JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 EDITION - South West Hospital and Health Service
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South West Hospital and Health Service
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
2021 EDITION
From the Board Chair 3 Our Teams
Board out and about in Charleville, Australia Day honours for Roma Murri CUY 20
Waroona, Augathella and Morven 4
South West welcomes new EDMS 21
From the Acting HSCE 6
New grads start in the South West! 22
Our Communities 7
Mental health care planning 24
First Nations COVID-19 Response Team 7
Take time for your mental wellbeing 24
COVID-19 Vaccine update 8
Our Services
Ditch the Durries Stage 2 9
Adrian Vowles Cup 2021 10 New Subacute Unit helps patients across
the South West 25
South West’s young people have their say 11
Strategic Plan update 26
Health promotion in Charleville and beyond 12
Healthy Choices for the new year 13 Healthcare Homes’ supporting people
in the community 27
Telehealth Portal update 13
Triple P – Online leads to positive child
Masterchef comes to Injune 14
and parent outcomes 28
Holiday cooking program 14
Mental Health First Aid workshops for
Farewell to Judy Frousheger 15 the South West 28
Building Better relationships on Valentine’s Day 16
Our Resources
Smart eating equals healthy ageing 17
Have you visited the Innovation Well? 29
From the travels of Michael Reddan,
Community Prevention Officer – Alcohol South West Spirit Award –
and Other Drugs 18 Marg Castles (December)
Jenny Peacock (January)
The new SQRH Training Facility 19
First Nations Covid Response Team (February) 30
Defence Force careers build HOPE 19
Cover image: South West HHS graduate nurses first intake 2021
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
1
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands across the South West. We also pay our respects to the
current and future Elders, for they will inherit the responsibility of keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alive,
and for creating a better life for the generations to follow. We believe the future happiness and wellbeing of all Australians
and our future generations will be enhanced by valuing and taking pride in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples – the oldest living culture of humanity.
SOUTH WEST TRADITIONAL OWNERS
Augathella – Bidjara (Bid-jara) Quilpie – Bunthamarra (Bun-tha-mar-ra) and
Wangkumara (Wong-ka-mara)
Bollon – Kooma (Coo-ma)
Roma – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee)
Charleville – Bidjara (Bid-jara)
St George – Kooma (Coo-ma) with Kamilaroi, Mandandanji,
Cunnamulla – Kunya (Koun-yah) with other interests Bigambul and Gungarri interests
Dirranbandi – Kooma (Coo-ma) Surat – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee)
Injune – Kongabula (Kong-ga-bull-a) Thargomindah – Kullila (Coo-lee-lar)
Mitchell – Gunggari (Gon-gari) Wallumbilla – Mandandanji (Mand-an-dand-gee)
Morven – Bidjara (Bid-jara)
Mungindi – Kamilaroi (Car-milla-roy)
QUALITY COMPASSION ACCOUNTABILITY ENGAGEMENT ADAPTABILITY
This newsletter is produced by the South West Hospital and Health Service.
All feedback and contributions are welcome to SWHHS_Communications@health.qld.gov.au.
All published material has been approved by the Health Service Chief Executive.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
2 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
From the Board Chair
“We pledge to make you feel safe and cared for; the care
we provide is compassionate and ensures your dignity”.
The South West Hospital and Health Service Compassionate Care Pledge.
It has been twelve months since we proactively commenced The February Board meeting saw the governance team meet
managing COVID-19 arrangements within our HHS. In some at the magnificent Southern Queensland Rural Health facility
ways, this time has flown as it only seems like yesterday (or in Charleville for our Board and Committee meetings, before
maybe, the day before yesterday) that we entered this new undertaking engagement work at the Charleville Hospital,
era of responding to and managing a global pandemic. In so Waroona Aged Care facility, Morven Community Clinic and the
many other ways, it has been a long twelve months, which Augathella Multipurpose Health Service. Everywhere we went,
have been accompanied by rapid change, some anxiety and we saw wonderful examples of our HHS team modelling dignity
many triumphs. and respect in their interactions with patients, colleagues
and the general public. The passion for our Compassionate
I would like to sincerely thank all staff for getting us skilfully Care Pledge (CCP) and general pride displayed by staff was
and safely through our first year of a modern era global overwhelmingly evident as they went about their daily work.
pandemic. With our collective steely determination guiding
us, I sincerely hope 2021 in South West Queensland continues We were also fortunate to meet Community Advisory Network
to be COVID-19 free, as we move towards vaccinating residents (CAN) members in Augathella and Morven, and it was a delight
and visitors alike. Plans are currently being put in place in to spend time familiarising ourselves with the needs of our
anticipation of the arrival of the vaccines and once plans are communities as well as hearing about ‘what’s right’ and ‘what
finalised, details of vaccination schedules will be shared with could be better’ in their healthcare experiences. Once again,
our communities. dignity and respect were key themes. The Board also had a
worthwhile virtual engagement session with CAN Chairs and
The Board is currently finalising the selection process for an DON’s from each facility. Much information was shared as to
Acting Chief Executive for the period of time from late April happenings on the ground around the vast South West, from
until the end of August. Our current Chief Executive Matt Boyd the perspective of a health consumer. This interaction forms
will finish his contract in April. The South West HHS has been another key plank of our Compassionate Care Pledge – that
given approval to advertise and recruit a permanent Chief of taking the time to listen and understand how we can make
Executive and it is anticipated that this person, once selected, care the best it can be, so we provide health services that
will take up the role in August 2021. The Board acknowledges people trust and value.
the commitment and effort by all staff in continuing to live out
our values and for providing high level quality health services Thank you for your part in contributing to making our patients
as we have navigated through the government guidelines and feel safe and cared for.
