download - South West Alliance of Rural Health

An employee regarded as the lifeblood of SWH’sadult day activity centre at Camperdown hasbeen honoured for her unrivalled client-centredfocus. David Newman Centre Coordinator JeannineWhite has received a prestigious 2006 Rural HealthAward in recognition of her significant professionalcontribution towards improving the health of peoplein and around her community.Regarded as the driving force behind theestablishment of the David Newman Centre, for thepast 20 years Jeannine has passionately advocated forthe health and wellbeing of her clients by workingtirelessly to implement unique, innovative andstimulating programs.Committed to ensuring health-sector studentsat SWH have such a positive experience theywill be desperate to return if an employmentopportunity arises, five SWH clinicians havecompleted a unique on-line clinical supervisiontraining certificate. Education Manager JeniceSmart, Clinical Nurse Specialist Vikki Hoy, SeniorPharmacist Ros Bamford and PhysiotherapistsMiranda Wallis and Delia Crabbe graduated from aGreater Green Triangle University Department ofRural Health Preceptorship course in June.‘Research shows that a positive experience forhealth-sciences students on rural placement is a keydeterminant of their returning as a professional,’ saysSWH Chief Physiotherapist and GGT WorkforceProject Steering Committee Chairman BoreHoekstra. ‘It’s all about bringing students to ruralareas, making sure they have a positive experienceand hoping we might then employ them at a laterstage.’Fifteen employees at SWH’s Warrnamboolcampus have made history by being thehospital’s first-ever Linen Services workers tograduate en masse from a university course.Julieta Blain, Kevin Bonnett, Burnie Carey, Jo Davies,Glenda Gottsche, Kelvin Hovey, Trish Jewell, DebraKelly, Mathew McCarthy, Carmel McClaren, ColinMcDonald, Craig McGifford, Alison Moloney, LilyPretty and Kerrie Wilkinson’s efforts were recognisedat an awards ceremony in May. Each was presentedwith a Certificate III in Health Services (LaundryOperations).Their boss, Environmental Services ManagerDanny Miller, says each of them deserves to becongratulated because not only did they pass withflying colors but they completed, impressively, thethree-year course in less than two. Thegovernment-funded initiative, the result of acollaborative partnership between SWH and RMITUniversity, means each member of the group nowholds a high-level qualification.graduated from a Certificate III in Health SupportServices (Cleaning Support Services). That groupalso completed the three-year course in less than twoyears. They are Warrnambool’s Glen Bevan,Mark Bond, Veronica Brooks, William Butler,Jenny Cameron, Peter Canon, Gayle Densley,Terri Dodoro, Jason Grundy, Margaret Hocking,William Hogan, Daniel Howley, Rose Hurley,Linda Johnson, Rodney Kelson, Douglas Krepp,Danny McCaul, Prue Moroni, Jamie Sabo,Andrew Squires, Kay Stafford, Jason Waterfall,Linda Wearmouth and Tanya Wright andCamperdown’s Kathryn Boyle, Linda Cooper,Glenda Cotton, Nancy Heath, Josie Pearson andLynda Warden.SWH Human Resources Manager Graeme Mitchellsays the graduation ceremonies are a positive outcomeof the Human Resources EQUIP Committee’sobjective of identifying, and then providing, qualitytraining at Certificate III level for support stafftraditionally overlooked by most health agencies.A staggering 185 employees were honoured fortheir long-term commitment (3,175 years worth!)to both SWH and the community in April. Overtwo days more than 15 per cent of the organisation’stotal staff received Long Service Awards. AWarrnambool reception was held in honor of 163 ofthem and a Camperdown reception was held for 22more. In all, 58 employees were recognised for havingworked at SWH for 10 years, 45 for 15 years, 48 for20 years, 17 for 25 years and 13 for 30 years.“...not only did they passwith flying colors but theycompleted, impressively,the three-year coursein less than two.”Left: Our David NewmanCentre Coordinator JeannineWhite won the 2006 RuralHealth Professional Award.Right: History in the making.Graduate Julieta Blain is oneof our first Linen Servicesworkers to graduate from auniversity course.Opposite pageLeft: (from left) KitchenmanRon Brittian and ChefsSharon Weber, Gary Smithand Leon Stow were partof the SWH Food Servicesteam that prepared a recordnumber of meals in recordtime.Centre: SWH PaediatricNurses Rebecca Lowe (left)and Jacinda Duerden answeran SOS call to help sickchildren. Photograph courtesy ofThe Standard and photographer GlenWatson.Right: Sri Lanka-bound(from left) WarrnamboolPhysicians Group PhysicianDr Satish Nagarajah, SWHPerioperative EducationFacilitator Paula Touzeauand SWH PerioperativeServices Manager Tony Kelly.Photograph courtesy of The Standardand photographer Leanne Pickett.SWH’s Environmental Services staff are certainlymaking the most of professional developmentopportunities on offer within the organisation. Sixmonths earlier 30 of them (24 at the Warrnamboolcampus and six at the Camperdown campus)22