Published on 28 January 2022

At Western Health we are all focused on providing the best care to our patients and looking after each other, even in the hardest of times. Many of us may feel tired and overwhelmed and often recognise our own exhaustion, only when it’s too late.

One of the skills we can use during these difficult times is to ask for help. We are so used to doing everything ourselves that it sometimes feels uncomfortable. Try choosing one thing you know you can ask for help with and then assess how useful it was to be able to share the responsibility and the workload. You can find more self-care tips here.

Extended pastoral care sessions for staff

Staff will have even more opportunity to be supported by our incredible pastoral care team, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Western Health Foundation, who are helping staff access an enhanced range of support, training and education sessions.

“The staff who come to us, tend to want to discuss things that they don’t want to tell their managers, but they do want to discuss their experiences with somebody who shares their work environment,” Pastoral Care Manager Sacha McDonald said.

“Often those conversations are about the existential-spiritual aspects of healthcare work, such as: the place of hope, the question of why bad things happen to good people and the concept of one’s own mortality.

There are frequent conversations about personal triggers, and we provide staff with emotional support.”

The team also offers ongoing ‘side-by-side’ peer support, informal debriefing after traumatic clinical events, group or individual support after the death of a colleague and support delivering difficult news to patients and families.

The extended package will include:

  • Clinic hours for staff on high emotional-acuity wards
  • Pastoral Care style supervision, which focuses on integrating vicarious trauma, finding meaning and managing triggering situations
  • Targeted support for junior medical staff, including how to accept that death can’t always be averted, reconcile the realities of their role and provide confidential support and advice.
  • Structured mindfulness sessions are also being designed.

To have a confidential discussion with the Pastoral Care Team, email or call Sacha: 0421 899 462.

Did you hear the scoop

Western Health staff are in for a sweet treat. We all have fond memories of Mr Whippy. Our ears perked up as the chirpy tune from the visiting van grew louder, a sign it was entering our street.

Now, Workplace Wellbeing is bringing our beloved ice cream truck back.

Confidential online debriefing support sessions

Do you need to talk about how you are experiencing work? Join one of our safe online forums to discuss and process your experiences. Or, staff and volunteers can book an individual support session with a psychologist.

Satisfy the snack attack

Our delicious and nutritious snack boxes have returned to the wards to provide you with an easy and accessible way to keep your energy levels up.

Frozen meals delivery discount

All Western Health staff, families and volunteers can order home delivered meals from SPC and The Good Meal Co at a 20 per cent discount to alleviate the stress of preparing meals. It’s one of the ways we are supporting our staff who are working long hours, double shifts and finding the supermarket shelves empty.

Click here and enter the code:
WESTERNHEALTH20 at the checkout.

Kind regards,
Suellen Bruce
On behalf of the Executive Team

Ps. If you have a query about staff wellbeing, please email the team.