Chief Executive Update – 13 January 2023
As of today, we have:
- 98 COVID-19 positive inpatients
- 60 employees with COVID-19
In this update, we cover:
- Welcoming our 2023 Interns
- Major steps towards the Victorian Heart Hospital opening
- Join us at the Midsumma Pride March
- Preparing for Day 1 of Monash Women’s at Sandringham
- Substitution of public holidays
- PCR testing for employees
- People Matter results 2022
- Get your tickets now for the Monash Children’s Gala on 10 February
Welcoming our 2023 Interns
Welcome to 2023 and a special welcome to 120 of our newest team members; the 2023 Medical Interns.
Along with Chief Medical Officer, Associate Professor Anjali Dhulia, on Monday I had the privilege of welcoming the new team members on their first morning of orientation.
It is wonderful to have an injection of new skills, new perspectives; renewed energy and enthusiasm.
We know that joining Victoria’s largest public health service brings both great opportunity and great challenge. We expect our new interns to challenge us, challenge themselves and be curious. There’s nothing better than being able to tap into the lived experience of others when you’re learning.
Anjali and I also highlighted that every day it is the immeasurable small acts of kindness that are invaluable in their positive impact on our patients and each other.
Please welcome and support all new team members. We all know a simple word or a smile can make the most significant difference.
Major steps towards the Victorian Heart Hospital opening
If you missed the news on Christmas Eve, Monash Health has now officially received the Victorian Heart Hospital building in Clayton from the builders and we are now about to complete training, commissioning and the final fit-out as we prepare for our first patients on 23 February 2023.
The Victorian Heart Hospital is the southern hemisphere’s first specialist cardiac hospital, where our partnership with Monash University means hospital and clinical care will be integrated with world-leading research and education.
In further good news, Professor Steve Nicholls, Program Director of the Victorian Heart Hospital, MonashHeart and Intensive Care, has been awarded the 2023 European Atherosclerosis Society Anitschkow Prize.
The Anitschkow Prize is the most prestigious distinction in atherosclerosis research. Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery.
Professor Nicholls was recognised for his outstanding contributions to research in the field of atherosclerosis, cardiometabolic disease and preventive cardiology.
Congratulations to Steve. It is great recognition of his expertise.
For those interested in working at the Victorian Heart Hospital, or who have friends and family who may be interested, some vacancies still exist. For more information, please visit our Victorian Heart Hospital Careers webpage.
Join us at the Midsumma Pride March
Monash Health is committed to an inclusive culture; reflecting and celebrating the diversity of the community we work with and serve.
This year, Monash Health will take part in the annual Midsumma Pride March on 5 February 2023 in St Kilda.
Where: Fitzroy St, St Kilda
When: 10.30am (for 11am) to 1.30pm, Sunday 5 February 2023
Along with the Monash Gender Clinic, we’re excited to support our LGBTQIA+ employees and community for this joyful celebration. This is an opportunity to show our care and support for members of the Rainbow Community, be it family, friends, patients or ourselves, goes beyond hospital and health service doors.
Anyone can join us at Midsumma! Find out more about how to join in with the march or come along and cheer your colleagues, friends and family on the sidelines.
Find out more about how to get involved.
Preparing for Day 1 of Monash Women’s at Sandringham
With less than one month to go, Monash Women’s is well prepared for maternity, newborn and gynaecology services to be delivered at Alfred Health’s Sandringham Hospital from Monday 6 February 2023.
This change to the Sandringham Hospital women’s and newborn service builds on the many successful existing partnerships between Alfred Health and Monash Health to provide better health outcomes for communities in south-east Melbourne. Continuity of care and the health and wellbeing of our patients remains a top priority and all health services are working closely together throughout the transition.
Staff currently employed by the Royal Women’s Hospital to provide care at Sandringham Hospital will transfer to Monash Health Women’s and will remain at the same location. We will welcome approximately 140 staff across nursing, midwifery, medical, administrative, and health information teams to Monash Health and our teams are working with our new colleagues to ensure everything is ready to go on Day 1.
Congratulations to Andrea Rindt, General Manager, and A/Prof Ryan Hodges, Program Director, Monash Health Women’s and Newborn, along with Emma West, Project Director and the team leading the change, who are doing an outstanding job to ensure this transition is smooth for patients, families and employees alike.
Substitution of Public Holidays
We have established a guideline to enable employees to substitute a public holiday for another day, such as a day of cultural significance, in line with relevant Enterprise Agreements.
Monash Health employees are entitled to substitute a public holiday for another day in accordance with their relevant Enterprise Agreement.
Similarly, managers can reach an agreement with their employees to substitute a public holiday for another day.
Read more to find out more about how you request to substitute a public holiday.
PCR testing for employees
PCR testing continues to be available for all our symptomatic employees.
Symptomatic employees (who have had a negative RAT but continue to be symptomatic) can get priority COVID-19 PCR testing from Dandenong Pathology Collection Centre.
Please read more about how to use the service to keep each other and our patients safe.
People Matter results 2022
Nearly 2,000 people took the time to complete the 2022 People Matter survey.
The survey is the Victorian public sector’s independent employee opinion survey.
Last year’s survey took place at a busy time for Monash Health, with Accreditation quickly approaching, management changes underway, and significant operational pressures. As a result, our response rate was lower than in previous years but provided a helpful pulse check of sentiment across the organisation, reflecting what we know about the time and workload pressures our people are experiencing.
We know that the past few years have been challenging. Following each People Matter survey, we identify key areas for improvement and undertake action planning to address them.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete this year’s People Matter survey. We will keep you informed as we celebrate the positives in our results and target our efforts on the areas we need to improve.
Get your tickets now for the Monash Children’s Gala on 10 February
Monash Health employees are invited to purchase tickets to the Monash Children’s Hospital annual Gala with an exclusive employee only discount.
The Monash Health Foundation is thrilled once again to be hosting our annual Gala on Friday 10 February 2023 at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.
This very special event will raise crucial funds to further develop lifesaving stem-cell therapies for use in premature babies at Monash Children’s Hospital.
Find out how to get your tickets and don’t miss out on an evening of magnificent, food, company and entertainment, including X-Factor Australia winner, Isaiah Firebrace, country music identity, Lee Kernaghan and Australian World Music Star, Mitch Tambo.
Our year is off to a positive start and it’s wonderful to see what we achieve together as a team. I look forward to sharing more news with you about the Victorian Heart Hospital opening events in coming weeks.
Martin Keogh
Acting Chief Executive
All managers are requested to share these updates with their teams and discuss at stand-ups and handovers. Please print a copy and display it in communication books and on employee noticeboards.
As advice and information evolve, please consult the latest updates and visit the Department of Health Coronavirus website and the Monash Health COVID-19 website for employees regularly for the latest.