approval process to progress with recruitment to the Chief
Executive position. Karen Tully
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
3
Board out and about in Charleville,
Waroona, Augathella and Morven
Claire Alexander, Ray Chandler, Guy Newell (CAN Chair Board members Jan Chambers, Ray Chandler, Dr Mark Waters, Claire Alexander,
Augathella), Mellisa Wakefield and Karen Tully Fiona Forbes (Augathella DON) and Fiona Gaske meet up at the Augathella MPHS
Guy Newell, Karen Tully, Claire Alexander, Mellisa Wakefield Morgan Brown, Ray Chandler, Annu George, Claire Alexander and
and Ray Chandler catchup at the new Roma Hospital Patrick Grixti at the Augathella MPHS
Morven Community Clinic staff (back from left) Heidi Kroeger, Jan Chambers, Karen Tully and Dr Mark Waters
Dr Mark Waters, Claire Alexander, Desley French (DON), Fiona Gaske, Karen Tully and
Ray Chandler with (front l to r) Emma Thornton, Matt Boyd and Lyn Thornton
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
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Board out and about (continued)
Karen Tully, Ray Chandler, Dr Mark Waters, Jan Chambers, Fiona Gaske,
Claire Alexander and Matt Boyd
Lindsay Godfrey, former Board Chair with Karen Tully, Board
Chair who presented a memento to Lindsay – Special Pulse
Edition of the Roma Hospital Redevelopment
The Augathella MPHS Team with Karen Tully
Cassandra Campbell, Jacqui Trinne (Waroona DON), Bronte Dwyer,
Leonie Frewin, Ross Burnes at the Waroona Multipurpose Centre
Board Members and HSCE catching up with Charleville Hospital (from left)
Fiona Gaske, Jacqui Trinne (Waroona DON) Anne Robertson (CN) Fiona Gaske, Karen Tully, Jan Chambers, Dr Kassie Kuhlar, Matt Boyd, Dr Mark
Michelle Baker (ENAS) and Karen Tully Waters, CN Sarah Roache, DON Sally Gorman and Claire Alexander
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
5
From the Acting
Chief Executive
Welcome to our first edition of The Pulse for 2021. This bumper edition
features some of the amazing work our people have been doing over
recent months to ensure quality healthcare continues to be delivered
across the South West.
Since the start of the year, I have been fortunate to visit some Within my role, receiving such positive feedback is of course
of our facilities across the region, accompanying the Board to always fantastic and one of the best parts of my day. However,
Charleville, Waroona, Augathella and Morven. Being present in I also never tire of praising you all, as - no matter where you
our communities gives a tremendous sense of positivity about are based or the role you play - you truly are a most valuable
what the future holds. As you can see from this first edition, member of the South West family.
2021 is already shaping up to be a busy and productive time
for all of us. It is your hard work, dedication and commitment to ensuring
the very best of care for the communities we are all privileged
I am always humbled by the expertise and dedication I witness to serve that makes us so special. As you continue to make
every day across our facilities. I extend my gratitude to all plans for the coming year, and with the Easter holidays on
our staff and volunteers for their hard work and support thus the horizon, I also hope that you are able to take the time to
far, and for all your forward planning for the year ahead. Your continue to invest in your own growth, healing, mindfulness
dedication and contributions to our clients are truly what and self-care.
makes the South West such a special place.
I am looking forward to seeing what 2021 holds for the
Over the past 12 months we have all experienced so many South West and continuing to work with you to overcome any
disruptions and I thank you all for your resilience and challenges we face, together.
willingness to adapt through what has been a tough time
for many. Thank you again for all that you do and bring every day to the
South West.
As the weeks tick by, we remain focussed on our South West
HHS values and our core purpose of serving our communities. Matt
For 2021, we continue on our path to be a national leader
in the delivery of health services to rural and remote
communities. Following a recent meeting between the
Executive Leadership Team and Queensland Department of
Health, I’m delighted to advise that, during the period October
to December 2020, we continued to achieve above benchmark
delivery across a host of Key Performance Indicators and we
have also recently played host to a number of distinguished
visitors to the South West, all of whom have all been most
complementary regarding our services.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
6
Our Communities
FIRST NATIONS COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM
South West HHS’s Everyone on the team has been delighted about the high levels
First Nations COVID-19 of community awareness around staying COVID-19 safe. RJ
reported that one Elder reported being repeatedly reminded by
Response Team, formed
their grandkids to wash their hands!
late last year, has been
out and about across the On behalf of the team, Karen has expressed her thanks to the
communities and also, to staff members from Roma Hospital,
district, meeting people
CWAATSICH in Roma and Charleville, Cunnamulla CACH, the
and spreading the word hospitals in Cunnamulla and Charleville.
about COVID-19 prevention
“We’re all so thankful for the support, guidance and warm
Karen Birnie
and staying COVID-safe.
welcome offered by these wonderful organisations,” Karen said.
The team, Amy McNamara, Rodney ‘RJ’ Landers and Donna
Waters – have been travelling far and wide, engaging with
our communities and helping First Nations people across the
South West to embrace COVID-19 prevention and stay engaged
in their healthcare.
“We have received a great response from community
members,” said Project Coordinator Karen Birnie. “We’ve also
engaged with lots of health service providers across the South
West to understand how they work.”
The First Nations COVID-19 Response Team is all about
information and engagement to ensure the South West’s
First Nations people receive high-quality, safe and culturally
appropriate information.
The team now has marquees with South West Hospital and
Health Service logos and Indigenous artwork, which can be
set up in any location. The team has also distributed resource
packs that include a range of items including hats, hand
sanitiser and fridge magnets with contact numbers and care
plans for families and bubs.
Karen explained that the care plan fridge magnets can be used
to record medical appointments, medications taken, and the
Part of the collateral in the Resource Packs that will be handed out
details of carers and other family members. These care plan across the South West
magnets may also be useful in the event that a family member
is diagnosed with COVID-19.
PULSE November edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
7 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE
Free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will help COVID-19 vaccines are just one part of keeping the
protect our community from COVID-19. community safe and healthy. People and communities
have done a great job so far in staying COVIDSafe. It will be
A staged statewide rollout of the vaccines will commence in essential to continue practising COVIDSafe behaviours. This
February 2021. The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be includes regularly washing your hands and keeping two big
managed through 30 to 50 key hospitals across urban, regional steps away from others.
and rural Australia.
