, as we progress in the collective impact journey to further enhance health and wellbeing in Melton.

For more details, please download flyer here.

If you would like to present at the forum on a preventative health program, please download and fill in form (Breakout room speakers EOI) and send to healthpromotion@wh.org.au.

Please feel free to sign up or pass on to others who may be interested in these free WH Office for Research sessions.

2024 Research Training Workshop Dates

Please contact Dr Kai Yan Mak 03 8395 8070; research@wh.org.au regarding queries and requests for any workshops you require from the Office for Research.

Welcome to ACU’s School of Allied Health speed sessions for 2024. You can see upcoming speed sessions for the rest of the year by visiting their website.

The March speed sessions are featured below:

Topic: The art and science of motivating students on placement

Presenter: Associate Professor John Mahoney, Academic Lead for ACU Thrive and The Higher Education Learning and Teaching Academic, Centre for Education and Innovation, ACU

John Mahoney is an associate professor and the academic lead for ACU Thrive (ACU’s first-year student experience) and HELTA (the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Academy). He’s interested in answering two questions: How do people make decisions and what are the impact of the decisions people make? He is principally interested in how these questions and their answers are relevant to higher education settings. He has dedicated most of his career to exploring best practice in higher education, building capacity in higher education, and evaluating impact in higher education. His career aim is to knock the world of higher education off its axis so that it turns differently.

You can access the recording here.

Topic: Do allied health students benefit from interprofessional education on placement?

Presenter: Ms Danielle Czapnik, Lecturer in Speech Pathology, ACU & PhD Candidate, University of Queensland

Danielle Czapnik is a speech pathologist with over 25 years of experience working as a clinician, professional educator and lecturer in the area of acquired communication and swallowing disorders. Danielle has worked in various health settings around the U.K. and Australia and enjoys providing mentoring and supervision of speech pathologists based in hospital and community settings. Danielle is currently undertaking a higher research degree at the University of Queensland in simulation and interprofessional practice activities.

You can access the recording here.

Topic: Supporting oral language and early literacy during shared book reading

Presenter: Dr Tessa Weadman, Speech Pathologist & Lecturer in the School of Education, La Trobe University

Dr Tessa Weadman works as a lecturer and researcher in the School of Education at La Trobe University. She is a member of La Trobe University’s SOLAR Lab (Science of Language and Reading) and works as a paediatric speech pathologist. Tessa’s research interests span across preschool and school-age language and literacy development.

You can access the recording here.

Recording for ‘The Role of AI in Enhancing Qualitative Research’ by Dani Hitch held on 26th March can be found here.

Congratulations to our A/Prof Dani Hitch from OT of Western Health and Deakin University was invited to write an article for InSight Plus, a magazine produced by the Medical Journal of Australia. To find out more please click the link to hear Dani’s insights in a few minute video:

Or check out the article here: Why we must keep using the term ‘long COVID’ | InSight+ (mja.com.au)

Thank you to everyone who attend this powerful education event yesterday. A very big thank you to Alex Potter and their panel of consumers and experts on delivering such a great session. It really made us think about our power and privilege, and what we can do to support inclusion in our health service for consumers and colleagues. If you can please complete the linked feedback survey it would be really appreciated to inform future session.

I wish to apologise and acknowledge the previous incorrect use of pronouns when sharing this recording. 

You can see the recording here along with all our other past event recordings and handouts on the intranet or go directly to the recording.

From 2 April 2024, only students who are allocated to areas identified as high risk of respiratory infection or have a significant cohort of immunocompromised patients, i.e. dialysis, will be fit tested. It is not a sustainable practice to fit test students going into areas where fit testing is not required. High risk areas include:

• Emergency Departments and Urgent Care units
• Intensive Care Units
• Dialysis Units
• Infectious Diseases Wards (including wards dedicated as COVID specific wards, when stood up)

Please note that current fit testing capacity is significantly limited and even in these areas, students may not be able to access a fit test appointment before or during their placement.

