Sydney Children's Hospitals Network

The annual Neonatal and Paediatric Critical Care Seminar, hosted by our Critical Care Stream, returns on Wednesday, 27 November. The online learning seminar is an opportunity for nursing colleagues from across NSW to connect and learn about current practices in the management of acute paediatrics presentations. It aims to support regional and rural healthcare networks by providing practical education and a chance to reflect on shared experiences. The seminar is tailored for nursing staff working in emergency departments, special care nurseries and paediatric wards in hospitals across New South Wales. Places are limited. Complete your registration via Eventbrite to secure your spot - https://lnkd.in/gZ2RvkWr

Beatrix White identifies as an autistic, physically disabled individual living with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and severe kyphoscoliosis, a condition that has required 19 spinal surgeries due to the cause of curves in her spine. She has never let that stop her though. Exploring her career options, Beatrix was drawn to roles that balanced creativity with purpose. Today, she works at an Orthotist at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick prescribing and fabricating braces for our patients and merging her creative passion with meaningful work. “Working here at Sydney Children’s Hospital has felt like a place where I truly belong. Being an openly disabled person in healthcare is empowering, especially for young people with disabilities to see what’s possible,” Beatrix said. Our hospital has provided important workplace adjustments, including a footstool and height-adjustable machinery, ensuring Beatrix can work comfortably. Through advocating for her needs, she’s become a strong voice for equity in the workplace. “We need to embrace inclusive hiring practices and ensure permanent employment opportunities for people with disabilities." At our Network and NSW Health, we are committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace. A diverse workforce brings invaluable perspectives and lived experiences that enhance patient care, particularly for our patients living with disabilities. If you're interested in a meaningful career like Beatrix, visit https://lnkd.in/g9Di55Uz #disabilityawareness #inclusion #inclusiveworkplace #disabilityinclusiveness 

Paediatric patients across NSW will now have better access to advanced technology which provides live saving critical care and life support, thanks to the Kids ECMO Referral Service (KERS). Hosted by our Network, the statewide service enables Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) to be provided on the road using specially designed mobile equipment and highly specialised retrieval teams including a dedicated paediatric ECMO intensive care specialist, cardiothoracic surgeon, scrub nurse, perfusionist and the team from the Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS). Two-year-old Jack became the first patient to use the service after he was born with severe meconium aspiration at his local hospital in Canberra. Within 24 hours, the KERS team attended Canberra Hospital, placed Jack on mobile ECMO and transferred him to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. This saved his life. KERS Medical Director, Dr Marino Festa, said the service builds on the ECMO capacity of The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and the capability of NETS, by enabling ECMO care to be provided remotely. “This service has been made possible through the collaboration of expert clinicians and existing health services within the state. It has the potential to truly transform the care available to children and families and positively impact outcomes, particularly in the regional and remote parts of our state," Dr Festa said. Minister for Health, Ryan Park, celebrated the success of the service at NETS Base in Bankstown ealy this week, commending the skill and expertise of paediatric healthcare teams across Sydney Children's Hospitals Network. “KERS enhances equity of access to vital healthcare for children when they are at their most vulnerable and makes it possible to deliver lifesaving critical care across NSW,” Minister Park said. Jack and his family also attended the special event - a chance to reunite with the teams who helped save their son. "We feel so lucky. There was so much that went wrong but we are grateful for everything that went right. Jack simply wouldn't be here today if the KERS service didn't exist," Jack's mum, Rosie, said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVa8zJb4 #paediatrichealthcare #regionalhealth

The annual Paediatric Update at The Children's Hospital at Westmead returns on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th of November. The two-day conference offers a comprehensive program of clinical updates and interactive sessions. This year's focus is to offer participants practical advice that can be implemented in their daily practice of treating children and young people. Comprising of over 20 mainstage presentations, 4 interactive workshops, 'Ask the Expert' sessions and case discussions, this event is not to be missed! Join us online or in person at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Secure your tickets at https://lnkd.in/gfH7thjz

