The Weekly Wrap: 8 February 2023

This is the challenge you’ve been waiting for!

Escape Melbourne’s cold winter and discover one of the world’s most inspiring walking tracks – the Larapinta Trail.

Join us in this July to trek the Aussie Outback and over six days. Experience the rich history of Australia’s First Peoples, trekking scenic landscapes along well-worn, red dirt tracks. At night, camp under a blanket of stars and fall asleep to the nocturnal sounds of the desert.

Raise vital funds to transform the health and wellbeing of Melbourne’s west.

As part of this incredible adventure, you’ll support, care for and empower those affected by cancer throughout their treatment and recovery journey, providing the best care for the people of the west, in the right place and at the right time.

Places are limited. To find out more visit

– https://inspiredadventures.com.au/event/westernhealth-larapinta-2023/

Western Health (WH) in partnership with VMIA are creating the Best Care Excellence & Improvement Project. The project aims to demonstrate how each staff member is a fundamental contributor to creating a culture of continuous improvement and driving the responsibility for improvement and change to every staff member.  

7 interactive We-Learn modules will include facilitating and teaching skills in improvement, innovation, and the role of ‘human factors’ in healthcare errors, including Safety I and Safety II thinking.

The learning modules will be released in a phased approach which will include

1. Live Best Care Module
2. Patient Experience and Engagement
3. Effective communication, Staff Engagement and Empowerment
4. Risk Identification, Incident Management and Open Disclosure
5. Clinical Practice Improvement, Project Management and Clinical Innovation
6. Clinical Informatics, Systems Thinking, Process Improvement and Change Management
7. Data Analysis and Application

The learning modules aim to move the organisation from reactive to proactive in regards to incidents and complaints. The programme aims to show each staff member how they are a fundamental contributor to creating a culture of continuous improvement and drive the responsibility for improvement and change to every staff member.

For more information visit the Live Best Care site Best Care Excellence & Improvement Project – Live Best Care (wh.org.au)

Effective 31 March 2023, Fitness Passport will be increasing the fee of all memberships.

The fee increase will enable Fitness Passport to continue providing high-quality access to gyms, pools and leisure centres at a competitive rate.

Further detailed information on on these changes will be announced in the coming weeks.

The extended meals and refreshment program – part of the Victorian Government’s winter retention strategy – came to an end on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Running since 1 July last year, the program has provided just short of 80,000 meals to staff working night shift at Sunshine, Footscray, Williamstown and Bacchus Marsh Hospitals.

The program was due to cease on 31 December but the Victorian Government extended the program by an additional month.

Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical has offered us 20% off all tickets for its return Melbourne season from 16 February.

Based on the original Hollywood film, featuring an iconic soundtrack with songs like Bye, Bye, Bye (NSYNC), Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve), Sometimes (Britney Spears), Just A Girl (No Doubt), and Torn (Natalie Imbruglia) this show is “FUNNY & NOSTALGIA FULLED…THE BEST OF THE ’90S” Time Out

https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/cruel-intentions-the-90s-musical-tickets/artist/2595873?did=20off

Make 2023 your year of good health and prosperity with a $0 joining Fee to your on site Health Club EFM.

All memberships are cost effective and pre tax deductions. Best of all you have a coach to guide you through every single workout as well as 24/7 access.

Please call Jarrod on 0401951734 or email sunshine@efm.net.au to book a free trial.

As preparations for the EMR Phase 2.1 Go-Live continue, the Digital Health Team will soon visit the wards at Western Health’s EMR sites to discuss training opportunities. 

These Ward Walkarounds will take place between 13^th – 17^th and 20^{th –} 24^th February, and involve the Digital Health Team visiting the wards to answer questions from staff about the EMR, provide assistance with signing up for WeLearn packages and Super User training, or answer general EMR queries.

This is also a great chance for staff to ask any questions they may have about EMR Phase 2.1 and the enhancements this will bring to their department without having to leave their work space.

A full list of when the Digital Health team will be in the wards of our EMR sites is available here.