Learn more at the Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccines
Approved vaccines will be rolled out in phases. It is important hub and subscribe to the COVID-19 Vaccines Update.
that the first vaccines go to the people who need them most.
The rollout will start with priority groups such as health
workers, quarantine and border workers and some other
services. Aged care and disability care residents will also be
included in this first phase.
As you may know, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
have been identified as a priority group for vaccination. This
is because there is a higher risk of getting and developing
serious illness from COVID-19 due to a number of factors. This
may include a higher rate of chronic health conditions and in
some cases crowded-living conditions, which increases the
risk of spreading the infection.
The Australian Government is working closely with state and
territory governments and the National Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) to ensure
COVID-19 vaccines are easily accessible to everyone,
including remote communities.
The vaccine is free and you can choose if you want to get
vaccinated. However, by getting it, you will help protect
yourself, Elders, your loved ones and your community
from COVID-19.
Rest assured that the approved vaccines will be safe and
effective. Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic
Good Administration (TGA), has strict standards when “The vaccine is free and you
approving vaccines.
can choose if you want to get
The TGA will continue to check vaccines for quality as
they are produced. Health care services and the TGA will
vaccinated. However, by getting
also continue to check for any unexpected side-effects it, you will help protect yourself,
following vaccination.
Elders, your loved ones and your
community from COVID-19.”
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
8
DITCH THE DURRIES – STAGE 2
The Healthy Communities Team launched the next
stage of their smoking cessation initiative, ‘Ditch
the Durries – Target 320’ campaign in February to
encourage and support workers across the South
West HHS to quit smoking by registering with
Quitline for free nicotine replacement therapy.
We now have new ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ and
‘Quitline 13 78 48’ screensavers for South West HHS Donna Hooper is one of our staff
computers, promoting smoking cessation and for our members who has quit smoking
health service to become a smoke-free workplace.
A supply of ‘Quitline 13 78 48’ post cards has also been
provided to each facility for distribution across the community
at community activities and events. And each facility has a
‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’ banner to help promote this
valuable initiative.
All this promotion seems to be working as already, two of our
staff have shared their quit smoking stories on our Facebook
page. Thank you to Jenna Nunn, Acting Nurse Unit Manager at
Charleville Hospital, and to Donna Hooper, Senior Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker at Dirranbandi for
sharing their inspiring stories.
If you would like to share your smoking story in a short video,
please contact Michael Reddan on 45051584 or by email
michael.reddan@health.qld.gov.au .
FREE!FREE! NicotineReplacement
Nicotine
Replacement Therapy for
Therapy to CQ
South West Smokers
Smokers
Researchshows
Research shows that
that thethe best
best wayway to quit
to quit smoking
smoking is to is to nicotine
use use nicotine replacement
replacement therapy
therapy
(NRT) (NRT)
or quit or quitmedication
smoking smoking medication in combination
in combination with Quitline
with support from supportorfrom
a health
professional.
Quitline or a health professional.
Quitline is offering South West
Quitline issmokers
offeringaCentral
tailoredQueensland
quit smokingsmokers
program awhich includes
tailored quit 12 Jenna Nunn, another South West HHS employee who has quit smoking
weeks of free NRT posted to your
smoking home.which includes 12 weeks of free NRT posted to
program
Call Quitline your
on home.
137848
Be one of the 10,000Lives saved in Central Queensland -
Call Quitline on 137848
#Target 320
000
#10000LivesCQ
join the movement!
Join the movement! South West Hospital and Health Service
Building better health in the bush
South West Hospital and Health Service would like to thank Central Qld Hospital and Health Service for giving us permission to repurpose their documents for our own use.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
9 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health ServiceADRIAN VOWLES CUP 2021
A record 39 teams from all corners of the state
converged on Charleville on the last weekend in
February for the annual Adrian Vowles Cup.
When it first started, back in 2014, this outback junior rugby
league competition saw just three teams from the local area
compete. However, each year since then, the competition
has grown as more and more teams sign up for what’s
become a highlight on the rugby league calendar.
“It gets bigger and more exciting every year!” said Shaun
Mayor Radnedge aka Zoro (left) with Assistant Minister for Local
Radnedge, Mayor of the Murweh Shire and a passionate
Government Nikki Boyd (centre) join the South West HHS HOPE
supporter of junior sport, especially rugby league. / Health Promotion team: Bridgette Dickinson, Jenny Peacock,
Jasmine Light and Jen Sellin
“This year, as well as all our Under 14s and Under
16s teams, we had four Under 17 girls’ teams,” he said.
“We were also delighted to welcome Assistant Minister for “We were really grateful to receive lots of merchandise from
Local Government Nikki Boyd, who flew in from Brisbane some of the HOPE Program’s generous partners,” Jenny said.
specially to open our competition.”
“QUT gave us lots of SPF50+ sunscreen and our friends at
Home grown Charleville boy and rugby league legend Adrian USQ, Deadly Choices and Defence Force Recruiting gave us
Vowles started the cup with a vision. boxes of hats and water bottles and sunglasses – enough
for everyone!”
“I wanted to keep the love of rugby league alive amongst
bush kids and to inspire a little healthy rivalry between Click on the link to see Jenny and our South West health
country towns,” Adrian explained. promotion team in action.
“As a kid growing up in Cunnamulla and Charleville, I was Congratulations to the 2021 ‘dream team’ AV Cup winners:
lucky enough to play rugby league every weekend. I want Under 16 Ipswich Grammar, Under 14 North Brisbane and
the Adrian Vowles Cup to be a starting block for that to Under 17 Girls Valleys/Gatton.
happen for these kids.”
South West HHS is always a keen supporter of this annual
event, which provides an ideal opportunity for some hands-
on, grass-roots health promotion.
