Austin Health

Congratulations to Austin Health's Dr Jessica Spurio who has taken out the Victorian Junior Doctor of the Year award by the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria. This prestigious award seeks to honour individuals who have significantly enriched the field of prevocational medical education whether through groundbreaking research, transformative leadership, impactful advocacy, or other noteworthy endeavours. “I was drawn to a career in medicine by the opportunity and privilege to make a meaningful impact on peoples’ lives, along with the dynamic and challenging nature of the work. “I love working in diverse teams in a field that’s always evolving. I’m passionate about contributing to medical education, mentoring and advocacy.” Join us in congratulations Jess 👏 Read more: https://bit.ly/3XlAzvE

Meet Jiji Jacob, Nurse Unit Manager of the Secure Extended Care Unit (SECU) in our Mental Health Division. Jiji moved to Melbourne in 2003 from India to join Austin Health and hasn’t looked back. “I’ve been so fortunate since starting here to work with wonderful people in this specialty unit. We’re a supportive multidisciplinary team working together to provide holistic, compassionate care. I’m passionate about supporting the patient, their family and carers through decision making and their recovery journey,” Jiji explains. Jiji is #hiring an Occupational Therapist to join the SECU team. “This role is an integral part of our team, as well as to consumer discharge planning and transition into the community. This role gives you a real opportunity to make an impact on enhancing the experience of care for patients towards wellbeing and mental health recovery,” Jiji says. SECU is a 25-bed facility providing a rehabilitation and recovery service to individuals with treatment resistant illnesses and who require the support of a secure environment. “The program offered is broadly based on a recovery-orientated model which is flexible in providing individualised care plans. For anyone considering an opportunity to work with us, we offer a flexible working roster, comprehensive orientation program, staff wellbeing activities and educational in-service sessions. Plus, great career progression opportunities along the way. Come and join us” Jiji adds. Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Visit https://bit.ly/4d2tVQw

Congratulations to our very own Professor Elif Ekinci on launching the Australian Diabetes Clinical Trial Network (ADCTN)! ADCTN, a collaboration between The Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI) and Diabetes Australia, is designed to increase the number of diabetes clinical trials in Australia while also fostering nationwide collaboration among researchers. As part of ADCTN, Austin Health will be able to participate in more clinical trials over time, increasing our capacity to provide greater support and access to new, life-changing therapies for our patients. “Clinical trials are essential to inform new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diabetes. By advancing our understanding of how different treatments work and evaluating their impact, clinical trials play a crucial role in improving the care of people living with diabetes. Their results contribute to the development of more effective, safer healthcare options and help inform evidence-based practices in medicine,” explains Elif. This wonderful achievement brings together researchers nationwide to advance research in diabetes treatments and technologies. Through this collaboration, we remove research silos and bring great research work together for the benefit of our community.

Congratulations to our Pathology team for performing the 100th solid tumour next-generation sequencing (NGS) last week!✨ NGS panels refer to a DNA sequencing test which examines the DNA from a list of genes that are commonly mutated in cancers. The test is important for diagnosing and tailoring patient’s treatment, particularly where there are drugs acting against the mutation. Austin Health’s Pathology has been testing a variety of solid tumours and haematological malignancies on customised NGS panels since November 2020. “In reaching this milestone there is a sense that we are working well as a laboratory to assist clinical doctors treat patients with cancer, but we are also intent on enhancing existing tests as new technology becomes available,” shares Jonathan Clark, Pathologist. “Expanded NGS panels in the process of being validated the molecular service will soon broaden its testing capabilities. The new tests will become available next year.” Kudos to our Pathology team on this amazing accomplishment! 👏

Meet Naz, one of our lived-experience peer support workers and a five-time Paralympian in wheelchair rugby, winning 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals! Naz works with people who’ve had recent spinal cord injuries, which often results in loss of mobility. “The patients I work with have just suffered a life-changing injury and they don’t know what their life will look like in the coming months and years. They have to re-learn everything – dressing, using the bathroom, personal care; just like I had to.” “Helping them work through their loss, showing them their potential, seeing their progress and the smile on their faces is the best thing.” Read more about Naz and his journey here > bit.ly/3TjhAR5