Further chances to engage with the Learning and Development team are also taking place this week with the pop-up Training Information Kiosks, which will be set up at designated locations at Footscray, Sunshine and Williamstown.

These kiosks give staff an opportunity to visit and chat to EMR trainers about EMR Phase 2.1 training, and will run from 12:30pm – 2:00pm on the following days:

The information kiosks and ward walkarounds were an invaluable training and communications tool during EMR Phase 1, and the Digital Health team are looking forward to engaging further with staff in the build-up to the EMR Phase 2.1 Go-Live.

For more information please contact the EMR Training Team at WHS-EMRTrainers@wh.org.au

A tailored medical leadership program for senior clinicians.

Flexible study modes to fit-around your busy clinical schedule delivered by Australia’s number one university and experts in health leadership.

Click here to find out more. 

SCCL Expression of Interest Dec 2022

Western Health have been approached by FormQuip, the developer of Cornerstone – a development planned between Footscray central and the New Footscray Hospital.

Given the location of the development and its proximity to the New Footscray Hospital, employees may be interested in finding out more about residential owner-occupier and investment options available for purchase. The building is expected to be completed by the time the New Footscray Hospital is completed. The brochure for the apartments is here and FormQuip have a display suite near the development.

It is important to note that Western Health has no involvement or commercial relationship with the developer, we are simply conveying this information as it may be of interest to our employees. Employees will need to make their own independent decision about this offer, and are advised to seek independent financial advice appropriate to their individual circumstances. FormQuip have partnered with Sure money to provide financial advice and information. You can find out more about this service here.

FormQuip will be holding information sessions specifically for Western Health staff at their display unit in Droop St in the new year. This session includes a site visit, and tour of apartment fitouts and options for different apartments. Third-party financial planners will also be available to provide advice.

If you are interested in attending an information session (or you are unable to attend but would like more information) you can contact FormQuip representatives Paul Carney (0418 856 856) or Sean Bishop (0419 231 542).

EMS is now open for all 2023 bookings

There’s never been a better time to get into an electric vehicle, and there’s never been a better way than through a novated lease with Maxxia.

With the Australian Government’s Electric Car (EV) Discount, taking out a novated lease on an EV just got a whole lot cheaper. So, if you were thinking about making the switch to an eligible electric or hybrid vehicle your timing is impeccable.

As Australia’s largest novated lease provider, we’re ready to help get you into an electric or hybrid car of your choice. We’ve geared up our systems and are working closely with key suppliers to help you make a confident choice – for yourself and the environment

Content warning: domestic abuse and family violence.

For many women, finding out that they are pregnant or welcoming a new baby into the world marks an exciting new phase of their lives. But for some, pregnancy can be a dangerous time – with the abusive and controlling behaviour of their partners turning violent, or existing violence in a relationship escalating particularly if the pregnancy is unplanned or unwanted.

In this episode, we again hear from Assunta Morrone – Manager, Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence at Western Health – who talks about family violence during pregnancy; why it’s a time of greater risk; and the association with negative health outcomes for the foetus, mother and child.

Assunta shares how children can be direct or indirect targets of family violence; the long-term impacts of childhood trauma; and how important it is for clinical staff to intervene early.

Both Assunta and senior midwife Emma Greelish provide practical advice about what clinical staff can do if they suspect a pregnant patient or a child is experiencing family violence.

Subscribe or download the episode today on your favourite podcast platform, Apple or Spotify, or visit: http://familyviolence.wh.org.au

Find more information on the podcast here.

This podcast includes descriptions of family violence and may be upsetting to some listeners. If you have experienced or are at risk of domestic and family violence and/or sexual assault, you can call the national counselling service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

For more information, visit http://familyviolence.wh.org.au

New Child Safeguarding WeLearn modules

1. Impact of FDV on the child (1 hour) Course: The Impact of Family and Domestic Violence on the child (wh.org.au)
2. Family and Domestic Violence and Child Aware Practices ( 2-4 hours) Course: Family and domestic violence and child-aware practice (wh.org.au)

Certificate available on completion to upload to WeLearn

Scholarships now open!

