Our vision is to be the leading private hospital in South Australia with a supportive culture where relationships matter, teamwork counts, and care exceeds expectations.
St Andrew’s Hospital is Australia’s largest stand-alone independent private hospital, providing compassionate care to over 40,000 patients a year. Established in 1936, the hospital overlooks Adelaide’s south parklands and houses 240 patient beds and 12 state-of-the-art operating theatres. Our capacity includes a 28-bed Cardiac Unit, an 18-bed critical care unit, an emergency department and South Australia’s most comprehensive private cancer-care facility.
At St Andrew’s Hospital, we know that people are our greatest strength. Our highly skilled, dedicated and caring staff are what make us an exemplary health service. We are committed to achieving outstanding healthcare outcomes through patientcentred care and excellent customer service.
Acknowledgement of Country
St Andrew’s Hospital acknowledges the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains on which land the hospital resides. We respect their Native Title Right to Country.
We recognise their strength and resilience and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.
Welcome to the Annual Report of St Andrew’s Hospital, 2024–25
From the Chair, David Whitbread and CEO, Eileen Sawyer
The last twelve months have seen some significant changes to the hospital’s leadership, with longstanding CEO Stephen Walker retiring from the hospital after 23 years of service. We wish Stephen the very best for a well-earned retirement. In January we were joined by Eileen Sawyer who brings international leadership experience to the CEO role. We look forward to building on our strong foundation and continuing our growth as South Australia’s leading private hospital where care exceeds expectations.
We would like to thank our amazing staff for their commitment to outstanding patient care. We would also like to extend our thanks to the executive team, Board and the wider St Andrew’s community for their critical contributions to the hospital during another demanding year.
You will all be aware that Australia’s private hospitals are under pressure due to the shortfall in funding from health insurance companies, continued rising costs of energy, freight and consumables and significant workforce shortages. Despite these considerable challenges within the healthcare sector, the St Andrew’s team remains focused on
our commitment to patient safety and quality as we drive transformation activities to ensure a financially sustainable operating model, providing the best end-to-end care and patient experience.
This year external surveyors assessed all elements of the hospital against the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Standards with a short-notice assessment – a first under the revised standards. Our accreditation audit results reflected our unwavering commitment to excellence, and we are very proud of our team’s performance.
Our people are our greatest strength and our continued investment in their professional development, positive organisational culture and the pursuit of medical and surgical excellence is highlighted throughout this report. Our highly regarded training and development initiatives, university partnerships and scholarship programs have shown real benefits for both patients and staff.
This year we extended our expertise in robotics, integrating a new Mako surgical robot for advanced orthopaedic care into our suite of advanced surgical systems, developed nurture boxes to support
palliative care patients and their loved ones, enhanced our support for working parents, and welcomed new surgeons to St Andrew’s Hospital whilst farewelling those that retired.
We are grateful to have the support of the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation and our committed team of volunteers. Our generous benefactors provide essential funding to the hospital to enable the continued purchasing of vital equipment, and our Foundation supports us with community engagement and scholarships. We are blessed to have the support of our volunteers through the donation of their time amounting to some 15,000 hours of service each year.
We have also taken an active step this year to review our systems, processes and infrastructure as we work on a new strategic plan and understand the opportunities and challenges ahead of us. We continue to engage with our stakeholders to refine what an acute care hospital of the future should look like. We are working to enhance our digital maturity to drive efficiencies, improve health informatics and ensure a secure foundation to operate clinically appropriate state-of-the-art medical technologies and be a true centre of excellence in this space.
In closing, we would like to reiterate the thanks to our staff and stakeholders. We wish everyone a prosperous year ahead as we navigate the sector challenges together and continue to grow our offering in end-to-end patient-centred care.
1 new Mako SmartRobotics system for enhanced orthopaedic care
92% of patients satisfied or very satisfied with their care
16 weeks parental leave now available to all eligible employees
3 nominations and 1 finalist in the SA Nursing and Midwifery Awards
15 nurture boxes given to support palliative care patients and their families
150,000 hot meals prepared
5 clinical post-graduate scholarships funded
15,000 hours donated by volunteers
25 new graduate nurses joined the team
15 students began 400-hour pastoral care training
20 sixth year medical student placements
Clinical Services and Operations
From Jacquie Wiley, Director of Clinical Services and Operations
In the last 12 months we’ve seen continued pressure through workforce shortages, and I’m grateful and incredibly proud of how the team has pulled together to provide exceptional patient care and honour our patients’ trust in us. It’s this going above-and-beyond culture of care (for patients and each other) and a commitment to ongoing education and advancement that sees St Andrew’s remain a sought-after hospital by medical staff and patients. I am extremely grateful to all the nurses who I am lucky to have in the Nursing Division.
I’d personally like to acknowledge the work of educators and managers and everyone who attended our education programs. Our out-ofhours education program continues to be wellattended, indicating a strong commitment from our nursing staff to ensure their knowledge base is contemporary and they can provide the best care possible.
Outstanding results from short notice accreditation
St Andrew’s underwent its first short notice accreditation in November, where external surveyors assessed all elements of the hospital against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards with just 24–48 hours’ notice. The surveyors spent four days at the hospital with 80% of their time spent talking to patients and staff that deliver care and services across clinical care and medication management, maintenance, engineering and dietary. We’re proud of our team’s performance and were delighted to receive an outstanding audit result.
“I’m privileged and proud to be a part of the team here, which is the most engaged and committed team I’ve worked with throughout my 40+ year career.”
Central Sterile Supply Department
(CSSD)
The CSSD is instrumental for the operational needs of the perioperative theatre suite.
The department proceses over 140,000 instruments and trays, annually, for theatres, and are the silent advocates for patient safety.
The team is a well oiled machine with skill sets to ensure smooth and safe procedures for reprocessing of reusable medical devices and loan kits.
The team benefits from a depth of experience which includes a dedicated loan kit coordinator, supervisors and a recently appointed sterilisation educator. They are a cohesive unit and look at each other as family, reflecting the values and the culture of St Andrew’s as a whole.
Working side by side, supporting and caring for all, is the unspoken ethos of our team, and we are immesely proud in our achiemvements and contribution to patient safety.
Joint research role with the University of Adelaide continues
St Andrew’s Hospital continued its relationship with the University of Adelaide this year. We farewelled Associate Professor Tamara Page and welcomed Associate Professor Paul McLiesh into the joint role held with the university. Paul has hit the ground running, working closely with Tina Donaldson and various team members on research projects which will drive further excellence in care.
Clinical and leadership scholarship program
With the support of the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation, many more nursing staff are undertaking postgraduate qualifications to ensure the care provided to patients is of the
We’ve also financially supported study leave for staff to attend a wide range of workshops, conferences and courses in areas such as root cause analysis, autotransfusion, shock across the lifespan, digital innovation, having challenging conversations, emergency medicine and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to name just
St Andrew’s staff feature in SA Nursing and Midwifery Awards
Several hospital staff were nominated for the annual Nursing and Midwifery Awards, which publicly recognise and celebrate the significant contribution that nurses and midwives make to the healthcare outcomes of the broader South Australian community. We are extremely proud of the contributions of those nominated:
• Tina Donaldson – Finalist, Excellence in Leadership and Governance
• Tina was the only finalist from a private hospital across all award categories.
• Naomi Kingscott – Nominee, Excellence in Education
• Renee McHugh, Tina Donaldson, Kahlia Wisby, Kelly Eichner, Dale Broomfield, Tamara Page, Oliva Heeson and Heather Crosby – Team Nominees, Excellence in Practice
New Mako robot for knee, hip replacement patients
In February this year, St Andrew’s began operating with a new Mako robot for enhanced orthopaedic care. The Mako SmartRobotics system offers 3D, CT based pre-operative planning and AccuStop haptic technology.
