It’s been a busy fortnight of celebration and recognition with last Friday being World Administrative Professionals Day, followed by our health service’s recognition of the International Day of the Midwife (May 5) and then International Nurses Day (May 12) which we collectively celebrated on May 8. I often say there isn’t a health service in the country with a broader range of services than ours, with everything from high-end specialist services to remote health care, aged care, public health, correctional health and lots in between! Of course, in all of those services you will find our dedicated admin staff, nurses and, in some, midwives. Thank you to all who make our health service so well respected in the community.
Talking of respect, I was dismayed to see our local Townsville community icon, Steven Price (Pricey), cop some unwarranted backlash on the local newspaper’s social media page. Pricey was kind enough to add his voice to that of Townsville’s other well-known Steven, Dr Steven Donohue, our director of public health, to promote the importance of ‘flu vaccinations. Unfortunately, when the story was posted to the outlet’s social media page, it attracted some dazzlingly ill-informed comments, some of which rose to personal attacks. I spoke with Pricey over the weekend and thanked him again for his promotion of this important health message and committed to making some public comments addressing the issue. People are entitled to make their own decisions about vaccination, of course, but that doesn’t license anyone to vilify people delivering public health promotion.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group’s (LDMG) debrief of the response to several weather events and the not-to-be forgotten earthquake. Debriefing from these events is important to ensure we capture the lessons learned and strive to improve for next time. It’s also important to focus some time on the things that went well to ensure they are ingrained into future responses. I’ve been closely involved in the LDMG since I became chief operating officer (that was a while ago now) and my overall impression is the enduring sense of team. I will spare you the rugby analogy, but over those years there have been several changes in key personnel, yet somehow the drive to maintain an effective team has remained which is a credit to all involved.
There is a lot happening ‘behind the scenes’ on the health capital program. The Department of Health is preparing to release an expression of interest for the multi-storey carpark at TUH. Locally, I have formed a small steering committee to initiate the refresh of our clinical services plan ahead of reassessing our masterplan. I’ve invited JCU to participate which is consistent with the comments in the review. As this work progresses I will share more, and you can expect the first aspects will be details of our clinical services plan refresh in June.
And finally, a very happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers across our health service!
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Townsville nurse honoured with inaugural Norma Lane Cultural Connection Award
Townsville University Hospital (TUH) registered nurse Hayley Mazzoni said she could not think of a better way to be acknowledged for her work than being named the inaugural winner of the Norma Lane Cultural Connection Award.
The award is named in recognition of Norma Lane, a former Townsville Hospital and Health Service nurse who spent more than 47 years working to improve the health outcomes for First Nations Australians.
It was one of the awards handed out at an event at TUH to celebrate International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day this week
Hayley said she was shocked to hear her name read out as the winner.
“I just do my job and try to do it to the best of my ability, and to be recognised in this way is unexpected, but I am honoured,” she said.
“I can’t begin to explain how grateful and humbled I am to be recognised by my peers for this award.
“I hope by recognition of awards like this, that all First Nations employees of our HHS know they can make a difference.”
Norma said she was proud to have left a legacy of advocating for improved healthcare outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
“Cultural connection is a vital part of the role Indigenous healthcare workers play in providing care to First Nations Australians,” Norma said.
“It is good for our mob that our people will come to the hospital and see us, because the minute they do they automatically feel safe.
“Hayley is a great example of that level of care where she has helped First Nations people navigate and understand the healthcare system, as well as being able to translate that information back to nonIndigenous colleagues.
“I had the best career in nursing, and I hope more people like Hayley take up a career in healthcare.”
Norma Lane Cultural Connection Award winner, registered nurse Hayley Mazzoni
Hayley Mazzoni with Norma Lane
History-making kidney transplant surgeon arrives
The North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (NQKTS) at Townsville University Hospital is one step closer to its first organ transplant with the arrival of transplant surgeon Dr Nikhil Mahajan.