Department of health postgraduate nursing and midwifery scholarship is now open for applications.

Nursing and midwifery scholarships are provided to public health services to support registered nurses and midwives to undertake postgraduate study, in areas of clinical practice where there is an identified workforce need.

Nurses and midwives employed in Victorian public health services and undertaking and eligible clinical postgraduate course (commencing 2023 or 2024) will be eligible for a scholarship. The value of this scholarship will cover out of pocket course fees for the post graduate qualification. Applications close: 10 February 2023.

Please send your scholarship application to Robyn Peel:  robyn.peel@wh.org.au

Further information: https://www.westernhealth.org.au/EducationandResearch/Education/Pages/Postgraduate-Education.aspx

2023 Courses

Resuscitation Mandatory Competencies: Sessions have recommenced. In the first instance, can you arrange an assessment with your local instructor or educator. Resus educators are contacting managers to arrange local sessions for individual teams. Dedicated sessions for Bank and Pool Staff along with separate sessions for Nursing and Medical staff are available on Welearn.

Invasive Lines & Cannulation: Dates for Bank-Pool Nursing staff, Ward Nursing staff, Radiology, and Medical staff available soon.

Upcoming courses:

• 21/2/2023: Night Duty Education Update: 2023/Preceptorship
  02/03/2023& 09/03/2023: Mental Health First Aid – A two day face-to-face accredited course to empower staff to provide initial support to someone who is developing a mental health problem, has a worsening of an existing mental health problem or is in a mental health crisis. Enrolment fee: $60.00

More courses click here: Courses and Inservices (westernhealth.org.au)

Learn new tools for Telehealth video calls

A new Telehealth WeLearn module is now available to help guide clinicians on how to use Healthdirect Video Call, and includes tips & tricks on conducting an efficient and safe Telehealth consultation.

The aim of the module is to improve clinician confidence in using Video Call and conducting Telehealth consults, which will also lead to an improved clinician and patient experience.

The learning module only takes 5-10 minutes to complete and will help clinicians get up and running with the basics of Telehealth quickly.

Search for Telehealth on the WeLearn website to find the Western Health Telehealth learning module, and for further information about Telehealth at Western Health please visit the Telehealth and Virtual Care page on the Digital Health information site.

Get in quick to secure your free BankVic wall calendar

The ever popular BankVic Wall Calendars (A2 size) are available from the Foundation Office (Ground Floor, Footscray Hospital – opposite the library).

Calendars can be collected from the Foundation office Monday – Thursday between 10am-1pm.

Get a free Financial Health Check today

A home loan health check can help you assess your current financial situation and assist in setting goals for the future. It also looks at whether your current home loan still suits your needs.

At the same time, you might find now is a good time to refinance, you might be able to get a better deal on your home loan and save on your repayments.

We work with our members to understand their goals and help them find solutions that suit their individual needs at different points in their life.

It’s all part of BankVic’s commitment to the financial wellbeing of our members.

Contact Michelle today to get your free home loan health on

0418 415 096 or email mferry@bankvic.com.au.

Police Financial Services Limited ABN 33 087 651 661 trading as BankVic AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 240293.

Make a pre-tax donation direct from your pay

The Western Health Foundation have launched their staff giving program “Small change creates big change”

Your small change has the ability to make a big impact to support staff, patients and their families.

We are all aware of the huge need for support for our most vulnerable patients and community. Small change creates big change helps to provide support when and where it’s needed.

Nominate your regular pre-tax donation and sign-up today. Complete the personal details form here and return the completed form to peopleservicesoperations@wh.org.au

Last year alone, the Western Health Foundation provided more than $700,000 to fund new equipment, patient and staff support and world-class research, including:

• Purchasing new ECG machines to support the rollout of the EMR project
• Fellowships and scholarships for staff development
• Culturally sensitive Welcome Packs for patients who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• Care packs to help patients undergoing cancer treatment
• Purchasing mobility aids or medication for patients who are in great hardship.

If you have any other questions about the Foundation or donating, please contact Katrina.desfosses@wh.org.au