A well-deserved congratulations to the entire Refugee Health and Wellbeing team, our STAR Award winners for “Exceptional Teamwork”. Jacquie McBride, Manager of the Refugee Health and Wellbeing Team, and Chiedza Malunga, Team Leader, joined us at today’s Employee Forum to accept the award.
Following the events of August 2021 in Afghanistan, nearly 3,000 refugees arrived in Victoria over a six-month period, with 75% settling in Melbourne’s southeast.
The unexpected evacuation of Afghanistan coincided with lockdown in Victoria, and a surge in demand for health services.
Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing (MH RHW) aligned with other refugee health programs across the State to form a Refugee Health Partnership, providing on arrival health triage, screening and care for all those arriving in Victoria
As a result of timely intervention, the partnership team was able to identify and escalate emerging patient needs, coordinate care and ultimately improve health status and health literacy, minimising emergency department presentations.
The team worked tirelessly, supporting each other to ensure registration, assessment and care was delivered in a timely manner, despite workplace space restrictions, illness and other challenges.
We offer our congratulations and gratitude to all the Refugee Health and Wellbeing team for their exceptional teamwork under extraordinary conditions.
“Receiving this award is a wonderful acknowledgement of exceptional work, performed by exceptional people, under extraordinary circumstances,” says Jacquie. “The Afghan evacuation response in Victoria is testament to what can be achieved by a team unified by common purpose, and my gratitude extends not just to the wonderful admin, nursing, allied health and medical staff at Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing but also partner programs across Monash Health and Victoria.”
If you would like to nominate a colleague or team, you can do so at any time by visiting the STAR Awards portal. For more information about the STAR Awards program, visit the Monash Health COVID-19 website.
Approved by Michael Holman