Nikhil, who was born and trained in India, recently arrived in the city via John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle and Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
“I was in India at a workshop when I saw the Townsville role advertised,” he said.
“I called my wife and told her I had just seen a job that completely aligned with my specialty and was an opportunity to set up a new unit, something that comes along once in a lifetime.
“I wanted to be part of creating history.”
Nikhil brings 12 years of experience in transplant surgery to Townsville University Hospital having worked on both sides of the globe treating medically and culturally diverse patients.
“The opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives was a major drawcard for Townsville,” he said.
“The feeling of giving back to the community is so important to me.
“The team here has been so welcoming, and they have done so much hard work in developing this service and I’m very excited for our first patient.”
Nikhil did his medical degree in Gujarat on India’s west coast and general surgical training in the country’s capital, Delhi, before embarking on his transplant journey in 2013.
“Moving abroad was not part of the plan,” he said.
“I took up a fellowship at John Hunter in 2016 and planned to return to India in a year’s time.
“Little did I know that destiny had different plans for me.”
Clinical lead NQKTS Dr Michelle Harfield said recruitment to the service was ongoing with the unit expected to open in the coming months.
“It’s been a huge coup securing Nikhil and we’re delighted to have him here working with us,” she said.
Outside of work, Nikhil is a passionate sports enthusiast enjoying cricket, tennis, and badminton.
“I also love spending time with my wife, my 11-yearold twins, and my parents who visit for six months of the year; they are all my biggest supporters,” he said.
“Relocating to Townsville was a big decision and it meant uprooting our lives again.
“I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support, especially my wife, whose career has often taken a back seat so I could pursue mine and for the greater good.”
Dr Nikhil Mahajan
Staff feedback sought on HHS’s sexual harassment prevention plan
Staff are encouraged to provide feedback on the Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s recently published sexual harassment prevention plan.
Chief executive Kieran Keyes said while the threeyear plan outlined strategies already in place, including line manager training and a line manager toolkit, it also heralded a cultural change to reset the organisational mindset on sexual harassment in the workplace.
“I’d ask staff to review the document and share their feedback on the strategies and approaches outlined for addressing sexual harassment over the next three years; it’s so important that we gather staff input on the document and work together to identify strategies for preventing sexual harassment,” he said.
“Your feedback will help shape the effectiveness of the approaches outlined, ensure they meet the needs of our workplace, and guarantee accessibility to the tools and resources available to recognise and report sexual harassment.
“Sexual harassment is not acceptable among staff and it’s not acceptable from our community or the patients we treat.”
Kieran said the recent investigation into the sexual assault of a staff member yielded four recommendations including a recommendation for cultural change.
“The investigation’s finding that our staff tolerate poor or unsafe behaviours from patients as part of the job was one of the most troubling findings of the report for me,” he said.
“A key recommendation of the investigation was a culture change program to promote and reinforce worker safety.
“The development of the cultural strategy is included in the prevention plan, and our goal is to have this developed by September and rolled out by March 2026.”
Kieran said the sexual harassment prevention plan outlined the actions taken so far and the ongoing preventative actions to ensure a safe workplace for all staff.
“From 1 January to 31 December 2024, there were 81 instances of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature at Townsville University Hospital,” he said.
“This included inappropriate sexual comments to or about staff, inappropriate touching of staff, sexualised behaviour conducted in front of staff, and significant incidents where a worker required medical treatment or lost time from work because of the incident.
“Our health service is a place of care and healing for our community, and everyone, including and especially our staff, deserves to be treated with respect and they always deserve to be safe.
“I’d encourage everyone to read to the plan and provide their feedback.”
Health service chief executive Kieran Keyes
Help shape the future of our health service
The Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) is on a mission to uncover what makes our workplace truly unique, and you have a chance to play a key role.
The THHS Employee Value Proposition Survey aims to uncover the unique features that help attract people to join the organisation and why they choose to stay.