This year, Jenny Peacock from the HOPE Program was joined
by cardiac nurse Brigette Dickinson, school nurse Jen Sellin
and dietician Jasmine Light, along with a team from Deadly
Choices. This intrepid group of dedicated South West health
ambassadors ran mini health checks and offered hydration
advice, free sunscreen and loads of other cool giveaways to
players and spectators.
A visiting footy player keeping up his hydration
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
10SOUTH WEST’S YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY
New Youth Consumer Advisory Network in the South West
South West HHS has introduced a Youth Consumer Advisory
Network (YCAN) to ensure the region’s young people can
contribute, participate and influence health planning and
improvements in the delivery of health services especially
relevant to them.
South West HHS’s Board Chair Karen Tully said the
commitment to create a YCAN was part of the South West HHS
Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy 2018–22.
“The importance of this engagement cannot be
underestimated … young people are the experts in their own
“This approach will provide the greatest
lives and provide unique perspectives, information, ideas, opportunity for our young people to
and solutions to issues,” she said.
experience genuine and meaningful
The YCAN will take a partnership approach to give young engagement – we want to hear their
people a sense of ownership and empowerment to engage
with the health service. A youth engagement framework will issues, ideas and feedback on health
be used to leverage existing youth platforms across the South
matters important to them.” Karen said.
West through the HOPE Program, local youth councils, student
councils and other youth bodies.
Murweh Youth Council
February 2021, and the Murweh Youth Council (MYC) came The MYC is always grateful to Jenny Peacock from the HOPE
together for their first meeting of the year. Mayor Radnedge Program for coordinating their meetings, and to Mayor
led the group, providing an update of Murweh Shire events Radnedge for his time.
including the upcoming 31st anniversary of the 1990 flood,
The next MYC meeting will be held in May 2021.
which inundated more than 1000 homes in Charleville and
forced the entire town’s evacuation. Fast forward to 2021 and
the flood anniversary will see lots of fun community celebrations
such as an open mic night, a free movie screening and a gig-
performance by the alt-rock band, Open Season. Other daytime
events will involve canoe races on the Warrego River.
An issue that has been close to the hearts of Charleville’s youth
since 2019, when first raised by MYC Treasurer Laine Dennis,
is the desire for a water park at the council pool. And Mayor
Radnedge delivered some welcome news to the group – a new
water park in Charleville will be up and running by September!
The MYC committee now has other ideas. The group has been
brainstorming fundraising concepts and working on a survey to
Mayor Radnedge, Jenny Peacock (HOPE Program) and Katie McLeod
encourage more young people in the community to have their (Student Support, Charleville State High) with the MYC in February
say about what they would like to see happening in their town.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
11HEALTH PROMOTION IN
CHARLEVILLE AND BEYOND
Charleville has kicked off the new year with a
flurry of healthy activities.
The Charleville School of Distance Education saw lots of fun Students get hands-on with blood
and healthy action when kids and their parents and tutors pressure monitors and stethoscopes
came to town for the annual Kickstart Conference in February.
Supported by Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), the
HOPE Program and its University of Southern Queensland The HOPE Program also supported a return visit by the
(USQ) partners, the Kickstart Conference was packed with Pathways to Resilience Program presenters, who delivered
health promotion opportunities and fun educational events. sessions for Distance Education parents and carers and also
for students.
SQRH set up three stations that were attended by enthusiastic
medical, nursing and allied health students plus two HOPE’s Jenny Peacock and school nurse Jen Sellin have also
educators. The stations covered everything from snake bite to been firing up that blender bike all over the district. Kids
vital signs and CPR. Kids were able to handle stethoscopes and have been peddling up an ocean of frozen fruit smoothies at
blood pressure monitors, and a life-sized medical mannequin swimming carnivals in Charleville and Cunnamulla. Armed
that had removable internal organs. with buckets of sunscreen, kindly donated by QUT late last
year, Jenny has also been pushing the Sun Smart message at
USQ staff and student ambassadors provided a generous the pools.
bounty of free USQ merchandise and offered information about
career pathways for students. The USQ team ran rotational HOPE also managed to secure RADF funding for a claymation
activities for students with exciting things like drones, CPR program at the Kickstart conference. Students from Prep to
training and Indigenous games. They also spent a couple of year 10 learned the art of stop-motion, shaping plasticine and
days in Cunnamulla, sharing similar activities and also cooked creating story boards and props for several 30 second films.
a mountain of pancakes for breakfast on Shrove Tuesday at the You can check some of their creations here.
state school. Check out this great video that USQ took during
Charleville’s Healthy Ageing clients also turned their hands to
their visit to the South West.
this fun artform, creating some short films that featured the
Rachel Downie from Stymie returned to Charleville for the importance of falls prevention. Check out Healthy Ageing’s
Kickstart Conference to talk again about the dangers of online short films here.
scams and predators, and the ever-important subject of cyber
bullying. Rachel ran her inspirational and highly informative
sessions for students, and also an evening event for parents
and community members.
HOPE’s Sue Eustace-Earle with our USQ partners and their amazing
Discovery Van
School of Distance Education students get creative with
claymation movie-making
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
12 PULSE July edition | South West Hospital and Health ServiceHEALTHY CHOICES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Teaching kids about nutrition and hygiene can be
tricky, but when the learning is fun, kids are much
more likely to join in and remember the message.
In the first week of school, some of our SWHHS Charleville
team joined up with Deadly Choices to promote healthy
lifestyle choices to the Year 7 students at their induction day
at Charleville State High.
In this age of the pandemic, hand hygiene was high on the list.
Students joined school nurse Jen Sellin to practise the most
effective way to apply hand sanitiser, rethink how they use HOPE’s Jenny Peacock helps Michael White make a berry smoothie on
soap and water, and learn how to protect others when they the blender bike
cough and sneeze.
SWHHS’s Carmel Baker and Jane White distributed COVID
packs with a range of useful everyday items that carry the
Covid-safe message. And the HOPE Program’s Jenny Peacock
had kids peddling away on the blender bike, making delicious
fruit smoothies while learning about the relationship between
good nutrition and a healthy body.