“When I was a child, I was struck by how important and special it was to combine the complexity and science of good medicine with the humanity of making a child feel safe and comfortable. As I grew older, I wanted to be part of that. A part of something special.” Dr Michelle Lorentzos is a Paediatric Neurologist and our newly appointed Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead at Kids Research, the research arm for our Network. “The Advanced Therapeutics Medical Lead is a new position that has been established to support the amazing teams at SCHN deliver effective, innovative and often complex treatments and clinical trials to more children who need them,” Dr Lorentzos said. “In this new position, I am looking forward to better addressing some of the delays in getting new trials and treatments up and running. There may be ways we can streamline some processes, and do this in a way that is guided by what children and families want, and I am excited about that. “I often meet families when they are adjusting to a very difficult diagnosis where treatment options may be difficult. The decisions they need to make are difficult. So, when I am part of an initiative that makes these difficulties a little less difficult, I find that rewarding.” Dr Lorentzos is part of our Kids Advanced Therapeutics team working with industry, researchers, clinicians and families to improve how we deliver care to children using advanced therapeutics. Learn more about our Kids Advanced Therapeutics program on our website➡️ https://lnkd.in/g5kmiPQg  Luminesce Alliance #advancedtherapeutics #paediatricresearch

Whether you're a paediatrician, neurologist or an allied health professional, the Paediatric Neurology Update is here to share all the latest advances in paediatric neurology. Held on Wednesday, 13 November at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, this event brings together leading experts in the field to discuss the diagnosis and management of common childhood neurological diseases, cutting-edge research, innovative treatments, and emerging trends. This year's programme will feature three focused sessions followed by a video-based interactive learning session. Join us in-person and register here: https://lnkd.in/ghrjuWuZ

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, and our mental health staff want to "talk about it." This World Mental Health Day, our mental health teams have come together to encourage conversation through 'Hope Trees' with personalised messages of encouragement from young patients and staff, music and art sessions for both patients and mental health staff to promote self-expression, a lunch gathering, and fidgets given to wards as reminder that no one is ever alone, and support is always available. Throughout October, staff and patients are engaging in games like basketball and table tennis as well as pizza parties to build connection and to create a safe space for open conversations. Today serves as a vital reminder that mental health matters every day. 💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. You can reach out to Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800, Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636, or visit the NSW Health website for a variety of mental health services: https://lnkd.in/g9UvzMK6.

Congratulations to our Kids Research Governance Manager, Dr Lucia Smith, on their win at the inaugural NSW Health Research Administrator Awards. Lucia was voted by peers for demonstrating exceptional leadership and knowledge sharing in the support of research administrators. The awards celebrated and recognised areas of customer service, innovation and leadership in research across NSW Health. Our Network was a finalist in two of the four award categories, a testament to the hard work our Research Administrators do every day in research and clinical trials. We recognise their efforts and contribution to improving the health of children and young people across our Network through research-informed care. 🎉Congratulations to our winner, Lucia, and our finalist, the Research Governance team! Read more➡️ https://lnkd.in/gMk9gqrH NSW Medical Research

The Jo Kent-Biggs (JKB) NETS Retrieval Seminar is back on Thursday, November 7th, and Friday, November 8th, at The Langham Hotel, Sydney. This event features inspirational nursing and medical speakers from NETS; the Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service and across NSW Health who will share their expertise, knowledge and skills on neonatal and paediatric critical care. Held in memory of Jo Kent-Biggs, a dedicated paediatric nurse and former Nurse Unit Manager at NETS (RAHC), whose passion for nursing education continues to inspire, this seminar also aims to support nursing scholarships at NETS. Spots are limited! Secure your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/gu7TKnAt We look forward to seeing you there.

From furthering health outcomes for critically ill newborns, to providing specialised paediatric care in the comfort of a family's home, our teams are committed to delivering exceptional healthcare for children and their families. We are proud to have this commitment recognised, with two finalists nominated in this year's NSW Premier Awards. Congratulations to: ⭐️ Professor Nadia Badawi AM, Medical Co-Lead in our Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Nominated in the 'NSW Public Servant of the Year', Prof Badawi has dedicated her career to neonatology and improving care for babies admitted to the NICU, with a specific focus on newborn brain injury and cerebral palsy. Her international expertise, along with her research on neonatal intensive care outcomes, continues to unite diverse teams and enhance care for the most vulnerable newborns across NSW.  ⭐️The virtualKIDS team, in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District and Healthdirect Australia. Nominated in the 'Highest Quality Healthcare' category, the virtuaKIDS team have been recognised for providing equitable access to specialised paediatric care closer to home. Providing 24/7 nurse-led virtual healthcare service for families across NSW, the innovative program ensures children receive care closer to home, reduces emergency department presentations, and improves patient experiences. The NSW Premier Awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional work done across the NSW public sector and the people who make it happen. We wish Prof Badawi and the virtualKIDS team all the best at the awards ceremony in November 🎉