Instead of fit testing, all students should be educated to fit check. Fit checking is an effective protective method to ensure a correct seal for an N95 mask and should be practiced every time an N95 mask is worn. Further information on how to fit check can be found here. Student supervisors must demonstrate a fit check and ensure that their students can perform this correctly.

With the current Western Health COVID Sustainability Matrix settings sitting at green and reduced levels of infection within the community, masking is no longer required in clinical areas. Therefore, it is a student’s personal preference if they wish to wear a mask (of any type). If they choose to wear an N95 mask, please supply them with the 3M Aura 1870+, which is the most successfully fit tested mask.

As fit testing is no longer a requirement for placement, there will not be any limitations or restrictions if a student has not been fit tested. The only expectation is fit checking if and when wearing an N95 mask.

If you or your student have any queries or concerns regarding this change, please contact Covid.FitTest@wh.org.au.

Find instructions below on how to download the Microsoft Teams app on your desktop, or click on Resources to find a pdf file with photo instructions.

How to launch the Microsoft Teams App

1. If the Microsoft teams app does not automatically load when you sign into your computer, please search in the main menu ‘Microsoft Teams’.
2. Launch Microsoft Teams.

Note: If you do not have the Microsoft Teams APP please follow the steps on how to download the Microsoft Teams APP

How to download the Microsoft Teams APP

1. Click on link: Download Microsoft Teams Desktop and Mobile Apps | Microsoft Teams
2. Scroll down to the section Download Microsoft Teams for Windows desktop.
   Under Teams for work or school, select ‘Download for Windows (64-bit)’
3. From the downloads, open the file ‘MSTeams-x64’
4. Select install teams and tick Launch when ready
5. The Microsoft Teams APP will launch and is ready for use.

How to create a Teams meeting invite in outlook

1. Once the Teams APP has been downloaded restart outlook.
2. In the outlook calendar, right click ‘New Meeting Request’
3. You will have the option of inserting a zoom or teams meeting link into your invite.

If you encounter any issues with the installation of set up of Microsoft Teams please contact service desk on 8345 6777 or email servicedesk@wh.org.au.

We are inviting your participation to build understanding of the digital health capability of Western Health’s clinical workforce.

Digital Health (DH) is an umbrella term referring to a range of technologies that can be used to treat patients and collect and share a person’s health information. This includes but is not limited to:

• Mobile health, IT applications and electronic communications
• Electronic health records (including My Health Record)
• Telehealth
• Wearable devices (fitness trackers and monitors), robotics and artificial intelligence.

DH capability is the knowledge, skills and abilities required to safely and effectively practice in these environments. To understand the current digital health capability of WH AH we need to gather information from individual staff members. Self-assessments will be collected using an electronic survey that will take around 15 minutes to complete. This information will be used to identify opportunities to develop future capability and may be published/presented in research journals and conferences outside of Western Health.

Participation is voluntary, that means you can choose whether you complete the survey. It will not affect your employment at WH if you choose not to participate. Completing the survey will indicate that you are consenting to participate in the project.

If you do choose to complete the survey, you won’t be asked to provide any personal information, but you will be asked about your profession, grade and the location where you work. This information might make it possible for some people to identify you, especially if you are the only person employed at your grade level or if you work in a small team.

The project team will keep your individual responses anonymous by:

• Not sharing individual data with anyone outside the project team
• Presenting collated data using groups large enough to prevent individual capabilities from being shown

We hope you will participate in this important project. If you have any questions or need any more information, please contact any investigator on this project via email:

• Nikki Littlewood: nikki.littlewood@wh.org.au
• Jan Kilicaslan: jan.kilicaslan@wh.org.au
• Alison Qvist: alison.qvist@wh.org.au
• Chris Weiers: christopher.weiers@wh.org.au
• Lily Liu: lily.liu@wh.org.au

Thank you for considering the invitation to participate. If you would like to participate, please follow the link below.

The survey is open until Sunday 21st April. Link found here: REDCap Survey Link 

Regards,

Western Health Allied Health Digital Health Team

The NDIS QA project team are conducting a Quality Assurance (QA) project which aims to explore how staff perceptions at Western Health about the integration of the NDIS into practice have changed over time. There are few available studies of its implementation into services available and none have originated from acute physical health services. Evidence suggests the interactions between health services and NDIS are an important factor in the scheme’s success.