The Year 7 Healthy Choices Program was also supported by
members from CWAATSICH, local police, the South West
Indigenous Network (SWIN) and Goolburri. School nurse Jen Sellin demonstrates the art of hand sanitiser
TELEHEALTH PORTAL UPDATE
The QH Telehealth Portal provides an easy, safe and secure Another great feature is the ability to access recent calls to
way to videoconference (VC) with patients, GPs, QH staff reconnect quickly and easily, this saves time looking for the
and other external health organisations by allowing them to dial in details for regular appointments.
connect into the existing QLD Health Telehealth network from
within their web browser or on an IOS or Android device. Look for and find the Telehealth Portal icon located on your
desktop to check out the great new look!
The QLD Health Telehealth Portal is a web browser application
that doesn’t require software or a license to use. There are
no additional costs for the portal and it is available for both
internal and external QLD Health users.
The Queensland Health Telehealth Portal has recently
undergone an update which has given the portal a great new
look and improved functionality capabilities.
One of the improvements is that QLD Health staff are now
able to easily share desktop images or files during clinical
consultations, this functionality will greatly enhance the From Left – Ashlea Cox (A/CN Telehealth Roma Hospital), Charlene
experience for both the consumer and the clinician. Narayan and Janell Lobb (A/NUM Perioperative Roma Hospital).
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
13MASTERCHEF COMES TO INJUNE
The best of the best young chefs from across the South West Rohan and Kim agreed that is was a real privilege to see local
came together in Injune recently for the Injune Youth Hub kids with a genuine passion for cooking healthy, delicious meals.
Junior MasterChef Challenge.
Six contestants were given two hours and a table full of
ingredients and staples that they might find in an
everyday kitchen.
South West HHS Senior Community Nutritionist Rohan Ballon
said the contestants were prompted to make any dish using
the ingredients provided.
“The kids were given encouragement and guidance on
preparation techniques and then had two hours to create their
own dishes,” he said.
Rohan was joined on the judging panel by Maranoa Regional
Council’s Kim Amor, and they had a hard time choosing
between some delicious choices including a pumpkin and
chicken risotto, oven baked crumbed chicken with mango
Participants go through the rules as part of the Injune Masterchef
aioli, and oven roasted caramelised pumpkin with a spinach competition
and fetta salad.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY COOKING PROGRAMS
More than 100 students took part in the Maranoa Regional “They all loved it and one of the big positives in the kids’
Council’s School Holiday Cooking Workshops in January. feedback was that they loved being trusted to use real cooking
utensils and having the freedom to experiment.”
South West HHS Senior Community Nutritionist Rohan Ballon
said 12 sessions were held across the Maranoa to help
students gain food preparation skills and nutrition knowledge
through structured activities.
“We took the program to Surat, Roma, Injune, Mitchell and
Yuleba and had 114 participants all up, which was a great
result,” Rohan said.
“We held three different workshops, cooking homemade
pizzas, Vietnamese rolls and a recipe modification challenge
that involved dismantling the traditional apple-cinnamon
muffin and substituting ingredients such as butter, sugar
and plain flour with alternatives like Greek yoghurt, oil,
honey, stevia and wholemeal options.”
Rohan said the students did a great job and really loved Holiday cooking program a hit across the Maranoa
getting in and learning new and different techniques to
healthy cooking.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
14FAREWELL TO JUDY FROUSHEGER
Judy Frousheger has retired after 33 years of employment with
the South West HHS.
Judy, who was the Home Care Coordinator for Charleville and
District Home Care Service was one of the longest serving
employees in the South West to stay in the one role.
A very emotional Judy had mixed emotions about her decision
to retire but said ‘it had to happen sometime and now is the
right time for me’.
She is very sad to say goodbye to all her colleagues and clients.
Carmel Pfingst, Charleville Acting Home Care Coordinator, has
“Working with so many diverse organisations and people worked with Judy for 12 years and said she was always such a
both in the community and within Queensland Health has wonderful colleague and friend.
been a really wonderful journey, celebrating our achievements
and successes, working through issues, laughing and crying “For the first eight of the 12 years I worked with Judy I was a
together and supporting one and other through the good and home care worker, which I enjoyed and Judy was always caring
bad times,” Judy said. and helpful to both the staff and clients,” Carmel said.
And many of her colleagues are very sad to see her say goodbye. “In the last four years I have shared the Home Care Co-
ordinator position with Judy and I have learnt so much from
her. She is such a caring and compassionate person who
always went above and beyond for her clients and staff,”
Carmel said.
Judy started with Queensland Health in the (now) Healthwise
building around 1988.
“I started doing the HACC pays each fortnight but after the
1990 flood my hours increased to recreate the whole filing
system and help the Community Health Nurses re-establish
all files,” she said.
“I have watched Charleville Community Health grow from a
staff of two Community Health Nurses, myself and few Home
Care Workers to what it is today - not sure of the staff numbers
but it must be close to 90 – 100!
“I have really enjoyed my years working as part of the Charleville
Team and I consider it a privilege to have had this journey in my
lifetime. I have met and worked with some incredible people
and organisations and I have made many lifelong friends.
“My sincere gratitude and thanks goes out to each and every
one of you for the many experiences I have had throughout my
journey and thank you for all the wonderful memories I have
and which will keep me going in the years to come. I wish you
all happiness, good health and safe travels for the future.”
Judy retires
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
15BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS
ON VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s Day is a timely reminder for everyone to
consider what a healthy relationship is and how we can
build better relationships.
Friday 12 February, Far West Indigenous Family Violence
Service coordinated a “Building Better Relationships”
information morning in front of the Deadly Choices building
in Charleville and invited local service providers to attend
and promote their service.
South West HHS’s Sexual Health Nurse Sharon Young and
Mental Health Clinician Tegan Russell and the First Nations
COVID-19 Response Team from the South West HHS attended
the morning and connected with locals and other service
providers in the local community.
