Austin Health

Did you know that in Australia, allied health professionals make up almost a third of the workforce in the health sector? At Austin Health, we have over 1,000 allied health professionals working across 25+ disciplines. Today on Allied Health Professions (AHP) Day, we take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate all our allied health professionals and their remarkable contributions in improving the health and wellbeing of our community. 💕 Check out pictures from the week long AHP Day celebrations across all Austin Health campuses!

We are looking forward to welcoming abdominal organ transplant surgeon Professor Chris Watson from the Cambridge Transplant Centre to deliver this year's Smallwood Oration on Thursday 24 October. Professor Watson is an expert in improving the utilisation of donor organs, and will discuss new opportunities in the evolving area of organ preservation. This lecture is a must for all transplant clinicians and researchers. Register to attend: bit.ly/3ZYySad

Join us at Austin Health to make an impact on the lives of patients, their families and carers. We are searching for a Nurse Unit Manager to lead our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This opportunity plays a pivotal role in overseeing and setting the clinical care standards within ICU. As well as supporting excellence in clinical practice and promoting the development of nurses and the support team, you will also be responsible for ensuring the philosophy of nursing and standards of practice are consistently reflected in professional practice and patient care. Austin Health’s ICU provides multidisciplinary care to a wide variety of critically ill patients in a highly technological environment, with a strong emphasis on the care of family, friends and carers during a stressful time in their lives. This is an incredible opportunity to make a difference, be challenged every day, and lead an extremely dedicated and committed team. Are you ready to continue your leadership journey with us? Find more details or apply here > bit.ly/4gYTZ2b

What an incredible day! 🌟 Thank you so much for joining us at Olivia's Walk for Wellness yesterday. Whether you walked solo or with loved ones, your presence helped create an uplifting day in honour of Dame Olivia Newton-John’s incredible legacy. On behalf of the ONJ Centre, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone that was part of delivering the day including our partners, event managers, suppliers, performers and all the wonderful volunteers. We couldn't do this without your support. And a huge thank you to YOU, our participants, fundraisers and donors. YOU are the driving force behind this incredible event, and it would not be possible without your support and generosity. Thanks to YOU we have raised almost one million dollars! 💚 But it's not over yet! Fundraising as part of Olivia’s Walk for Wellness 2024 remains open till the end of October, so it’s not too late to donate and help us reach our fundraising target of 1.6 million. You can still make a difference by encouraging friends and family to support Olivia's walk and help bring love, light, and transformative care to people with cancer. Donate today > bit.ly/3zRHXXN #OliviasWalkForWellness #ONJCentre

Adele has always been known for her vibrant personality and zest for life, however life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout her treatment, Adele found solace in the exercise physiology and dietetics wellness therapies offered at the ONJ Centre. “Both wellness therapies were important to me as food, nutrition and exercise are a huge part of my life, and I was concerned I would encounter challenges with radiation. These services were beneficial during the treatment process and have continued to be positive for my recovery,” she recalls. With Olivia’s Walk for Wellness only three days away, Adele encourages everyone to join and support the event that helps fund vital wellness therapies for patients like her. If you can’t join us for the walk, you can still donate to the cause. All donations go directly to providing free, evidence-based wellness therapies for cancer patients at the ONJ Centre. Read Adele’s story and sign up or donate here: bit.ly/3N4RSwe See you on Sunday 6 October! 💚

Did you know a new, non-invasive, medical laser acupuncture treatment can reduce neuropathic pain by 70 per cent? This new treatment by our Medical Acupuncturist, Dr Ian Relf, was recently published in a world-first research paper in Clinical Breast Cancer and is set to change the treatment of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain, or nerve pain, is a side effect of cancer treatment that affects 40 per cent of cancer patients. Driven by a desire to alleviate this pain, Dr Relf developed a non-invasive laser acupuncture treatment that has shown promising results. "Being able to do something that is really effective for people in pain, being able to help get rid of the pain – that's what makes me want to go to work every day,” shares Dr Relf. Read more about this important work and sign up for Olivia’s Walk for Wellness on Sunday 6 October here > bit.ly/3NbwLrS All funds raised go towards supporting Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre’s life-changing wellness programs. 💚

Congratulations to our former patient Josh Young, who became the World Champion in the Adaptive CrossFit Games (Seated 1 Men’s Division) in Texas last month! Seven years ago, Josh was an Austin Health patient following a mountain bike accident that resulted in paraplegia. He spent months with us during his recovery. Since then he has married, had a daughter and become a qualified draftsman ... and now a world champion athlete💪 We spoke to Josh about his experiences: bit.ly/3zHh3Sw

Meet the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) team – the most important team you’ve never heard of! 💊 The QUM team at Austin Health is a group of pharmacists and technicians focused on improving medicine use within the hospital. They manage the hospital formulary, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to safely introduce new medications, source high-cost or rare medicines, and coordinate access to medications not available through standard channels by working with pharmaceutical companies to make treatments more available. Their role includes evaluating the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of new medicines, and updating hospital guidelines to support safe medicine use. The QUM team also manages drug shortages by sourcing alternatives, both locally and internationally, ensuring they are safe and effective. This World Pharmacists Day, we recognise the importance of teams, like the QUM team, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly for our patients, and that they receive the best possible care. Photo L-R: Alison Tyedin, Senior Education & QUM Pharmacist, Helen Allsep, Senior QUM Pharmacist, Lisa Ho, Senior QUM Pharmacist and Helen Paralejas, MAP Coordinator/QUM Assistant

Come and say hello to us at the Australian Physiotherapy Association Career Connect event at the Hawthorn Arts Centre this Wednesday 25 September 2024 from 4.30-7pm. Meet with some of our Grade 1 Physiotherapists and hear all about their experiences working at Austin Health. Bring lots of questions, as well as your drawing skills, to win some fun prizes! Austin Health’s graduate physiotherapist program is designed to provide opportunities to develop and grow in a supportive environment. Designed as a rotation program to expose graduates to a wide variety of clinical conditions to build and excellent foundation in physiotherapy skills and knowledge. Graduates are supported on all rotations by our highly experienced clinicians, as well as an extensive in-service education program. A fantastic opportunity for students and new graduates to connect with us, we look forward to seeing you there! Visit Australian Physiotherapy Association for more details 👉 https://bit.ly/3XPTMa2

This World Gratitude Day, we’re taking a moment to thank our wonderful donors, volunteers, and supporters 💜 Over the past financial year, an incredible amount was raised to support wellness programs, pioneering research, and advanced medical equipment at Austin Health. These milestones highlight the profound impact of a generous and dedicated community. We are beyond grateful for the continued support that makes exceptional care possible. On behalf of Austin Health, thank you 💚