Year in Review 2021

A WORD FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

“Thank you to every single frontline worker who continually showed up to work in our hospitals, testing clinics and vaccination centres during the height of the pandemic.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and the community alike. It’s a space designed in consultation with local Aboriginal communities and Aboriginal Liaison officers to serve as a safe space for reflection and education for all hospital visitors. We unveiled a leisure and recreation hub for mental health consumers at Cumberland Hospital along with the refurbished Merrylands HealthOne community health centre. Work has commenced on significant upgrades to our mental health facilities at Blacktown Hospital while construction is set to begin a purpose- built Mother and Baby Unit at Westmead Hospital – the second of its kind in the State for pregnant women and new mothers experiencing mental illness. At the heart of our District’s work is care. From assisting local residential aged care facilities with their COVID-19 response, to a ‘Share the Dignity’ vending machine in Auburn Hospital’s ED for women experiencing period poverty, we are always there for the community when they need us most. Our commitment to research is stronger than ever with the appointment of our first District Director of Research, and successful grants covering every area of health from heart regeneration and liver cancer to parental health literacy and phage therapy. Seeing our researchers look to the future of medicine, locally and globally, is a testament to their brilliant minds and their desire to bring about breakthroughs which would otherwise be unimaginable. While our work may not stop, we can take the time to stop and reflect on those who have made our District as successful as we are. It’s one of the reasons I am proud we launched our culture program, ‘Our Place Our People’ , along with the introduction of the ‘Years of Service’ awards. As we become a more inclusive and welcoming place to work, we will continue with change-making programs such as our Disability and Inclusion Action Plan and ‘Respect the Difference’ training. None of these achievements would be possible without the incredible work of the people who have made them happen. I could not be prouder of our staff and want to thank them for everything they do each day for the people of Western Sydney. 2021 has truly been a year like no other and while we can’t predict what 2022 will be like, I know Western Sydney Local Health District and its health heroes can manage, confront, and overcome any challenge we might be faced with.

Above, from top Chief Executive Graeme Loy, Operations Manager COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Bernadette Wykes, Physiotherapist Nerissa Grebert, Client Relations Management Officer Saskia Hartog, COVID-19 Vaccination Program Admin Manager Louise Weston. Chief Executive Graeme Loy, Director Aboriginal Health Strategy Braiden Abala and Aboriginal Elder Uncle Wesley Marne at the Westmead Central Acute Services Building smoke ceremony.

Graeme Loy Chief Executive Western Sydney Local Health District

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