Recruitment and appointment services manager
Adam Rowland said the survey took less than 10 minutes to complete but could play a significant role in shaping the future of the health service.
“This is an exciting opportunity for you to share your thoughts and insights about what makes the health service a unique and exceptional workplace,” Adam said.
“Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us and will play a crucial role in shaping our strategies to attract and support talented individuals.
“This survey is designed to understand what matters most to our staff and how we can continue to improve the work environment, whether it’s career development, team culture, role flexibility, or the north Queensland lifestyle.
“Honest and thoughtful responses will help us create a better, more supportive workplace for everyone.”
Adam said his team wanted to hear from both longtime staff and recent arrivals at the health service.
“Particularly for those who’ve relocated from interstate or overseas, we want to know why Townsville, and why Townsville over other locations like Cairns and Mackay for example?”
The results will be used to shape future recruitment campaigns and improve how the organisation positions itself in a competitive job market.
“Ultimately, this is about helping us attract and retain great staff by understanding what sets us apart,” Adam said.
“This is a great opportunity for staff to influence the way we tell our story to future candidates.”
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by Friday, 23 May. Your participation is greatly appreciated and will make a significant difference.
Adam Rowland
An Ayr-mazing Mother’s Day to remember
This weekend marked an extra special Mother’s Day for five Ayr Health Service nurses who welcomed new babies within just eight weeks of each other, with one more due to arrive any day.
Ayr Health Service acting nurse unit manager Ainsley Ferrando said it was an exciting time for the whole service.
“We titled the photo of all the new mums ‘growing our own’ with hopes that we may have just welcomed the next generation of doctors, nurses, or midwives to the Burdekin region,” Ainsley said.
Ainsley said some of the mums delivered with the support of close colleagues including senior medical officer Dr Donna Girgenti, who recently became a second-time parent herself.
“We also got to see our very first registered nurse who is now a student midwife, Cher Vernon support and assist in the births of two of the babies so far,” Ainsley said.
“Cher has been a registered nurse for 14 years and has worked incredibly hard to achieve her dream of becoming a midwife.
“This is the very first year the Ayr Health Service has taken on a registered nurse student midwife, and it is extra special that some of Cher’s first experiences are with her own colleagues and friends.”
Ainsley said times like these were heartwarming, and a reminder of the strong sense of care, connection, and community that defined the health services midwifery and nursing teams.
“We are truly celebrating motherhood in all its forms now more than ever,” Ainsley said.
“The team excels at supporting incredible mothers within the Burdekin region through their pregnancy and birthing journey, even our very own staff.”
Townsville Hospital and Health Service
Samantha Boxall, Ashleigh Collins, Emilee Kiehne, Kaitlin Paige, Briana Arthur, Dr Donna Girgenti, Cher Vernon
Renita’s commitment to community health continues beyond retirement
After a dedicated career as an Indigenous health worker at Ayr Health Service, Renita Noah is stepping into retirement – with no intention of stopping her work improving health outcomes for the community.
Renita has worked across the Burdekin region for the past five years linking the community to the health service and ensuring families access the care and support they need.
Rural hospital and health service senior Aboriginal health worker Diana Friday described Renita as a loving and caring member of the team who would be very missed, with a special retirement morning tea held to celebrate Renita’s outstanding work.
“Renita has a real passion to improve Aboriginal health and wellbeing and has set a very high standard,” Diana said.
“Her compassion drives her, and she is a much-loved member of the community.
“Over her time with us she has completed her certificate IV in primary healthcare and has worked heavily in community engagement, working closely with the chronic disease coordinator on health and wellbeing services such as educational talks with children and families.”
Ayr Health Service director of nursing Tracey Gabiola said Renita had truly set the standard for health workers across the service.
“Our strength in ensuring we meet the requirements of the community in a culturally safe manner has improved tenfold since having Renita on board,” Tracey said.
“Renita has played a huge role in current and future community engagement initiatives including a yarning circle and a healing garden that are in the planning stages.
