Published on 17 June 2022

As we enter another winter, we are all mindful of how this season impacts the health of our community, and even our own families and selves.

We may be quite experienced working with these challenges, however, when I was reflecting on what helps us navigate difficult times, I realised there was an opportunity to transfer what we know about ourselves and teams, to others, including our patients.

Praise is powerful.  It reaffirms positive intentions, and reminds us of what and how we could be responding to things. Don’t always react to bad behaviour with reprimands. Criticism can lead to defensiveness and opposition.

Do praise the positive. By highlighting what you appreciate in another person, or actions a patient may take, you might create a self-fulfilling prophecy, a virtuous cycle in which the expectation of acting positively leads to more reasons for praise.

For instance, right now I’d like to leave you with this: great job everyone for looking after yourself and each other.

Western Health is only as great as you and your commitment, so take the opportunity to praise the good and positive when you see it.

As this is my final bulletin, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank my incredible teams for their hard work, the leadership at Western Health for their support and every single Western Health employee for all that you do for your community and each other.

It has been my pleasure and privilege, but now, it’s over to you Sandy Schutte, who will be acting in the role of Executive Director People, Culture and Communications, and will continue the great work that we have started.

A special farewell to wellbeing champion Suellen Bruce

In her final Wellbeing Bulletin, we share a special surprise farewell to retiring Executive Director People, Culture and Communications Suellen Bruce from CEO Russell Harrison to thank her for being Western Health’s wellbeing champion.

Meet Alex Potter

Alex Potter is our new Operations manager for Diversity and Consumer Inclusion at Western Health.

How can we all help create a more diverse and inclusive workplace and health service? Alex says we could start by simply asking people what is important to them, whether that be gender identity, access and inclusion needs, or their cultural identity.

Mini massages are back!

The seated massage wellbeing initiative has been so popular that we are bringing it back in June.

The team at ‘Seated Massage’ will pamper staff with free 5 minute neck and shoulder massages.

In case you missed it- conversations about mental health and wellbeing

This year we marked Crazy Socks 4 Docs with a series of short conversations with colleagues on the topic of prioritising our mental health and wellbeing, and providing support to one another.

Watch Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Abi Aru chat to Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicki Murdock, Acting Director of Allied Health Sally Brinkmann and Emergency Physician at Western Health Dr Andy Tagg.

Find more mental health and wellbeing resources on the Westerly.

Kind regards,

Suellen Bruce
On behalf of the Executive Team