Allied health clinicians who have had experience working with NDIS issues or processes, as part of their practice at any time, are invited to contribute to the project via completion of the following survey. Participation is voluntary and you may decline if you wish. All data is being collected anonymously, and will be reported in aggregate to protect your privacy.  The survey is likely to take around 7-10 minutes to complete. The data from this survey will be compared to data collected in June 2019 and September 2019 to evaluate any changes over time.

To complete the survey, please click here: https://researchsurveys.deakin.edu.au/jfe/form/SV_552f1bxWIKrEGAC

The knowledge derived from the project will enable Western Health to meet the development and support needs of allied health staff around NDIS more effectively. The project will highlight areas the workforce would like to have more support around, as well as existing aspects of good practice which can be highlighted. The findings of this project will be incorporated into training and other development initiatives undertaken in Allied Health over the coming 12 months.

If you have any questions please contact the Principal Investigator Danielle Hitch via email dani.hitch@deakin.edu.au.

Congratulations to Alleyne Mulvenna for a remarkable 35 years at Western Health. We asked Alleyne for a few words and this is what she had to say:

My Journey as an Allied Health Assistant over 35 years at Western Health

As I write this, I can’t help but reminisce about the wild ride that has been my 35-year journey as an Allied Health Assistant at Western Health. It all started back in 1988 when I, at the ripe age of 28, stumbled upon an ad for a position that left me scratching my head. “Allied Health Assistant? What in the world is that?” I pondered. Little did I know, it was the beginning of a rollercoaster adventure that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I remember the nerves kicking in as I prepared for my interview at Sunshine Day Hospital (formerly known as Maribyrnong Medical Centre). Armed with advice from my sister to keep my answers concise, I promptly ignored it and rambled on like a champ. Classic move, right? But hey, somehow it worked.

Arriving at the hospital, I was greeted by two elderly gentlemen, John and Robert, who welcomed me with a colorful array of expletives. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?” they exclaimed. And being the witty soul that I am, I replied, “For an interview and to annoy you two.” Little did I know; those two curmudgeons would become friends and staunch supporters of mine.

To my utter shock, I landed the job despite my rambling interview performance. When I asked why, the answer was simple: I wasn’t afraid to chat with patients. And apparently, John and Robert threatened to stage a sit-in if I didn’t get hired. Talk about pressure!

From day one, it was clear there was no set job description for an Allied Health Assistant. So, we did what any group of adventurous people would do – we made it up as we went along. Talk about innovation!

Over the years, I’ve witnessed more name changes than a pop star going through a midlife crisis – from Maribyrnong Medical Centre to Northwest Network to the Western Health we know today. And let me tell you, the Sunshine site has blossomed from a single building in a paddock to a bustling hub of healthcare excellence.

I’ve had the privilege of being involved in some major milestones, like planning the original CBR and Rehabilitation ward buildings and setting up the Rehabilitation ward gym and Hydrotherapy areas. And let’s not forget mentoring AHA students since 1990 – because sharing knowledge is my jam.

Professional development? You betcha! I’ve seen AHAs grow from novices to seasoned pros, and it’s been a joy to watch.

But perhaps the most rewarding part of my journey has been asking, “Can an AHA do this?” and then watching as our roles evolve and improve. We’ve come a long way!

Through it all, I’ve had the pleasure of working with some truly amazing people – from CBR managers to physiotherapy managers to countless AHAs, PTs, and OTs. The memories are too many to count, but each one holds a special place in my heart.

So, to all the fresh-faced professionals out there, I say this: Own your career, embrace learning, and never doubt your abilities. And when life gets tough, don’t hesitate to lean on your colleagues for support.

As I reflect on my 35 years at Western Health, I’m filled with gratitude for the care I’ve been able to provide, the friendships I’ve forged, and the challenges I’ve overcome. Here’s to many more years of laughter, growth, and making a difference in the lives of our patients. Cheers to Western Health – may we continue to thrive together!

Can you find your department colleague?