“Even though she’s heading into retirement she will always be a part of the team and will be involved in many of the programs and celebrations that we hold for our community.”
Renita said she would miss the patients and staff who had made her time at the health service so rewarding.
“I am a born-and-bred Burdekin local so I’m looking forward to providing ongoing mentorship to future health workers and continuing to give back to my community,” Renita said.
“I am also going to spend a lot of time crocheting and crafting, as well as visiting the hospital team as much as possible.”
Special celebration for Renita Noah with Ayr Health Service team
Townsville support services worker takes on Starlight challenge to brighten hospital stays for kids
Townsville University Hospital’s Andrew Rigney has put his best foot forward as he aims to walk more than 300,000 steps during May to raise money and awareness for sick kids in care.
The support services worker is stepping up to complete the Starlight SuperSteps challenge, an initiative of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Andrew said he was motivated to take on the challenge after providing care to kids in the hospital.
“Hospitals can be a confronting and daunting space for children and when I heard about this initiative that was looking to make hospitals a happier place for sick kids I knew I had to get behind it,” Andrew said.
“I do shifts across the hospital and sometimes you see these kids who are just feeling overwhelmed and nervous about having to be there.
“I have set myself a modest fundraising target of $500 which will go towards equipment and resources to improve the in-hospital experience for some of our younger patients.”
Andrew said making the hospital a happier place has several benefits for kids.
“By improving their experience, it can positively impact their emotional well-being, physical recovery, and long-term relationship with healthcare,” he said.
“It can reduce a lot of the fear, anxiety, and stress for not only kids but their parents and caregivers as well.
“We want kids to see hospitals as a safe and welcoming environment and if getting some more toys or resources means I must walk a bit more then I’m happy to park the car a little bit further away or take the stairs instead of the elevator.”
Andrew said he was hoping to comfortably achieve his targets by the end of the month.
“Reaching 300,000 steps and $500 are modest targets and I hope I can easily achieve that.
“Part of doing this is also about getting the word out of how important it is to try and make patients, particularly our younger ones, feel happier and safer when in our care.”
To donate to Andrew’s challenge visit: https://www.supersteps.org.au/s/10206/10506/e
Andrew Rigney is stepping up to help sick kids
Title Title
“The way you look after your patients is absolutely fantastic. I always love coming to this Beautiful Hospital where duty of care is at the highest level, and its beautiful nurses who make it a real joy coming here! Thankyou again.”
SURGICAL WARD 2
“My daughter visited the ER last week after an incident at kindy. She was admitted straight away, and the emergency team were excellent and very reassuring.
I’d also like to compliment your release of information unit team. Karen Roberts went above and beyond to help me obtain the information I needed”
EMERGENCY
DEPARTMENT AND RELEASE OF INFORMATION UNIT
“Very thankful for all of the support, validation and service of Child Health Nurses and I would not be in the mental space and have the parental capacity without their support.”
KIRWAN
CHILD YOUTH AND FAMILY HEALTH
Capital works update
Project: North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service
Work location: South Block Level 3 Cold Shell
Project: eHealth Infrastructure Maintenance Program
Work location: Various locations in TUH
Project: Hybrid Theatre
Work location: TUH Acute building Level 2 Operating Theatres Complex
Project: North Queensland Persistent Pain Management Service (NQPPMS) upgrade
Work location: Medilink building Level 2 current NQPMMS suite
Works currently underway Works
on the way
Project: Ingham CT Scanner
Work location: Ingham Health Service
Have any questions?
Project: Charters Towers CT Scanner
Work location: Charters Towers Health Service
Project: Kirwan Health Communty Campus expansion - $40 million
Plans are currently underway to support staff through the changes that will occur in the coming months.
To accommodate so much growth at TUH, some staff will be required to relocate to new office spaces and to support this, we have commenced a Business Case for Significant Change with those teams who will be impacted by works undertaken at TUH.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any proposed changes, please email THHSInfrastructureOffice@health.qld.gov.au.