During surgery, the robotic arm helps to guide the surgeon so that implants are positioned as planned, with greater bone preservation and less soft tissue damage.
We’d also like to acknowledge the 40+ nursing staff from the theatre and ward areas who participated in an education evening on their own time to find out more about the surgery, see (and try) the Mako in action, and learn how to better inform and care for patients undertaking this procedure.
We’re delighted to offer St Andrew’s orthopaedic patients this new service which builds on our robotic surgery capabilities in urology, thoracic, ENT, gynae, colorectal and general surgery.
Clinical Services and Operations (continued)
Staff changes
Over the last year there have been many changes to the team, and we’d like to extend a fond farewell and warm welcome to the following doctors.
Retired Doctors
30+ Years
Dr James Moore
Colorectal Surgeon
Dr Anthony Purser
Anaesthetist
Dr Mark Schoeman
Gastroenterologist
Dr Rob Young
Intensivist and former ICU
Director
20+ Years
Dr Phillip Game
General Surgeon
Dr William McLeay
Breast Surgeon
Dr Oseka Onuma
Gynaecologist
15+ Years
Dr Mike Worthington
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Vale Teresa Davy
Teresa was a dedicated Registered Nurse who began her nursing career in Poland and worked across several healthcare services in Adelaide for many years. Teresa was a kind person and a valued member of the Cardiac Unit and Night Duty team at St Andrew’s for 8 years. She is sadly missed by her colleagues.
Vale Dr Andrew Hunter
Dr Hunter was a respected and well-liked member of our hospital community for well over 30 years. We are deeply saddened by his sudden passing in January.
Andrew was well known across the hospital, working closely with staff in theatres, the procedure rooms and with the staff on the second floor. He was a member of our Medical Advisory Committee and contributed to the committee over a long period of time. As a colorectal surgeon, Andrew was held in high regard and was recognised for his calm and kind interactions with staff and patients alike.
New Doctors
Dr Robert Baird, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Alex Cameron, Plastic Surgeon
Dr Robert Fassina, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Christy Graff, Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Ashutosh Hardikar, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr Kate Martin, Gynaecologist
Dr Nick Montarello, Cardiologist
Dr Chloe O’Dea, Breast Endocrine Surgeon
Dr Andrew Shepherd, Urologist
Dr David Tan, Neurosurgeon
Dr John Thomson, General, Hepatopancreaticbilary Surgeon
Dr Benjamin Thurston, Vascular Surgeon
Dr Jason Varzaly, Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Dr Chris Wong, Cardiologist
Patient Safety and Quality
At St Andrew’s, safety and quality is embedded as part of day-to-day practice. It is measured and monitored in clinical statistics and auditing of standards, which are of course vitally important. But it’s also measured in true patient-centred care. We are continually seeking to advance and innovate, encouraging all staff to help identify and drive our quality improvements. Beyond clinical outcomes, we focus on individual care to help patients achieve personal goals related to their procedures.
Measuring our performance
In August 2024, the hospital also underwent a successful short notice assessment with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) to verify the hospital’s compliance with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework. The feedback from the assessment team was very positive.
St Andrew’s regularly provides care that goes above and beyond national benchmarks.
Our patient feedback provided positive comments about staff, recognising them as welcoming, caring, cheerful, friendly, efficient, helpful and professional – truly reflecting the St Andrew’s values.
Patient feedback
“I can’t emphasise enough how surprised and delighted I was by the service and care at every point along the way for my procedure! Staff and Doctors were not just pleasant or kind but extremely helpful and caring! Honestly I’m gobsmacked! Thankyou! From a very nervous fearful person.”
“Everyone that I interacted with was fantastic. With admission, pre procedure and post procedure I had trainee personnel being mentored by nurses and they were all great. Keep up the high standard.”
83.7%
Hand Hygiene Rate
Above (better than) the national benchmark of 80%
0.64
Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteraemia Rate
Significantly below (better than) the national benchmark of 1.00 cases per 10,000 bed days of patient care.
High hand hygiene rates help reduce staphylococcus aureus bacteria (SAB) rate.
0.012%
Pressure Injuries (> Stage 2)
Significantly below (better than) the ACHS private national average (0.026%)
0.137% Falls Rate
Significantly below (better than) the ACHS private national average (0.289%)
Patient Safety and Quality (continued)
Consumer co-design
Patients, their families and their carers are intrinsically involved in the ongoing development of high-quality care and facilities at St Andrew’s Hospital. Patient feedback, consumer forums of specific patient cohorts, and a formal Consumer Reference Group all provide input to ensure the consumer voice is considered from the outset. The Consumer Reference Group has six members from a range of non-medical perspectives and backgrounds and meets four times a year to consult on performance indicators, policies, procedures, strategic planning and current projects, as they relate to the consumer experience. Additionally, a consumer representative sits on the hospital’s Patient Safety and Quality Committee, which reports to the Board.
Safety II – using ‘what goes right’ to inform clinical practice, policy and patient safety
St Andrew’s Hospital has begun to explore patient safety through a new lens, based on the safety science principles of Safety II. Current safety frameworks in healthcare primarily focus on identifying the cause of adverse events to prevent them from going wrong again. Safety II adds to this focus and also examines why and how things go right.
Healthcare staff constantly make adjustments, often undocumented and under-recognised, to navigate complex and unpredictable scenarios in daily practice that keep people safe. Rather than viewing these potential policy deviations as risks, Safety II sees them as essential contributions that can maintain safety and resilience. Most care delivery is safe and successful because of the skill and adaptability of our teams.
Tina Donaldson and Assoc Prof Paul McLiesh are applying this way of thinking to a quality improvement project that explores care for patients with difficult intravenous access. The team has created a working group to observe, learn and document real world strategies that are used to achieve positive outcomes with the view to developing a care pathway for this group of patients.
Our contribution to quality and safety on a national scale
Our passionate clinical team are contributing to patient safety and quality at a national level through membership with various committees and focus groups.
Tina Donaldson, Quality and Risk Manager
• Invited member of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards Project Advisory Committee
Jacquie Wiley, Director Clinical Services and Operations
• Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care
– Health Series Medication Expert Advisory Group
– Private Hospital Sector Committee
• Nursing Midwifery Strategy Reference Group
• National Nursing Workforce Strategy Advisory Group
Paul McLiesh, Associate Professor of Nursing, Innovations in Quality & Safety
• Invited to share Safety II perspectives as part of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care consultation for the new standards
Lisa Walter, Associate Director of Nursing
• National Standard for User-applied Labelling of Injectable Medicines, Fluids and LinesFocus Group
Linda Jarratt, Infection Control Coordinator
• National Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines and Case Definition Review Working Group
of patients satisfied or very satisfied with their care
Clinical care standards
The clinical team regularly reviews and addresses requirements of the Clinical Care Standards released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Clinical Care Standards describe the care that people can expect to be offered no matter where they are treated in Australia. This year we focused on reviewing the Acute Anaphylaxis Clinical Care Standard and the Sepsis Clinical Care Standard so that we could continue to improve patient safety in our organisation. As a part of this process, we developed an anaphylaxis kit for emergency trolleys and a ‘sepsis pathway’ for early escalation of care when sepsis is suspected.
What Matters to You? Day
Each year St Andrew’s recognises this international event, which reminds healthcare workers how important it is to ask patients: What matters to you? We use this question to identify personal goals that each patient would like to achieve from their healthcare, and our Graduate Nurses are ambassadors throughout the hospital on the day. This involves: distributing feedback leaves and information to patients; starting the ‘what matters to you?’ conversation with patients and encouraging their colleagues to do the same; and collecting feedback from the patients. Reflecting on the conversations with patients, and the feedback provided, helps them to better understand the importance of these meaningful conversations.