Building Better Relationships
South West HHS Sexual Health Nurse Sharon Young at the Building
Better Relationships information morning in February
First Nations COVID-19 Response Team in Charleville for Building
Better Relationships
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
16SMART EATING EQUALS HEALTHY AGEING
Charleville and Cunnamulla’s Healthy Ageing centres hosted
several Smart Eating Week activities earlier in February.
Dietitian Laura Bate worked with clients to create ‘sugar
shocker’ charts that compared the alarming amount of sugar
present in eight common drinks. They also made ‘food fat’
charts that listed the fat content of many common food
staples. But it wasn’t all bad news because clients also
sampled healthy apple fruit doughnuts and banana and apple
hot cakes, which had many asking for seconds!
Laura also ran cooking demonstrations of a ‘bush beef’ stir
fry and a simple bruschetta, which are very likely to become
Healthy Ageing favourites. Recipe cards were available for
these and other dishes in case clients were inspired to expand
their healthy cooking repertoire at home.
The HOPE Program’s Jenny Peacock was also on hand with the
blender bike, encouraging clients to climb aboard, get some
physical activity and be rewarded with a frosty fruit drink for
their efforts.
The week wrapped up with a Smart Eating trivia quiz where
Charleville clients used the healthy eating information they’d
learned during the week to answer 30 tricky questions. John Pickersgill
Patty Jones May Williams
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
17FROM THE TRAVELS OF MICHAEL REDDAN, COMMUNITY PREVENTION
OFFICER – ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS
Michael Reddan knows there’s nothing quite like a road trip
to inspire a sense of freedom, especially when the scenery is
stunning and the weather is perfect.
This year, Michael, from our Healthy Communities team, has
plans for several road trips. He’ll be travelling around the district
to provide support to staff and community members, especially
those wanting to quit smoking and reduce their alcohol intake.
Michael’s first trip in February included stops in St George,
Dirranbandi, Mungindi and Bollon (South West HHS’s
St George ‘hub and spoke’ sites.
“The first thing I noticed was how green the countryside looked
around parts of the Balonne and Maranoa regions after some L-R: Michael Reddan, RNs Grace Bredhauer, Jamie Gilliland, Paramedic
Shane Herbert & DON Margaret Harris
much-needed rainfalls.
“I received a warm welcome from each facility and everyone
seemed impressed with our ‘Ditch the Durries – Target 320’
program and banners, and the Quitline postcards that I made
available for reception areas.
“Our Directors of Nursing (DONs) and Smoking Cessation
Champions Sonja Brady – Bollon, Donna Hooper – Dirranbandi
and Ann-Margaret Jakins – Mungindi continue to support and
encourage smokers who want to quit to register with Quitline.
Sonja, Donna and Ann-Margaret are great advocates, connecting
with smokers and explaining the health benefits of quitting and
the added bonus of a much improved bank balance! RNs Grace Bredhauer & Jamie Gilliland try out the beer goggles
“At the Multipurpose Health Service in Dirranbandi, I delivered “At each of the facilities I also explained the benefits of the
the Healthy Communities Alcohol Toolbox Talk to Margaret Harris Queensland Police Service’s Drink Rite Nite program and
(DON), Donna Hooper Advanced Aboriginal Health Worker, received a resounding ‘yes please’ from all. The program,
nurses Grace and Jamie, and Qld Ambulance Paramedic Shane. which is delivered in pubs, gives the facts around standard
drinks and the effects of alcohol over a period of time on men
“I also delivered the Alcohol Toolbox Talk online via Teams
and women, regardless of their size or whether or not they’re
to the St George Interagency meeting, along with Robyn
seasoned drinkers. I’m now following up with Dan Gallagher,
Brumpton, Service Director St George Community and Allied
Officer in Charge of the St George District, to help make it
Health, and Heather Scriven, Senior Social Worker heading up
happen for our communities.”
the South West HHS’s Domestic and Family Violence Project.
Michael took some time on his return trip from Mungindi to
“A huge thank you to Michael Wilson, Executive Assistant and
St George to stop in Thallon, stretch his legs and take some
Administration Team Leader for organising all the technical
stunning photos of the wheat silos and a fibreglass imitation of
gear we needed to link into the Interagency meeting. I’m also
the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat.
grateful to Robyn Brumpton, who has kindly invited me back to
St George to deliver the Alcohol Toolbox Talk to her staff. Now he’s back in Roma, Michael’s planning his next trip.
Watch this space …
“Bollon and Mungindi were quick stops where I gave Sonja and
Ann-Margaret an overview of the Toolbox talk, which involves
an activity wearing ‘beer goggles’.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
18THE NEW SQRH TRAINING FACILITY
South West HHS and Southern Queensland Rural Health Those who attended the first collaboration included, Christie-
(SQRH) held its first collaboration for South West HHS staff in Anne Hunter (RM Charleville), Rebecca Sullivan (ENAS
the new SQRH training space in Charleville recently. Charleville), Danielle Labinsky (SMO Charleville), Peter Shultz
(SMO Charleville), Desley French (DON/FM Morven), Joanna
South West HHS Nurse Educator, Charleville, Joanna Bone said Bone (NE Charleville) and Dr Flora Rolf (SQRH).
the new SQRH training space allowed for easy facilitation of
education to our staff across the region.
“Thanks to Dr Flora Rolf from SQRH Charleville for helping us
get our first collaboration off the ground at the new training
facility,” Joanna said.
“We facilitated STORK’s (Stimulation Training Optimising
Resuscitation for Kids) Optimus Core Course to Charleville
Hospital nursing and medical staff and the Director of Nursing/
Facility Manager from Morven (virtual).”
She said all South West HHS nursing staff were required to
undertake multidisciplinary education and the training facility
would help them achieve this both virtually and on the ground.