Today is World Physiotherapy Day! This day highlights the crucial role physiotherapists play in promoting health and wellbeing worldwide. The Physiotherapy Department at Austin Health treat and support patients across all aspects of care from admission to the Emergency Department through to discharge from the hospital and into patients’ homes. This year, the ICU physiotherapy team commenced advancing the scope of physiotherapy in frail, critically ill patients with prolonged ICU stays. On top of regular duties, trained physiotherapists now deliver care that other health professionals would normally complete. These additional responsibilities include collaboration with nursing staff to reduce sedation to the smallest amount required to support a patient’s care. Further, physiotherapists assess patients' readiness for weaning from a ventilator and prescribe ventilation weaning plans to increase a patient’s capacity to breathe for themselves. Steph Jameson, Clinical Educator Physiotherapy Department, and Luke McDonald, Intensive Care Unit Advanced Scope Physiotherapist, have led this work, successfully training three ICU physiotherapists so far. Staff credentialing involves case-based discussions, observation of intensivists and simulation training. These trained staff safely provided 143 reviews to 22 patients in a three-month pilot period. This care has been shown to reduce patient's time in ICU and reduce their risk of poor outcomes, while increasing the capacity of intensive care medical staff to address urgent medical cases elsewhere in the ICU. Steph says, “We are grateful for the staff we work with in Austin Health's ICU who have supported us to elevate physiotherapy scope of practice to the highest possible level, allowing us to play our role in caring for long-term critically ill patients”.

Did you know wellness therapies have been shown to alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression for cancer patients? There is growing research and evidence showing the benefits of integrating wellness therapies into cancer care – this highlights the foresight in Olivia Newton-John's original vision for the ONJ Centre when it opened in 2012💚 We spoke to Dr Ashley Bigaran, Operations Manager, Wellness and Supportive Care, about the proven benefits of wellness therapies and their increasing adoption in cancer care. Register for Olivia’s Walk for Wellness (Sunday 6 October) to ensure evidence-based wellness therapies are available to all cancer patients. Learn more: bit.ly/47g3RAj

Congratulations to our Medical Lead of Kidney Transplantation, Associate Professor John Whitlam, who was appointed as the inaugural Director of the Australian Centre for Transplantation Excellence and Research (ACTER) in July. “I look forward to unifying, enhancing and celebrating our fantastic transplant streams at Austin Health, honouring the gift of organ donation and transforming lives," says John. John has been a pivotal member of Austin Health’s ACTER initiative throughout its early stages and brings a wealth of experience to the role. ACTER will unite our transplant streams, organ retrieval, research, education and active consumer participation into one centre of excellence, an Australian first. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4geHr6I

At the ONJ Centre, patients like Anthony find a sanctuary where healing encompasses the whole person. From massage therapy to art therapy, the Wellness Centre offers a range of therapies that nurture both body and spirit. "Having the right support at the right time helps me be positive," says Anthony, one of our inspiring patients. Our integrated approach, combining medical expertise and wellness programs ensures that patients feel supported at every step in their cancer experience. It’s not just about treatment; it's about a network of care that uplifts and empowers. By joining Olivia’s Walk for Wellness on Sunday 6 October, you’re helping us continue to provide this vital support for patients like Anthony. Let’s walk together to make a difference! 🚶♂️💚 bit.ly/47fT7Sj

🌟 Free Wills Week is Here! 🌟 Austin Health has partnered with Safewill to bring you Free Wills Week, running now until 9 September. Preparing a Will is an important step for all of us, including our loved ones. If this is something you have been putting off, we do encourage you to get this done and to take advantage of Safewill’s free service for Austin Health supporters Meet Steven: Five and a half years ago, Steven Broadhurst was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His journey through treatment at Austin Health was one of resilience and support. Steven’s experience with our compassionate care inspired him to leave a gift in his will to help others facing cancer. "Leaving a gift in my Will is my way of saying ‘thank you’ for the incredible support I received." By including Austin Health in your will, you can make a lasting impact, ensuring that exceptional care continues for generations to come. Find out more: bit.ly/3Z0ZYwZ