What matters to our patients is very individual
“Seeing the sun shining through my hospital window following my op yesterday; My family visits today with my 18-month-old, what joy; walking with my daughter to the open gardens.”
“It’s important to me to be able to walk every day and to play with the grandchildren. It’s also important to me to be in the garden. I appreciate when a professional is honest with me and explore all options for my recovery. Not just prescribing skills.”
“Being relaxed; I have a positive mindset; I’m expecting the results to be positive.”
Human Resources
St Andrew’s strives to be an employer of choice, promoting a positive internal culture, a safe working environment, employee benefits and regular opportunities for recognition.
St
Andrew’s
welcomes new CEO Eileen Sawyer
In January 2025 Eileen Sawyer joined St Andrew’s as its CEO following the retirement of Stephen Walker. Eileen has held a number of senior leadership positions and is passionate about delivering excellence in a culture that fosters mutual respect and where people can prosper.
Nursing workforce challenges remain a strategic priority
St Andrew’s has been addressing workforce challenges through targeted international recruitment and strong local hiring supported by a compelling employee value proposition. In 2024–25, 12 international registered nurses from India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe began work at the hospital. Our ongoing focus is on sustaining a skilled workforce through targeted recruitment, streamlined onboarding and enhanced integration support.
Standout employee recognition program highlights our values in action
Each month, staff can nominate a colleague who they think demonstrates St Andrew’s values through the Standout program. Nominees win a $250 gift voucher each month through a random draw and it’s a great way to share our appreciation for team members who go above and beyond.
“Dave will cook any dietary need for a patient without hesitation at the last minute. He always takes pride and care with his presentation and will help anyone who needs it.”
“Brad is our newest Warehouse Team lead and since stepping into this role he has trained and instantly made improvements. He has changed the dynamics of the warehouse. He has shown respect for team members in the department for taking on new and extra tasks when asked.”
“Georgina is always more than happy to help the entire team even when she is busy herself…Georgina takes the time to sit with her patients and provide chemo education, the way she speaks to them and supports them is inspiring.”
“Frances has been very instrumental at implementing the changes needed in the unit in regards to drug titration. Her research has made it possible for us to now at a glance to mix and match the right medication to the solution for patient use.”
“Danielle has worked diligently to maintain a high standard of patient service and assisted the needs of the office environment…Danielle understands both the medical and financial needs of patients, ensuring a smooth and calm admission experience at St Andrew’s!”
Staff newsletter reaches issue #20
The HR newsletter launched last year is still going strong, with monthly updates on new staff appointments, promotions and farewells, positions available, event news, employee benefits and more. Each ‘new starter,’ is proudly featured in the newsletter alongside their name and position to help make it easier for the team to make them feel welcome.
Ice cream truck helps celebrate short notice assessment results
All staff were treated to an afternoon of delicious free ice cream in February to celebrate the fantastic results we achieved in our short notice assessment against the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Sponsored by the generous team at Police Credit Union, the ice cream truck was a big hit on a sunny day.
The hospital surveyed its staff in December 2024 to gain insights and feedback on all areas of their work experience. The Pulse survey indicated that more than 90% of respondents feel that the work environment is positive, with 76.3% feeling satisfied or very satisfied in their roles. Staffing levels, patient loads and access to critical resources were key concerns. This feedback underscores the importance of our continued efforts to address workplace conditions, enhance employee recognition, and improve career progression pathways.
Parental leave policy enhanced to support families
We updated our parental leave policy so that all eligible permanent full-time and part-time employees now receive 16 weeks of paid parental leave as the primary carer. Previously, entitlements varied by length of service, but this change provides equal access for both birth and adoptive parents, with partner leave remaining at two weeks. This enhancement demonstrates our commitment to supporting staff and their families, while fostering a workplace where flexibility, family and belonging are genuinely valued. To mark the announcement, staff were invited to celebrate together with hot cinnamon donuts across the hospital.
“There are so many reasons I love working at St Andrew’s but beyond any reason is definitely the people.”
“I value working at St Andrew’s because of the way they have supported and invested in me over the past 10 years, enabling me to grow as a nurse and as a person.”
Workplace Health and Safety
New contractor management system improves oversight
This year we launched a new contractor management system, Sine, to efficiently manage safety records and maintain clear visibility of who is on site and their purpose. The sign-in system was also extended to include delivery drivers and vendors, who are now required to sign in as guests before they can access designated work areas. Sine has strengthened compliance, improved safety and streamlined contractor and visitor management.
Coaching program helps prevent injury
The team officially launched the Manual Task Coach program across clinical work areas after a successful pilot program in 2023. The coaching program equips selected staff with specialised training in manual handling techniques and equipment so that they can support their teams in reducing the risks associated with manual tasks.
Long-term injury frequency rate remains at lowest point in last six years
We’re pleased that our long-term injury frequency rate has consistently remained at its lowest point in the past six years. Our hazard reporting continues to show a steady year-on-year increase, which is a vital indicator of our proactive safety culture and staff engagement in risk management.
New work health and safety improvement plan in place
Over the last year, the team has put together the WHS Improvement Plan 2025–27. The plan outlines the hospital’s key health and safety targets and the actions necessary to minimise the risk of harm, continually improve staff safety and support, and maintain a healthy workplace.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is an important facet of our values based healthcare model which is guided by compassion. Chaplain Jenski and the pastoral care team are trained to provide attentive and grounded emotional and spiritual support to patients, relatives and staff.
Clinical pastoral education (CPE) embedded in the hospital
After beginning CPE last year, the program is now well and truly embedded in the hospital. CPE is an international training program for people who offer spiritual or pastoral care in various contexts like prisons, schools, hospitals, emergency services and faith communities. The 400-hour program includes supervised practical experience around the hospital where participants explore how they can support people in distress according to best practices. Around 15 students are undertaking the program at St Andrew’s this year.
Compassionate listening training for medical students, graduate nurses, volunteers
Chaplain Jenski held education sessions with graduate nurses and medical students covering
Reconciliation Action Plan
topics like breaking bad news to people, grief, thinking about the patient beyond their physical diagnosis and compassionate listening.
Wellbeing Centre volunteers also received training on how to have compassionate conversations without oversharing or trying to ‘fix’ a problem.
Last days of life nurture boxes an expression of care
With support from the Foundation, Chaplain Jenski and Coffee Shop Manager Sandra Millar have developed nurture packs for palliative care patients and their family members. These boxes are a gift, an expression of care, for those spending their last days with us at the hospital and include a Last Days of Life booklet for family members.
Memorial day offers remembrance, connection
Each year the hospital invites the families of those who have died the previous year to a memorial service filled with music, poetry and performance. The service honours their loved ones, gives families the chance to reconnect and sees new connections form within the community.
The reconciliation journey of St Andrew’s is an ongoing process to improve our relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The hospital has its first stage ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) well underway, with our RAP Working Group progressing with further actions within the hospital’s surrounds, activities and processes.
St Andrew’s has been featuring artworks by Aboriginal women throughout the hospital. These pieces are on loan from the Glenelg Art Gallery and their presence around the hospital has led to several sales. Glenelg Art Gallery Director Rowena Brown has also been educating the team on the stories and symbolism of these incredible artworks.
A Reconciliation Week morning tea was held for all staff to raise awareness of Reconciliation Week and all that it represents, with refreshments made using Australian native ingredients.
We’re also grateful for the support and consultation provided by Kaurna Elder Uncle Tamaru who has provided language posters for the hospital.
Patient Services
The Patient Services team includes the concierge, reception and admissions staff who are routinely singled out by patients for their warm welcome, kindness, and excellent, efficient service.
The team has completed several process improvement projects over the last year. These include adjusting the workflow of patient paperwork printing to ease pressure on staff during high admission periods and implementing new documentation procedures for filing (medical records) and storage (patient paperwork) to make information easier to find and access. We are also developing shift instructions and task lists for all patient services positions, to implement improved training practices for new staff members.