“The new SQRH state of the art training facility enables high
fidelity simulation education which has proven to lead to L-R: Peter Shultz, Danielle Labinsky, Christie-Anne Hunter, Flora Rolf,
better outcomes for patient safety and clinical practice.” Rebecca Sullivan and Joanna Bone
DEFENCE FORCE CAREERS BUILD HOPE
South West HHS’s HOPE Program is proud to have built a In February, three DFR personnel timed a visit to coincide with
strong partnership with Defence Force Recruiting over several the Adrian Vowles Cup. Michaela, Ace and Ebony got fully
years. They’ve been a great supporter of HOPE’s annual involved in the footy, setting up a marquee and handing out
Deadly Recruits Camp and also visit the South West at HOPE’s lots of cool giveaways.
invitation for lots of other events.
They also spent time in community, engaging with young people
and their families, and enjoying the South West hospitality.
The trio held a careers information session at the Charleville
RSL one evening, which was so interesting and persuasive that
six young people in the audience completed the paperwork
with a view to applying for DFR’s ‘Gap Year’ program.
The DFR team also visited Charleville School of Distance Education,
where they had a rapt online audience of more than 60 kids.
The HOPE Program is well into the planning stage for this year’s
Deadly Recruits Camp. Watch this space …
L-R: Ace Hodgkinson, Michaela Peck, Sue Eustace-Earle (HOPE)
and Ebony Allsopp
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
19Our Teams
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR
ROMA MURRI CUY
The Roma Murri CUY was awarded the Australia Day Cultural Roma Murri CUY provided a great opportunity for community
Award in Roma and surrounds for their NAIDOC Week celebration members of all ages and all walks of life, to participate in
events as part of Australia Day celebrations this year. a range of fun and engaging activities to support the local
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Administered by aspiring community members, Roma Murri
Catch Up and Yarn coordinate activities and programs The team also coordinated an in-school program consisting of
including NAIDOC Week celebrations. Indigenous games, arts and crafts and cultural tours.
Murri CUY member and South West HHS Senior Indigenous NAIDOC Week Celebrations proved to be a noteworthy
Coordinator Rodney Landers Senior, said the Roma Murri CUY contribution to the cultural life of the community and the Roma
was an organisation committed to ensuring local Indigenous Murri CUY are commended for their efforts.
culture is preserved, shared and celebrated.
The Australian Honours and Awards system provides the
“In a year that saw many events cancelled, Roma Murri CUY people of Australia the opportunity to recognise and say ‘thank
made a significant effort to ensure NAIDOC Week events took you’ to those whose efforts make our communities and our
place in Roma and across the region throughout November nation a better place.
2020,” Rodney Senior said.
Recipients come from right across the country and from all walks
“Under challenging conditions, Roma Murri CUY brought the of life. While some well-known people receive awards, many
community together to celebrate the history, culture, and more are known only to those they help and serve day-in-day-
achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” out. All recipients are worthy of recognition and celebration.
L-R: Guy Hendricks, Janaya Greenwood, Stephen Brown, Rodney Landers, Sue Lang, Heather Hall, Jo Turnbull, Megan Brown, Jess Walsh,
Heather Geary, Angie Gorrie, and Tania Hubbard
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
20SOUTH WEST WELCOMES
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEDICAL
SERVICES AND CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
The South West HHS “The spirit of a community relates to its people and even before
welcomed Dr Debra arriving I received welcome e-mails from community members,
Tennett in January as the advice on upcoming community events, followed by a welcome
new Executive Director BBQ on my first day in town, organised by the Director of
of Medical Services and Medical Services at Roma.”
Clinical Governance
(EDMSCG). “I have been made to feel warmly welcomed by my new team.
It reminds me of my visit to Charleville and Augathella when I was
Dr Tennett said both a student and I think is reflective of the community mindedness
her and her family were and warmth of this district - which is a real strength!
excited to be settling into
the South West having “Life seems to operate at a far more sensible and wholesome
visited the area as a pace in the country and I believe is sought after by many.”
Dr Tennett medical student. Dr Tennett said her family is looking forward to exploring the
“I previously visited Augathella and Charleville as a medical South West landscape as well as learning more about the local
student and am pleased to have the opportunity to live and work Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures that is so rich and
in this region again,” Dr Tennett said. to be treasured.
“I remember being impressed at the number of social events “I look forward to settling into the community and getting to
that occurred at Charleville during my time there and I am know the staff, consumers and other community members.
grateful that my children now have an opportunity to experience I aim to listen and work hard to deliver quality healthcare to
the joys of rural living and my husband is looking forward to our communities.”
working as an Emergency Nurse at Roma Hospital.”
Dr Tennett previously worked as a Rural Generalist with Obstetric
and Anaesthetic skills in Kingaroy and Gympie.
“I am passionate about improving health for rural communities.
The South West HHS vision is to be a national leader in the
delivery of health services to rural and remote communities and
as the Executive Director of Medical Services for the South West
HHS I look forward to helping achieve this vision,” she said.
“There are many advantages for rural and remote areas relating
to the implementation of improved models of healthcare that are
patient focused and reliant on rapidly improving technologies.
“The new hospital in Roma is exceptional, staff in the region
are very competent and dedicated, and I am looking forward
to visiting the new Southern Queensland Rural Health Clinical
Training Facility at Charleville.
“I believe there are many good reasons for doctors and other Dr Tennett’s family, Liam, Andrew and Skye
healthcare professionals to move to, and stay, in the South West.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
2126 NEW NURSE AND MIDWIFERY
GRADUATES JOINING SOUTH WEST HHS
A total of 17 new nursing and midwifery graduates “Since last year, we have faced huge challenges with the
commenced their careers with the South West HHS global coronavirus health pandemic, and it’s incredibly clear
just how essential it is to invest in the next generation of
at the start of February.
healthcare workers, especially in our regions.”
These are in addition to nine new graduates who have already South West HHS Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery
joined the health service during December and January. Services Chris Small said the size of the graduate intake was
reflective of the continuing strong interest among graduates in
Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health
joining the health service.
Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert welcomed our new graduates
in Roma as they undertook their orientation at Roma Hospital. “The South West HHS is being viewed by new graduates as an
increasingly attractive area in which to pursue their careers,’’
“It’s wonderful to be welcoming these new nursing and
he said.
midwifery graduates to the region,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“They are joining the local health system during a global
pandemic to provide the best care for the community. After
undertaking years of study, I’m sure that they will enjoy
rewarding careers.
