East Metropolitan Health Service

What a terrific turnout for today’s yarning session about Aboriginal Health related roles at Royal Perth and Bentley hospitals. Led by Manager of Aboriginal Health Ken Nicholls, today’s session was a great chance for EMHS to showcase the important role Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLOs) play within our health system. Many key Aboriginal EMHS staff members – including AHLOs Maureen Kelly and Brett Walley - were also given a chance to speak to those present about their respective roles. Today’s yarning session attracted close to 30 people, including those looking for a career change and also several key health partners and stakeholders. Many of those who attended had some terrific questions for our speakers and leaders. Thank you to everyone who came along today!

Because collaboration is one of EMHS’ core values, it was a given that some of our best and brightest medical geniuses attend an international collaboration style conference this month. The Malaysian Society of Patient Blood Management Scientific Conference held in Kuala Lumpur was a golden opportunity for some of the world’s leading doctors, surgeons and professors to discuss the latest developments and advancements in blood health. Malaysia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Dzulkefly Bin Ahmad, officially opened the event which was attended by medical experts from Italy, North America, Korea and India. Also among those invited to speak at the event were three of EMHS’ best and brightest minds – showcasing our commitment to excellence. Professor Dieter Weber, head of the Royal Perth Hospital Trauma Service, was among the keynote speakers. Professor Shannon Farmer, of the RPH Haematology Department and Dr. Kevin Trentino, a Senior Analyst with EMHS, also spoke at the three-day conference. “This international interaction was a great example of how everyone is coming together to optimise patient outcomes, delivering tailored and personalised healthcare, within a framework that is actively contributed to by the patient and their relatives," Dr Weber, pictured here at the event, said. Congratulations to all of the attendees. Keep up your incredible work!

We’re delighted to announce that Alisha Thompson has been appointed as the Acting Executive Director of the Armadale Kalamunda Group (AKG). For Alisha, it really is a homecoming of sorts – having grown up in the area and worked at AKG during the early stages of her formidable career. Alisha brings to the role a deep commitment to patient-centred care, workforce development, and clinical excellence. She has held key leadership roles across East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS), with hands-on clinical and executive experience at Royal Perth Bentley Group and AKG. Alisha played a pivotal role in Western Australia’s COVID-19 response, helping to lead vaccination clinics, airport screening, and the Hotel Quarantine program—which earned a WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award in 2022. Beyond her operational expertise, Alisha is a passionate advocate for women in leadership, workforce equity, and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals. Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Alisha as she steps into this important role!

All the details you need to be part of a growing team within Aboriginal Health at Royal Perth and Bentley hospitals is right here!   We’re looking for more Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLOs) to provide a range of support services to Aboriginal patients, their families and health professionals at RPH and Bentley Hospitals.   To do this, EMHS is very excited to be hosting a yarning session about this diverse and rewarding role on 25 February.   There is already a significant amount of interest in next week’s session, so for more details or to secure a spot contact Kenneth.Nicholls@health.wa.gov.au

Annette Baker – who is easily one of EMHS’ most popular employees – is our latest Values in Action Award winner! Our Bentley Health Service Nursing and Site Director, Annette was nominated not once but three times for the prestigious quarterly award - which recognises staff who demonstrate our six values: Kindness, Respect, Collaboration, Excellence, Accountability, and Integrity. Annette was praised by her nominees for her excellence and collaboration, and for her supportive and respectful manner towards all staff. "Annette is friendly, open and curious, she is very approachable and trustworthy, and I believe this shines through and results in the teams wanting to do the best to work together to find solutions,” one of the nominees said in their submission. Another of the three nominees stated: “Her positive and hands on approach to everything is inspiring and makes those around her want to achieve the best results possible.” EMHS chief executive Lesley Bennett had the pleasure to announce Annette as the latest award winner on Tuesday. Congratulations once again Annette! We are so lucky to have you 😊

Our Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLOs) do a tremendous job supporting our Indigenous patients and their families. Which is why we want to expand our team even more! AHLOs Crystal Clarke and Brett Walley are among our current team members, and they feature here in this short video. In an effort to boost our AHLO team, EMHS will host a yarning session about the AHLO role on 25 February. There is already significant interest in next week's session, so for more details or to secure a spot contact Kenneth.Nicholls@health.wa.gov.au.

A delegation of Royal Perth Hospital nurses attended a very special and moving memorial service over the weekend. The memorial service commemorated the 1942 sinking of the SS Vyner Brooke during World War II, after it was bombed by Japanese troops. Among the 181 passengers on board were the last 65 Australian nurses in Singapore. Twelve of the nurses perished during the ship's bombing or were lost at sea, 21 were massacred on the beaches of Banka Island by Japanese forces, and 32 became prisoners of war, eight of whom died before the end of the war. Lt Col Jo Wilson, of the Royal Australian Army – who is also a nurse practitioner in RPH’s emergency department - led the RPH delegation at Sunday’s service, which was held at Point Walter Reserve. She was joined by other RPH nursing staff members Simon Cavoli, Stephy Coleman, Danika Kalugins, and Jane Callaghan. The service was a timely reminder to remember those lost in the tragedy but was also a clear demonstration of RPH’s unwavering commitment to preserving and honouring Australia’s nursing history. Well done everybody! 

One of EMHS’ most innovative leaders has been asked to take a prestigious position on WA’s newly formed Artificial Intelligence advisory board. Adam Lloyd, our Area Director of Community and Virtual Care, is one of seven local experts who will make up Western Australia's new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Board. The board members – made up of senior industry leaders and technology specialists - will provide independent, expert advice to government to ensure the safe, secure and ethical use of AI across WA's public sector. Adam – who has spent the past 11 years with EMHS in a variety of digital and technology related roles - said he was thrilled to part of the new board. “I am incredibly honoured to be part of the WA AI Advisory Board,” Adam said. “Even though it will be me who is sitting on the board, I feel this appointment is a testament to all the inspirational leaders and staff I get to work with each day who are always doing what is best for the communities we serve.” Congratulations once again Adam! We are all super proud of you :)

RPH welcomes graduate nurses! More than 70 graduate nurses officially commenced their graduate transition program at Royal Perth Hospital this week, and they will soon embark on the next phase of their exciting new careers. Thursday marked the conclusion of four intensive days of induction and orientation for the 73 graduates. Next week, they will commence work on their respective ward areas where they will be supported by graduate support nurses and their Staff Development Nurse for several more weeks. EMHS is incredibly proud of its graduate nurse transition program. At RPH, the retention of graduates after the completion of their graduate program remains exceptionally high, with more than 90 per cent of last year’s graduates continuing their careers within the Royal Perth Bentley Group. Best of luck to all of our wonderful and inspiring graduate nurses, who are pictured here with proud nurse educator Nadine Krokotsch. We are standing right behind you!

In case you missed it, here is the wonderful 7NEWS story about Perth man Frank McGuire, who has found himself back on the golf course after suffering years of knee pain. Frank is now pain free after interventional radiologists' at Royal Perth Hospital successfully performed a new procedure on his knee called genicular artery embolization (GAE). RPH is undertaking a trial to further investigate the effectiveness of GAE in knee replacements. We hope you enjoy this story as much as we did :)