The team have also begun to review the Personify Admission forms, revising the original forms to be tailored to each patient’s individual circumstances regarding their admission information.
“Right
from entering the hospital, all volunteers, administrative staff, nursing staff, anaesthetist and surgeon were absolutely lovely, caring individuals.”
“Thanks to a very caring and professional nursing team who cared for me throughout my time at St Andrew’s.”
“I would like to let you know the service from start to finish was fantastic…”
“From the volunteer greeter to the discharge person, ALL staff were extremely professional, and the happy atmosphere permeated the whole process.”
Employee Service Awards
St Andrew’s recognises the loyalty of its staff each year through its annual Employee Service Awards. Congratulations to all staff who reached significant service milestones over the 2024–25 financial year.
50 Years
Lynlee Moses
35 Years
Marcia Allen
Cristine Ayling
Lee-Ann Bright
Lina Matarazzo
30 Years
Caroline Guest
Lisa Maggs
Sarah Myers
Jacqueline Simmonds
25 Years
Alison Bosisto
Tiffany Carrigan
Katrina Griscti
Belinda Maas
Tina Purdie
Julie Williams
20 Years
Mandy Chisholm
Deidre Galezowski
Jennifer Goldsmith
Michele Hughes
Ricky Moehring
Biz Skara
Alison Vickers
15 Years
Sharon Blaney
Monica Cole
Megan Desira
Sarah Dunn
Janelle Freeman
Bryan Hamilton
Palash Kar
Lisa Lindley
Sarah Marshall
Stacy Mclean
Emily Newman
Julia Nuttall
Andrew Otway
Allison Peacock
Lisa Pennifold
Tabatha Robinson
Angela Trainer
10 Years
Lynette Chirara
Zara Connelly
Mathew Dunn
Haylee Faggionato
Ashleigh Fields
Andrea Franczuk
Janet Hannigan
Brigid Hay
Domenic Ianniello
Murch Kirsti
Kelly Knight
Lucy Rose Mussared
Mark Remington
Aaron Reval
Radhika Sharma
Sheree Wei
John Ziubinski
Dariusz Ziubinski
Lynlee Moses
5 Years
Ekala Buck
Felicity Cardellini
Lauren Carpenter
Bri Clark
Mon Forbes
Quan Fu
Michelle Gu
Olivia Herde
Clive Hume
John Hwang
Kharisma Jayanti
Veronica Jose
Inna Kogan
Michelle Lee
Anita Mclachlan
Elisa Mendoza
Holly Miller
Chris Mouratidis
Tara Muir
Jessie Yesudas Pandian
Sean Ramsay-Moore
Nicole Ritzau
Sophie Rogerson
Julie Signoriello
Steph Valencik
Frank Voca
Will White
Michelle Wood
Janet Young
Lynlee has dedicated an incredible 50 years of service to St Andrew’s Hospital. Although currently based within the Critical Care Unit, Lynlee has worked in multiple teams throughout the hospital and during this time seen many changes. In 2015, Lynlee spent time in Africa volunteering for the Internal World Youth Team which involved providing nursing care to local communities.
During her time away from work, Lynlee spends time with her two daughters and grandchildren. Over the years Lynlee has said she has stayed at St Andrew’s for the majority of her nursing career, because of the friendships she has formed and support she has received. It is not comparable to any other hospital.
Finance
During a financially challenging period in the private healthcare sector, we’re working to make sure that the hospital is operationally resilient now and into the future. We’re building skills in the Finance team to increase our capability and reduce our reliance on repetitive manual tasks, while improving governance and performance visibility so we can provide the hospital’s executive team and Board with clearer financial insights. The finance team have also been conducting diagnostic reviews across our systems and challenging legacy practices as we start to develop a long-term strategic systems roadmap.
Clinical information services
We report on the care received by each admitted patient by converting written clinical statements into coded data, which is then reported under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 and used to collect payment for our services. It’s vital that clinical documentation and coding is accurate so that we can collect the appropriate revenue. This year our teams maintained a strong focus on quality through regular documentation and clinical coding audits. These audits not only contributed to improved coding accuracy but also identified opportunities for continuous improvement and professional development.
Documentation improvement program delivers financial improvements
The Clinical Documentation Improvement Program (CDIP) works to enhance document clarity and completeness so that we can more accurately capture the complexity and excellence of care at St Andrew’s Hospital. This work supports clinical integrity and communication, promotes transparency and enhances patient safety, and contributes to the long-term financial sustainability of the hospital.
CDIP has delivered strong results over the last 12 months, with documentation improvements leading to additional revenue. This marked improvement in clinical documentation quality across the inpatient journey is even more impressive as it occurred during a time of transition following the retirement of the previous incumbent and appointment of a new Clinical Documentation Specialist.
Coding team certified in new classification system
The Clinical Information Services (CIS) team interprets clinical documentation and assigns diagnostic and procedural codes using the ICD-10AM/ACHI classification system, which is updated every two to three years. Thanks to proactive preparation and training, the team smoothly transitioned to the 13th Edition of ICD-10-AM/ ACHI classification system this year with all coders achieving competency certification.
Clinical coding supports revenue collection
In 2025, the Clinical Information Services (CIS) team successfully coded over 37,500 patient episodes, meeting all required deadlines and averaging more than 3,100 episodes per month. This was achieved by a highly skilled and committed team.
Despite the continued national shortage of clinical coders, CIS strengthened its workforce through successful recruitment and the return of an experienced team member from parental leave. These additions have further enhanced the team’s capability and resilience.
Clinical costing data helps drive operational decision-making
The Clinical Costing team gathers and analyses financial and patient activity data, developing insights that help the hospital’s management team make strategic decisions, increase operational efficiency and deliver high quality healthcare.
Clinical costing also helps the hospital to understand the cost of different combinations of patient activity, determine how we can best use clinical service areas, and negotiate with health funds to ensure the hospital is appropriately reimbursed for its services.
The Clinical Costing team at St Andrew’s Hospital also contributes to the annual National Hospital Cost Data Collection for the Private Sector with the government agency Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority. The national dataset is used to benchmark costs, make sure the costing process is consistent across different hospitals, and inform pricing and funding arrangements.
Patient billing system upgrade to accelerate payment processing
Over the past 12 months, the Patient Billing and Funding team completed testing for a major billing system upgrade that will enable more electronic claims submissions and accelerate processing times and payments for inpatient claims.
We have also introduced cross-training across the department, so that all team members will be proficient in eligibility verification, quoting, ledger management and billing. Our goal is to create a flexible yet specialised team that can efficiently handle each critical process. We also allocated specific resources to tackle aged receivables, which led to a substantial decrease in outstanding debtors over 180 days.
Auditors
BDO Chartered Accountants
7/420 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000
Supply
The Supply team at St Andrew’s Hospital plays a vital behind-the-scenes role at the hospital. They make sure that we are consistently stocked with over 4,000 essential items that support every aspect of patient care—from routine supplies to high-tech surgical consumables.
Despite ongoing global challenges such as shipping delays and supply disruptions linked to geopolitical events, the team has focused on building resilience, reducing costs, and strengthening partnerships, including collaboration with supply teams at other private hospitals.
Key achievements this year include:
• seamless integration of the Mako orthopaedic robot into supply workflows, with all consumables available by the go-live date
• cross-training of staff across data, purchasing and inventory roles, enhancing flexibility and continuity during absences
• an inventory database overhaul, leading to a 16% improvement in inventory turnover ratio, improving efficiency and reducing waste
• increased volunteer support for inventory checks across clinical areas to reduce expired stock
• cost savings of up to 10% of our inventory value through smarter procurement, product bundling and optimised delivery schedules.
The department manages over 6,000 bin locations and 34 warehouse areas, with 8,100 items picked and 3,170 lines received monthly, ensuring uninterrupted hospital operations.