Graduates nurses with Assistant Minister for Health and Regional Health Infrastructure Julieanne Gilbert MP
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
2226 new nurse and midwifery graduates joining South West HHS cont.
“In addition, since March 2017, our 12-month graduate “I chose to do the dual degree because it allows me to follow
transition program has been endorsed by the University of the entire patient journey, from when they’re brought to
Southern Queensland for two credit points towards any future hospital from home or an accident scene, right through their
course of study the graduates might want to embark upon as hospital care and eventual discharge.
their careers progress.’’
“My nursing experience will help me be a better paramedic,
Mr Small said the new graduates included a dual-degree while my paramedic skills help me to be a better nurse. I also
nursing and paramedicine graduate and one midwife. All always wanted to work in a small community in a rural area
the new graduates under went a week’s orientation at Roma because you can make a big difference in a small community
Hospital before being assigned to health facilities throughout and the dual degree is a great foundation on which to build.’’
the region.
Ms Brown initially will do a six-month rotation at Augathella
“They will be working in a variety of areas, including Multipurpose Health Service, followed by a further six months
acute medical, surgical, emergency, maternity, aged care, with the Queensland Ambulance Service in the South West.
community and primary health and supporting the hospital-
based ambulance in the facilities where these are located,’’ Mr Small said dual-trained nursing and paramedicine
Mr Small said. graduates undertook the same 12-month graduate transition
program as all the other newly graduated nursing and
Among the new graduates are Morgan Brown and Claudia- midwifery staff.
Anne Murray.
The difference for them was that their program was split
Ms Murray, originally from the Quilpie region, is now a between the health service and the Queensland Ambulance
St George local, living on a property near the town. She Service, spending six months with each organisation, he said.
completed her nursing degree with Central Queensland
University, studying externally while working as an Enrolled Mr Small said the South West Hospital and Health Service had
Nurse, first at Mungindi for two years and at St George partnered formally with QAS in 2018 to introduce the dual-
Hospital for the past two years. trained registered nurse/paramedic program – the first in
Queensland – following an initial earlier trial.
“Both my parents are nurses, and I always wanted to be a
nurse,’’ Ms Murray said. Since then, the dual degree program has proved very popular
with graduates.
“I also always wanted to work in the country because city
life just isn’t for me and I wanted to do rural nursing, so I did Mr Small said the South West HHS was committed to providing
my Enrolled Nurse qualification through TAFE to start with training opportunities for graduate nurses and midwives.
and went to work at Mungindi. Then about six months into
“There’s no denying how important nurses are in our
working as an Enrolled Nurse, I decided I wanted to be a
community and to our health service,’’ Mr Small said.
Registered Nurse so started studying externally and I’ve now
finished my degree.’’ “Nurses make up almost 50 per cent of our health service
workforce; they provide care at almost every stage of our lives
Ms Murray said she would be continuing to work at St George
across our GP clinics, our hospitals and in the community.”
Hospital as a new Registered Nurse.
As in previous years, the health service will welcome a second,
Dual nursing and paramedicine degree graduate Morgan
smaller intake of graduate nurses and midwives in August.
Brown hails from Ipswich and did her degree through the
Queensland University of Technology.
“I got into nursing because my entire family has been involved
in healthcare, so it was always very interesting to me,’’ she said.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
23MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLANNING TAKE TIME FOR YOUR
MENTAL WELLBEING
Development and review of documented Mental
Health care plans - a holistic case management Taking a few moments for yourself each day, to
approach - has significantly increased throughout prioritise your mental wellbeing, is all you need to
the course of 2020, to the extent that South West be a happier and a more resilient you.
has now progressed from being one of the lowest
This is the key message of Queensland Health’s Dear Mind
performing Hospital and Health Services at the
campaign.
beginning of year, to being one of the highest
performing services across Queensland. The second phase of this campaign was recently launched
to help Queenslanders through the COVID-19 pandemic. The
This achievement has been realised following proactive campaign encourages Queenslanders to create a healthier
steps initiated during March 2020 by our Community Mental relationship with their mind, by making small changes to their
Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Team to improve access daily routine to include activities from the six building blocks
to central data held by Queensland Health enabling the of mental wellbeing.
team to make adjustments to internal reporting processes -
Especially during these times of change and uncertainty,
ensuring scheduled case reviews were managed in the most
taking ‘me time’ can help us bounce back from change faster,
effective manner.
as well as maintain a sense of control, meaning and purpose
“From a starting point of around 16 percent at the beginning in life.
of the year, and by December 2020 we had reached 88.62%
When we look after our mental wellbeing, we are better able
was a huge achievement and a credit to the whole team
to cope with the everyday stresses of life, realise our abilities,
who pull together each and every day to ensure the very
participate in the community and work productively.
best service for our clients” said Aurora Bermudez, Service
Director, Mental Health. Evidence has also shown positive mental wellbeing can help
prevent behavioural and mental health problems, and act as
“With a statewide target from 1 July 2020 of ensuring at least
an important ‘buffer’ to the risk of mental illness. For ideas and
65 percent of clients are seen within the required timescales,
inspiration visit qld.gov.au/mentalwellbeing.
we know our revised processes will ensure that as many
people remain up to date with their plans as possible.
We are also in a good position to meet future targets which are
anticipated to progressively increase in the coming years to
ensure continued service excellence”.
Rebecca Greenway, Acting Executive Director Primary and
Community Care, also acknowledged the hard work of the
team, said she was delighted with the team’s continued efforts
in ensuring the very best of care for South West communities
and looked forward to seeing further improvements against
this very important measure of service delivery.
“However, what’s most important is the fact that behind every
number is a person – and therefore our team’s daily efforts
are ensuring people receive the patient centred care and
support they need so that timely, wrap around services can
be put in place that reflect their ongoing health and wellbeing
goals and treatment preferences”.
PULSE January / February 2021 edition | South West Hospital and Health Service
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