Retaining, strengthening and building its relationships with the communities of Warracknabeal, Beulah, and Hopetoun will be a focus of Rural Northwest Health in 2025, the 40-strong crowd who attended today’s Annual General Meeting heard.
Welcoming attendees to country, Uncle Ron Marks performed a smoking ceremony, inviting all to use the smoke to cleanse their bodies.
Encouraging all to “eat decent food” Uncle Ron said that prevention is better than cure, urging the RNH Board to consider that any decisions they made were “from the heart, for the hand”.
Welcoming guests to the AGM, Board Chair Dr John Aitken made a special mention of Reference Group members, Woodbine CEO Jason Minter, RNH Life Governor Les Solly, and Marie Aitken.
Describing 2023-24 as a year of “hoping for the best but preparing for the worst”, Dr Aitken complimented the team on their efforts to minimise the impact of Covid, acknowledging their tireless dedication to the communities.
Dr Aitken also touched on a number of highlights of 2023-24, including:
- The recruitment of over 100 new staff – making RNH, arguably, the most multi-cultural and skilled workforce in the Wimmera Mallee.
- The continued efforts of the education team in ensuring all staff have the most current training.
- The fabulous engagement by the teams across all campuses, including the monthly Wacky Wednesday at Hopetoun and the establishment of a volleyball team.
- Professor Stephen Duckett’s forum discussing future healthcare models.
- The successful granting of funds to build two Duplexes at Hopetoun to house staff.
- RNH taking on delivery of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
- The tireless efforts of the Ladies Auxiliary in raising funds for RNH.
Touching on the strategic plan, Dr Aitken said the RNH Board has women’s health, paediatric services, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs support services in sight as part of their strategic priorities, also commenting that re-opening urgent care remains a priority, with the recruitment of skilled staff assisting in the same.
“We wouldn’t survive without the community, and the community wouldn’t survive without us,” Dr Aitken said.
“RNH is part of the community and is very proud of the relationships,” he said.
Executive Manager Finance and Administration Hendrik Barnard then took to the floor to give a brief finance update for the year and expressed that, although RNH’s expenses had increased by $3 million in 2023-24 (largely due to recruitment costs), the organisation is “in a good financial position” and he is “confident that this year is going to be a good year”.
CEO Jenni Masters acknowledged the Victoria-wide health inequities, and RNH’s role in addressing them.
“The uncertainty at state and federal level (regarding health services) caused a level of anxiety amongst our staff and the community,” Ms Masters said.
“However, our teams have been amazing throughout, focusing on providing the best care and support for our communities, and each other,” she said.
“RNH will continue to build its capability and capacity to further strengthen the organisation”.
“A huge amount of energy went into recruiting, both by our staff and by our recruitment partner Latitude Recruitment.”
Ms Masters said that in 2023-24 RNH recruited 96 new staff – equating to 8 new staff per month, or 2 per week!
These figures are impressive solo, but even more so when one considers that many of the roles had been vacant for months and, in some cases, years.
Reflecting on the warm welcome she personally received, Ms Masters encouraged all to warmly welcome all new staff to the region and make them feel like a part of the communities in which they live and work.
Ms Masters also touched on several highlights, including:
- Improved quality and safety of care.
- An increased consumer voice.
- Achieving 3x accreditations.
- The health promotion team attending community events promoting skin cancer checks, resulting in 40% of the people checked being referred for further medical examination due to the discovery of suspicious skin lesions.
- The number of people using the CHSP increasing from 236-300, and the introducti0n of a new gardening service.
- An increase in both internal and external communications, including social media posts and the introduction of a bi-weekly staff newsletter.
- Staff having access to Family Violence Contact Officers.
- Strengthened relati0nships with local health services, Woodbine, Neighbourhood House, GPs, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Yarriambiack Shire.
- Engagement with community groups including Warracknabeal Playgroup, men’s sheds, CWA, and the Wimmera Pride Project.
- The receipt of $500,000 in various grants funding.
In a tribute to their dedication, skills, and commitment to the communities in which they live and work, four women were named as RNH Life Governors during the AGM: Congratulations to Glenda Hewitt, Maxine Sleep, Jeanette McCabe, and Carolyn Morcom.
Each expressed their gratitude for the honour and said they had learned a lot during their time with RNH with Carolyn, a former RNH Board member for 10 years, sharing her desire for rural people to have access to quality health services locally.
Before the AGM drew to a close, Ms Masters said “2025 will continue to bring challenges, but we have a plan”.
“The new Aged Care Act to be introduced on July 1 will have a significant impact, but we are preparing so that we get ahead of it,” she said.
“Our budget will continue to include a focus on providing the best possible care to our communities, coupled with staff support”.
“It is an honour to be the CEO of this team, and I look forward to continuing to work together”.
“Thank you all for your care, dedication, passion, and commitment to providing the best possible care to our communities”.