“Working at St Andrew’s often feels like family. We spend a lot of time at work and to know you have people you can trust, support you, laugh and cry with, always makes me feel humble. Never underestimate the power of belonging somewhere.”
Information and Communication Technology
Chief Information Officer appointed
St Andrew’s has appointed Rod Sprenger to the newly created position of Chief Information Officer. Rod has extensive experience in digital health with a strong background in leading digital transformation in hospitals around Australia. Rod will be responsible for shaping and implementing the hospital’s digital and information strategy.
New ICT action plan for digital transformation
St Andrew’s undertook an independent review of its ICT environment this year to provide strategic guidance on its infrastructure, cybersecurity, clinical information systems, resourcing and processes. The team also developed an ICT action plan to drive digital transformation and ensure that staff and patients will be able to take advantage of advancements in digital healthcare.
Infrastructure upgrades improve connectivity and communication
The hospital has partnered with Cisco and Hexicor to begin the largest upgrade of its network in over a decade and improve connectivity, reliability, and day-to-day efficiency across the hospital. The project began with a telephone handset refresh and will result in a complete phone system upgrade.
Software updates enhance security, function
Windows 11 was rolled out across all PCs this year to ensure compatibility with modern applications and enhance security. This meant significant improvements to end users including better performance, higher levels of security, seamless integration with other devices and access to new tools.
Roll-out of new patient billing system complete
We also completed the rollout of the Patient Billing and Revenue Collection system, continuing work initiated in the previous year and bringing increased efficiency and accuracy to patient administration and billing.
Recruitment and on-boarding made easier for HR team
Two new systems were successfully implemented in the HR department during the year:
• JobAdder to improve job applicant tracking, management and interaction
• Worknice to provide digital onboarding for new staff and manage associated onboarding documentation.
Engineering and Support Services
Trigeneration plant rebuild, new boiler increases sustainability
The hospital generates electricity using a trigeneration plant. Trigeneration is a process whereby an engine is provided with a fuel (in our case natural gas) and the engine then drives an electric motor which becomes a generator. The trigeneration plant supplies electricity needed to power the hospital and we also harness its heat energy waste to provide steam for sterilisation, heat to generate hot water, and chilling for air conditioning. Using these waste products saves money and increases the energy-use efficiency and sustainability of the hospital.
The trigeneration plant reached 40,000 run hours in 2024 and this triggered the need for a rebuild that the Engineering team successfully completed over the Christmas–New Year period. The team also installed and commissioned a new 15 horsepower electric boiler to take advantage of the electricity generated by the plant. These two major projects were the final works on the hospital’s 10-year Engineering Services Master Plan.
Condition audit begins on all major plant and equipment
With the completion of the 10-year Engineering Services Master Plan, the hospital has engaged Lucid Consulting engineers to conduct a condition audit on all major plant and equipment. Their report, and recommendations for new technologies and innovations, will inform a new 10-year capital works program from 2026.
Building management system continues to save time and minimise service losses
About 45% of the hospital’s major plant and equipment is connected to our building management system (BMS) that provides real-time performance data and fault warnings. The BMS allows the team to spot anomalies, like falling steam in a boiler, and fix them before they have any impact on hospital services – often before a fault is even triggered in the system.
Biomedical engineering
Staff changes over the last twelve months have led to the outsourcing of the hospital’s biomedical engineering department and we now have two highly experienced Chemtronics biomedical engineers on site. Aside from their technical expertise, we’re also benefiting from Chemtronics’ national footprint through access to a large bank of knowledge and increased purchasing power.
Security and cleaning services
Supportive and responsive, ISS continues to provide high quality cleaning services across the hospital.
St Andrew’s employs a small team of in-house security guards, who create a secure presence at the hospital.
Vale Paul Griffin
The Engineering and Support Services team, and staff across the hospital, were deeply saddened by the loss of Paul Griffin, who passed away in March 2025 at the age of 53. A charismatic and well-liked colleague, Paul was a dedicated Security Supervisor and had a positive impact on everyone he met. He’ll be greatly missed.
Dietary Services
St Andrew’s bucks the industry trend and has a reputation for delivering excellent patient meals. We understand that a tasty meal can comfort people who are away from home and experiencing health challenges – we take great pride in producing food that is both nutritious and delicious. And we support South Australian suppliers and businesses where possible.
St Andrew’s has held the internationally recognised HACCP Food Safety Certification since 2005 and is one of the only hospitals that is consistently audited against the standards. This year we again fulfilled all objectives of the 2025 SAI Global Recertification Audit.
More than 150,000 hot meals a year hit the spot
St Andrew’s produces well over 100,000 hot meals per year for patients, as well as more than 50,000 for the popular staff cafeteria, where sales have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Between meals for inpatients, day patients and visiting medical officers, hundreds of snacks and sandwiches also leave the main kitchen each day.
Consistently excellent patient feedback on meals
“Thank you very much, the quality of your food is excellent.”
“I was very impressed with the meals, even if it was only one day.”
“Thank you for all the beautiful food you have given me for the past 14 days.”
“I think the food service and help that I received was perfect, thank you guys.”
“Excellent presentation and quality. Thanks.”
“St Andrew’s is truly a very caring hospital and environment, I have full confidence in recommending/ attending here again, thank you.”
“You guys in the kitchen provide the backbone to recovery. For me the soups were key and OMG, OMG each and every soup – Perfect.”
Clinical Placement Program for Medical Students
St Andrew’s has hosted medical students from the University of Adelaide for more than 15 years, with 20 medical students undertaking clinical placements at the hospital during the 2025 academic year.
Sixth year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students spend four weeks at the hospital, with placements available in three specialty areas:
• breast endocrine (surgical focus) – supervised by Dr Janne Bingham
• surgical urology –primarily supervised by Dr John Bolt with Dr Rajinder Singh-Rai, Dr Arman Kahokehr and Dr James Aspinall also providing supervision to students
• cardiology (non-invasive and interventional) –supervised by Dr Peter Sage.
Alongside the supervising doctors, each specialty placement is supported by a vast number of anaesthetists, cardiologists, surgical assistants and other surgical consultants at St Andrew’s as well as the nursing and administration staff of each specialty area.
Diverse clinical experiences on offer for students
The clinical placement program at St Andrew’s provides a diverse range of clinical experiences for the students, including access to breast care and stomal therapy nursing specialists, Critical Care Unit ward rounds, and cardiothoracic and robotic surgery.
Our students also embarked on a private tour through the histopathology department of Clinpath Laboratories, Mile End. This is always an unexpected but enlightening experience for students who get the opportunity to see ‘under the microscope’.
Dr Alex Cameron, who began operating at St Andrew’s this year, will also conduct a suturing workshop for the students. Our thanks are extended to Dr Quoc Lam who has presented this highly
valued opportunity to medical students for the past three years.
Chaplain Jenski also holds a session for students on delivering difficult information to patients and family in their care and provides insight and tools to help them practice self-care throughout their career.
Collaboration and partnership in a private healthcare setting
During their placement at St Andrew’s, the students discover how the private healthcare setting differs from public teaching centres. They get to see and understand how multiple, independent private providers work in harmony with St Andrew’s to provide the highest quality, and efficient, healthcare to our patients from health concern, diagnosis and treatment through to recovery. They also gain insight into the different work sites available to practitioners.
We’d like to thank our external healthcare partners for their ongoing involvement and support of this program:
• Clinpath
• Advara HeartCare
• Jones Radiology
• GenesisCare
• South Terrace Oncology
• Fertility SA powered by Genea
What our students have to say…
“Absolutely fantastic. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity as a student to do a placement here, giving me the opportunity to see not just one, but numerous specialties, broadening my knowledge in multiple fields.”
“100% has been a highlight of my placements so far this year.”
