Suellen Bruce’s retirement

After nine years with Western Health and 43 years in the health services across NSW and Victoria, our Executive Director People, Culture and Communications, Suellen Bruce, has decided to give me notice of her retirement and she will be leaving us on 17 June.

Whilst I wish Suellen all the very best in the next phase of her life, I will be very sorry indeed to see her go.

Her contribution to Western Health has been nothing short of outstanding.

I believe the organisation is a better workplace for our staff as a direct result of Suellen’s championing the importance of a respectful and positive workplace.

She has implemented a range of highly effective measures including the EMPOWIR system, which has enabled us to make headway in our efforts to reduce bullying and provide a safe and effective avenue for staff who are concerned at their treatment or that of their colleagues.

One of Suellen’s greatest responsibilities is in the area of prevention of occupational violence and aggression – an area where she has implemented a range of significant strategies.

Innovation has always been of interest to Suellen and this was clear when she drove the Shark Tank initiative – which has now translated into some great outcomes for our patients.

The wellbeing of staff has always been at the top of the priority list for Suellen and she has devoted a great deal of time to developing many different strategies, often innovative and sometimes amusing! (She does love a good joke and a crazy hat!) Who can forget the My Whippy vans, and the comedy sessions? Not to forget the wellbeing hubs and multiple initiatives throughout COVID as she and her team worked to provide some light relief, as well as greatly needed professional support, for our weary staff.

It is Suellen’s integrity that I have valued most of all.

She has always been 100% committed to doing what is best for Western Health

and its staff, reflecting this in a myriad of actions she has taken over the years – including many that have involved considerable pressure on Suellen herself.

She is certainly well known for her extreme capacity for hard work and, working on the latest major change or initiative, whether in the area of staff education or organisational development.

She has been instrumental in some big changes at Western Health over the past nine years, including: the ‘Moving House’ project to establish the ICU at Sunshine along with the major shift of acute specialities to the site; the transition to and opening of the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s; her leadership of the transition of services for Bacchus Marsh-Melton into Western Health as a few examples as the list is truly a long one.

Suellen’s leadership was instrumental in Western Health winning the Victorian Worksafe Award for

the Prevention of Mental Health injury in the Workplace. All of Suellen’s achievements and contributions are too numerous to mention but Suellen will leave behind a valuable legacy for us all at Western Health and although Suellen is retiring she intends to stay very connected to Western Health and will continue to contribute her services.

I am sure you will join me in wishing Suellen all the best in her well-deserved retirement.