Thank you to our patients
St Andrew’s patients are informed through admission documentation that the hospital partners with the university sector and that medical students may be part of their hospital stay. We are immensely grateful to our patients who, by their willingness to participate, contribute to the learning of medical students and the future medical workforce.
Consultant Medical Officers
The success of our medical student Clinical Placement Program relies heavily on the ongoing generosity of our medical community. Their willingness to share their time and their healthcare knowledge is appreciated and invaluable to the training of future medical professionals.
St Andrew’s Hospital remains grateful to all our clinical teaching medical officers for their contributions.
St Andrew’s Hospital remains grateful to all our clinical teaching medical officers for their contributions.
Dr James Aspinall
Dr Anthony Barnard
Dr Tarsha Basheer
Dr Janne Bingham
Dr John Bolt
Dr Yugesh Caplash
Dr Rick Catterwell
Dr Daniel Cehic
Dr Georgy Chacko
Dr Jonathan Cho
Dr Trevor Collinson
Dr Rod Cooter
Dr James Dickson
Dr Patrick Disney
Dr Nick Edwards
Dr Mary-Ann Fox
Dr Jonathan Fraser
Dr Andrew Fuller
Dr Jack Harbison
Dr Ashutosh Hardikar
Dr John Jaccarini
Dr Tom Jaensch
Dr Arman Kahokehr
Dr David King
Dr James Kollias
Dr Steve Kinnear
Dr Quoc Lam
Dr Jerrett Lau
Dr Matthew Lawrence
Dr Yu Chao Lee
Dr Mark Lewis
Dr Joe Montarello
Dr Nick Montarello
Dr Jamie Morton
Dr Nick Murray
Dr Kurian Mylankal
Dr Anand Nathan
Dr Victoria Nisenblat
Dr Martin Oehler
Dr Anu Raju
Dr Ben Reddi
Dr Anthony Russell
Dr Peter Sage
Dr Luay Samaraie
Dr Tarik Sammour
Dr Maria Santos
Dr Jodie Semmler
Dr Rajinder Singh-Rai
Dr Richard Smith
Dr Govindarajan Srinivasan
Dr Peter Steele
Dr Aaron Stevenson
Dr Karen Teo
Dr Michelle Thomas
Dr Sarah Thompson
Dr Charles Tie
Dr Ryash Vather
Dr Tom Vaughan
Dr Fabiano Viana
Dr Marcus Wagstaff
Dr David Walters
Dr Adam Wells
Dr Richard Wells
Dr Robert Whitfield
Dr Roger Woods
Dr Suranga Weerasooriya
Dr Glenn Young
Clinical Education
Attracting and retaining top quality nursing staff is crucial to delivering excellence in care. At St Andrew’s that starts with nursing students, supporting them with specialist clinical placements in the final years of their degree, and continues as we help newly registered nurses transition into the workforce and encourage senior staff to extend their skills and advance their careers.
The Clinical Education team creates upskilling opportunities for all staff, while at the same time fostering community and connection. They continue to reflect on the education program to make sure it meets the needs of our nurses and the hospital. Some of our greatest education assets are our Clinical Managers and Clinical Nurses –expert, senior staff with valuable qualifications and experience to pass on. The entire clinical team works together with the education team to ensure that St Andrew’s has the best nurses possible.
Graduate nursing program
St Andrew’s graduate nursing program is a 12-month education program for newly registered nurses. Many new nurses don’t feel they are work-ready when they finish their degree, either because they haven’t had a lot of clinical exposure or because they’re not familiar with how we work. The graduate program is our way of supporting them through that transition and setting them up for success.
This year, we employed 25 graduate nurses from an applicant pool of around 350, with both perioperative (theatre, anaesthetics, recovery and angiography) and ward graduates. 27 nurses graduated from the program last year and were celebrated by friends, family and hospital staff at a graduation ceremony. Most of these graduates are still working within the hospital and are supporting the new cohort as they work through the graduate program.
“The support I received, and the encouragement made my time as a graduate so much more enjoyable and exciting.”
“I didn’t feel like a number on payroll. I felt like I was a person that was looked after, and that my development as a nurse actually mattered to the hospital.”
2025 graduate nurses ‘Race around the World’
As well as on-the-job and online training, the graduate nurses receive five fully paid study days each year where they come together for clinical skills workshops. On one of their training days this year, the Education team introduced a new initiative – a ‘Race around the World’ scavenger hunt.
Mimicking the popular TV program, graduate nurses were put into teams to navigate their way to the finish line via clues they had to solve using their nursing knowledge. For example, correct drug calculations gave them codes to padlocks that revealed another clue. The course traversed the entire St Andrew’s precinct.
As well as testing their knowledge, the Race helped new nurses to learn more about different areas of the hospital, meet staff across the hospital and connect with their peers. The Race was so successful that the rest of the hospital nurses are keen to hold their own version.
Preceptor workshops, mentoring builds skills and supportive environment
St Andrew’s also has a program in place to help our senior staff support junior nurses, nurses who are new to the hospital, and nurses who may have come from overseas. Senior nurses attend preceptor workshops where they learn how to best support new or junior nurses. They are then matched with a nurse who they mentor through the first few months of employment. We mirror their rosters for the first month so that they can also benefit from working together on shift.
“This workshop provided insight into being a preceptor and ways to deliver constructive feedback in all situations.”
“I now feel more confident as the workshop has allowed me to ensure I give the correct advice to our Graduate Nurses, and I have learned new skills on how to teach and support them.”
“Effective feedback methods. Understanding of the Transition Shock Model and how to help the Graduates through their first few months.”
Experienced nurses train for theatre
Last year, the hospital began a Perioperative Nursing Program to train experienced registered nurses who wanted to move into a theatre scrub scout role and pursue a career in the operating theatre. First year feedback was very positive, and we’ve continued the program – another three senior nurses are pursuing perioperative education this year.
New UniSA partnership for clinical placement
“The extensive orientation and education when first starting the program was amazing and felt so supported straight away.”
Clinical postgraduate scholarships help nurses excel
St Andrew’s offers fully funded clinical scholarships for registered nurses who want to take on postgraduate studies and become a specialist in their field. The Janet Hay Scholarship – Nursing recipients this year were:
• Chloe Lea (CCU)– Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science (Intensive Care Nursing)
• Sophia Jericho (Rec/Anaes) – Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Anaesthetics and Recovery)
St Andrew’s began a clinical placement specialty program last year in partnership with UniSA. UniSA nursing students at the end of their first year can apply to undertake all their second and third year clinical placements in the specialty areas of their choice at St Andrew’s. For example, if a student is interested in intensive care nursing, we tailor their clinical placements to include the Cardiac Unit, emergency department and the critical care unit so they can experience very different, but pertinent clinical areas. Nine UniSA students began the program last year, with another 13 coming on board this year.
Clinical nurse study days for emerging leaders
Each clinical area within the hospital has second-incharge nurses who work with the Clinical Managers to run their area. These are the emerging leaders within the hospital, and we hold regular education days for their professional development on topics like:
• clinical documentation improvement
• patient feedback received
• having difficult conversations
• performance improvement projects
• voluntary assisted dying
• psychosocial safety in the workplace
• wellness, self-care and managing stress.
“I love working at St Andrew’s Hospital for the great team culture, and wonderful people I get to work with every day.”
Ongoing professional development drives excellence
Nurses are required to undertake a minimum of 20 hours of continued professional development per year. St Andrew’s provides an education program including workshops, online, bedside skills development and evening sessions taught by specialists and clinical experts.
Education topics
• Sepsis recognition and response
• Tegaderm CHG
• Monofer iron infusions
• Cardioversion simulation
• Airway management and patient assessment
• Ethical principles in Critical Care
• PICO negative pressure wound dressings
• Endoscopic reprocessing
• Caring for chest drains
• Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) dressings and care
In the Critical Care Unit, we delivered 35 formal education sessions to 175 staff and students including the weekly CCU Wednesday education delivered by consultants, 1:1 sessions with educators, and equipment training from company representatives.
This year the hospital also funded places for 25 recovery/anaesthetic staff to attend an external course through Periop Concepts – Paediatric Airway Emergencies
Board Sub Committees
St Andrew’s Hospital is supported by a number of Board committees that provide focused oversight across key areas of governance, clinical care, patient safety, risk and financial stewardship. Each committee plays an important role in ensuring the hospital delivers safe, high-quality services while maintaining strong governance and accountability.
We thank our Board Sub Committee members, many of whom are currently visiting medical officers at St Andrew’s who generously volunteer their time.
Patient Safety & Quality Committee
Chair: Dr Jim Sweeney
The Patient Safety & Quality Committee monitors the hospital’s performance in safety and quality, promotes a continuous culture of improvement initiative underpinned by innovation and best practice, and ensures compliance with national standards to enhance patient experience and outcomes.
Peer Review Committee
Chair: Dr Rodney Cooter
The Peer Review Committee conducts and facilitates peer review activities for accredited practitioners, helping to address concerns, support professional development and uphold safe, high-quality patient care.
Finance & Audit Committee
Chair: Sonya Furey
The Finance & Audit Committee monitors financial performance, budgets and audit processes, ensuring robust financial management, compliance and accountability to support the hospital’s long-term sustainability.
Medical Advisory Committee
Chair: Dr David Walters
The Medical Advisory Committee provides advice on clinical governance, medical practice and patient care, supporting continuous improvement and best practice across the hospital’s medical services.
Risk Management Committee
Chair: Susy Daw
The Risk Management Committee oversees the hospital’s organisational risk framework, reviewing the risk register and promoting a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement in risk management.
Capital & Development Committee
Chair: Trevor Lambert
The Capital & Development Committee oversees the planning, development and maintenance of hospital facilities and equipment, ensuring that infrastructure supports growth, efficiency and best practice standards.
Work Health & Safety Committee
Chair: Caroline Handley
The Work Health & Safety Committee is the hospital’s primary forum for consultation on workplace health and safety. It promotes cooperation between management and staff, reviews policies and legislation, and makes recommendations to improve safety, wellbeing and rehabilitation practices across the hospital.
Credentials Committee
Chair: Dr Daniel Cehic
The Credentials Committee reviews and recommends the appointment and scope of practice for medical officers and allied health professionals, ensuring the hospital maintains high standards of competence and professional practice.
Board of Governors
Chair
D Whitbread
BEc, FCA, FAICD
Deputy Chair
Dr J Sweeney (retired Oct 2025)
MBBS, FRACS
Board Members
Dr D Cehic
MBBS MBA FCSANZ FICOS FRACP
S M Daw (retired Oct 2025)
GAICD, FGLF (03)
S C Furey
BEc (Acc), LLB (Hons), LLM, FCA, GAICD
N Kelly
BCom (Honours), MCom, GAICD
T Lambert (retired Oct 2025)
BE (Civil), MEnvSt, GradDip BusMgt
Dr D J Walters
MBBS, FAICD, FRACS
Ex Officio Member
Rev R Miller
Min.Dip., Grad.Dip.Ed.
The Moderators Alternate, SA Synod Uniting Church in Australia
Staff Executive Committee
Chief Executive Officer
Eileen Sawyer
Director of Clinical Services and Operations
Jacquie Wiley
Chief Financial Officer
Sam Pafumi
Director Human Resources
Caroline Handley
Rear (L-R): David Walters, Caroline Handley, Susy Daw, Trevor Lambert, Jacquie Wiley, Natalie Kelly, Daniel Cehic. Front (L-R): Sonya Furey, Sam Pafumi, Jim Sweeney, Eileen Sawyer, David Whitbread, Richard Miller.
St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation
Supporting the St Andrew’s community
At the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation, everything we do comes back to one purpose: supporting the people who make this place extraordinary – patients, families, staff and clinicians. For almost 25 years, the Foundation has stood alongside the hospital, helping to create the future of care while honouring the legacy of compassion and excellence that has defined St Andrew’s for nearly 90 years.
We fund cutting-edge technology that expands the possibilities of surgery. We create environments that feel calm, contemporary and deeply human. We support the growth of people – their skills, knowledge and capacity to care. And we nurture opportunities that bring our community together in gratitude for this remarkable hospital.
This year, we are honoured to acknowledge our Patron, Mrs Lan Le, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her outstanding service to the Crown and to South Australia. As Patron of the Foundation, Mrs Le is a regular and generous presence at St Andrew’s, connecting with staff, volunteers and patients, and fostering a spirit of generosity, compassion and community.
We also thank the many donors and partners whose generosity has shaped this year. Together, you enabled more than $1.5 million of investment across the hospital, supporting projects that are already making a difference. Our corporate partners also play a vital role working alongside both the hospital and the Foundation through events like the Golf Day and Breast Care Luncheon and helping us achieve outcomes we could not achieve alone.
And to our volunteers: your kindness, time and talent are felt every day across the St Andrew’s Medical Precinct. In a world where loneliness is a growing challenge, the chance to connect, contribute and belong is more important than ever. Creating these meaningful opportunities is not just part of our work, it is the heart of our Foundation.
As St Andrew’s looks towards its 90th year as a community hospital, and the Foundation approaches its own 25th year, we are reminded of the strength of this partnership. The hospital is building a future of care that is clinically excellent, deeply kind and always centred on people. Our role is to stand alongside, to support and to invest so that together, we continue a legacy of generosity and care for generations to come.
“I love volunteering, it is not only my chance to give back to the amazing Hospital community here, but it fills my cup too.”
“I love the friendships I’ve formed across years of volunteering together at St Andrew’s, it’s like a second home to me.”
Foundation Patron
Lan Le OAM
Foundation Board
Eric Granger, Chairman (to Sept 2025)
Susy Daw
William Esau
Dr Tabitha Healey
Kristen Raison (to July 2025)
Jennifer Rees
Foundation Director
Jenny Parsons
Our Impact
Securing equipment to enhance patient care
Neurosurgical microscope
Our surgical team now has access to a second state-of-the-art ZEISS neurosurgical microscope, which enables an additional 240 complex spinal and brain procedures each year. This helps us to reduce wait times and deliver safer, more precise surgeries while supporting advanced training and the attraction of top surgical talent.
Urology laser and morcellator
This cutting-edge system is changing lives for patients with kidney stones and prostate conditions. The Dornier Thulio High-Power Laser delivers fast, precise and less traumatic treatments, while the morcellator allows for the safe removal of tissue during prostate surgery. Together, these tools are speeding up recovery, shortening theatre time, and helping our patients return to life sooner.
ENT surgical microscope
The ZEISS TIVATO 700, a next-generation system featuring crystal clear 4K imaging and enhanced precision replaces our ageing ENT microscope. It’s improving outcomes for patients undergoing delicate ear, nose and throat procedures and helping our ENT team perform with even greater confidence and efficiency.
“On behalf of our ENT surgeons and my colleagues in ear surgery, thank you for the new ZEISS TIVATO 700 microscope. It’s been incredibly well received, providing an exceptional view of the operating field and helping make a profound difference in the care we provide. We’re truly grateful for your support.”
Our Impact (continued)
Volunteer service contributes ~15,000 hours, $700,000 each year
St Andrew’s Hospital has around 150 volunteers, representing four generations, who work in a wide range of hospital areas.
A new recruitment campaign has seen volunteer applications rise and better reflect the diversity of our community. The Volunteer team are developing a volunteer-led supportive program to aid retention of new volunteers and help them find their place and community within the hospital. Volunteer-led hospital tours, a dedicated volunteer common room, art workshops and cupcake decorating are just some of the ways the team are building connections.
“Volunteering at St Andrew’s was my first role in Australia, and it made me keen to keep putting my hand up for other volunteer gigs. To me, that’s the heart of volunteering: being welcomed and finding a warm, caring team. Thank you again to St Andrew’s for the opportunity.”
Enhancing community spaces
The gardens on the coffee shop terrace have been reinvigorated thanks to the garden volunteer group – a small, dedicated team who have managed to create a significant impact with very little financial investment. The team have cleaned and softened the space with a variety of plants to make it more inviting, and it’s now a popular lunch spot for staff and visitors. The garden team have also begun refurbishing the rooftop garden adjacent to the Cardiac Unit, with new plantings enhancing the space. We’ve received wonderful feedback from patients on their new view.
“Your volunteer greeters were superb. The food was good. The overall experience reduced all anxiety and was a comfortable experience.”
“Thank you to everyone who helped me during day surgery admission, very kind and understanding... The volunteers in the cafe were lovely and friendly. St Andrew’s is truly a very caring hospital environment, I have full confidence in recommending/attending here again, thankyou ...”
Supporting our clinical teams
Every year, the Foundation invests in programs and roles that directly strengthen St Andrew’s clinical expertise and capacity to care. This includes the Janet Hay Clinical Scholarships, which provide professional development opportunities for nurses
and allied health staff; the Breast Care Liaison Nurse role, delivered in partnership with the Pink & Blue Swim, to provide specialised, compassionate support to breast cancer patients; and the hospital’s contribution towards the Joint Research Role with the University of Adelaide, helping to drive innovation and evidence-based practice.
We also support initiatives that are important to our staff culture and wellbeing, such as National Reconciliation Week Morning Tea, the annual Memorial Day service hosted by Chaplaincy, and the hospital’s social media program, which shares the stories of our workforce and supports recruitment efforts. By investing in our people as well as our spaces, we help ensure St Andrew’s remains a place where clinical excellence and human connection go hand in hand.
St Andrew’s Wellbeing Centre
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners including HPS Pharmacies, we saw the launch of the St Andrew’s Wellbeing Centre. The space was established to offer non-clinical support to patients and their loved ones. It is initially being trialled with cancer patients. The Centre provides a welcoming environment with a selection of activities to support our patients on their care journey. The space continues to evolve as we grow our end-to-end offering to enhance the patient experience. The Centre is supported by the St Andrew’s Foundation and volunteers.
Thank You
We are fortunate to be supported by an extraordinary network of people, companies and organisations. Every donation, partnership and act of generosity helps us to provide the very best care, education, and research for our patients and their families.
With heartfelt gratitude, we acknowledge the individuals, families, businesses, and community organisations who made a difference this year.
Bequests
The Estate of Mrs Beverley Helen Wilkie (Nee Costello)
Donors
Malcolm Alec
James Arsenikakis
Cath Barbo
Isabella Basile
JR & DA Bergamin
Jill Berry
Pips Brown
Rosanna Caiazza
Michele Camporeale
Saverio Catanzariti
Peter Clark
Denise Cotterill
Lorenzo and Emelia De Ruvo
John Dearman
Maria Decandia
Lindsay Dennis
Sandra and Milan Dimovic
David Dunstall
Sarah Ellis-Steinborner
Maria Galatsanos
Maria Gianitto
Christine Gould
Ros and Peter Griffiths
Hugh Harley
Pascal Hatzipalousis
Cecelia Hector
Michael Kiley
Michael Kitchener
Kerene and Anthony Kitschke
Garry Lea
Lynne Lean
Lina Leonella
Jocelyn Lin
Timothy Lin
Ivana Lombardi
Cristiano Luisotti
Oceania Marafioti
Christine Mead
Lisa Mitolo
Desmond Paul
Fritz Pfitzenmeier
Carmel Rizzotto
Damian Ryan
Salvatore Sabatino
Julie Sampson
Frank Sampson
Elizabeth Sando
Rosa Santopietro
Surekha Sen
Jill Slay
Kathy Smith
Jenny Southwell
Francesca Stramare
M Tattoli
Colleen Thomas
Julie Toner
Ros Tucker
Dawn Volle
Robert Whittlesea
Anna Williams
Thank You (continued)
Volunteers
Allen Alexander
Vicki Anderson
Elspeth Baird
Theeda Bak
Vanessa Ball
Sandra Barazin
Edna Bates
Sharon Bernhardt
Julie Brennan
Caroline Bryant
Garry Burchell
Juan Martin Vivas Camargo
Adriana Cardoso
Ka Man Chan
Fion Chan
Marisa Cheese
Rita Chow
Rodrigo Vitral Chung
Colleen Cleland
Susie Coles
Adrienne Copley
Denise Cotterill
Jennifer Coulls
Kaye Darcy
Cate Davis
Wendy Dewis
Jenny Dittmar
Anne Eastwood
Cathi Emmett
Rosie Erasmus
Tara Evans
Alison Evans
Erin Fernandes
Stephen Fox
Lyn Fox
Mark Fullerton
Mel Garrels
Jennifer Gilliland
Ros Griffiths
Monica Gualberto
Natalia Gunadi
Geof Gutte
Sharon Honner
Pamela Hughes
Marcia Hyde
Pauline Jackson
Shruti Kamat
Alan Kohler
Brenda Kroning
Geoffrey Lake
Connor Lambert
Neville Lawrence
Anna Lawrence
Sandra Lindop
Susana Macaya
Robyn Macpherson
Joanna Maddern
Margaret Marslen
Adrian Mazzachi
Kristin McKay
John Mead
Linda Mitchell
Aidan Mogie
Suzanne Moyle
Kara Muscat
Trooky Nguyen
Kym Noske
Kathy O'Connell
Robyn Octoman
Susan Oke
Chris Ostermann
Shirley Pearce
Anna Phan
Raquel Pinheiro
Chris Pollard
Rebecca Poon
Richard Proeve
Diana Rasheed
Del Reed
Jaqueline Ribeiro
Barbara Richards
Janis Richardson
Heather Roach
John Roach
Cheryl Russell
Robyn Schultz
Robyn Shilcock
Anna Smith
Mary Sullivan
Maggie Sutherland
Carol Swarbrick
Raelene Thorpe
Valerie Turnbull
Lorraine Venn
Michael Venning
Mary Withers
Lilian Withers
Lexi Zhang
Volunteers who retired this year
Ann Boehm
Esther Fong
William Grierson
Eleanor Harding
Elaine Kling
Bob Morgan
Judi Noblet
Henry Pead-Ferenczi
Fernanda Bernardo dos Santos
Lyn Stunden
Hui Tao
Zarin Tasnim
Wallis Tsai
Tamara Voorhammer
Breast Cancer Care Supporters
GPA Andrew Orsini Charitable Fund
Pink & Blue Swim, Walk and Run West Beach SLSC
St Andrew’s Breast Care Luncheon 2024 Supporters
Adelaide Breast Care
Amoena
Breast Screen SA
Dragons Abreast
EP Exercise Physiology
Flourish Therapy Adelaide GenesisCare
Jones Radiology
Lift Cancer Care
Look Good Feel Better
Lymph Movement Studio
Lymphoedema Association
Australia
Lymphoedema Wellness
Maine Beach
Pink Lotus
Remedial Lymphatics
Romeo Enza - Surgical Fitter
The Lymph Place
Zonta Club of Australia
St Andrew’s Classic Golf Day 2024 Supporters
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Dr Anthony Barnard
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Aboriginal art courtesy of Glenelg Art Gallery
“Anaty” Wild Bush Yams Dreaming by Jeannie Mills Pwerle (cover and page 6)
“Water Dreaming” Ngapa Jukurrpa by Selina Napaljarri Malbunka (page 15)
