Australian Healthcare Week (AHW) had the honour of sponsoring and attending the 2024 Sydney Innovation Week, a dynamic event showcasing groundbreaking initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes and staff wellbeing across the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD). Our team, including Managing Director Puja Pankhania, was delighted to support and participate in this celebration of innovation and excellence in healthcare.

"It was our honour to be invited to participate and support Sydney Innovation Week to learn and celebrate the incredible work that's happening across SLHD to improve patient outcomes and staff wellbeing," said Puja Pankhania.

Sydney Innovation & Research Symposium

Sydney Innovation & Research Symposium featured opening leadership address from Graeme Loy PSM, Acting Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District, and Susan Pearce AM, Secretary of NSW Health. The symposium provided updates on key initiatives such as the New South Wales Single Digital Patient Record Program (SDPR) - a statewide system with the aim to provide a secure, holistic and integrated view of the care a patient receives. Clinicians will be able to access a patient’s medical information in real-time from a single source. Perspectives were shared by Associate Professor Angus Ritchie, Clinical Director of Digital Health and Single Digital Patient Record at SLHD, Dr. Teresa Anderson AM, Chief Executive of the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority, Dr. Mitchel Krieger, Chief Medical Information Officer from Stamford Health, Stamford Connecticut, and representatives from healthcare consumer groups Dean Hewson and Harry Illes-Mann. The need for community and consumer partnerships as well as participation from across the healthcare workforce were emphasised heavily.

Women’s Leadership Breakfast

The Women’s Leadership Breakfast celebrated the vital contributions of women in the SLHD to the NSW Public Service. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from inspiring leaders including Yvonne Weldon from Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and Dr. Bethan Richards Chief Medical Wellness Officer at SLHD. With women comprising over 70 percent of the workforce and holding 47 percent of senior leadership roles, SLHD exemplifies leadership in diversity. The event aligned with the Premier's goal to increase the proportion of women in senior executive roles to over 50 percent by 2025.

The Pitch Winner

The 10th annual Pitch event featured compelling presentations from SLHD staff, highlighting diverse health service initiatives. Grace Vu and Su Kim won $16,800 for their "ABCs for C.A.L.D" program, which aids school readiness for children from newly arrived migrant families. Dr. Maryssa Portelli received $35,000 to enhance psychiatric services for Prader-Willi Syndrome patients. Additionally, Dr. Ben Siddall proposed a virtual reality (VR) pain relief strategy for burns patients, and Dr. Janani Thillainadesan, alongside Dani Hutchinson, pitched "What Matters Most," a project amplifying older consumers' voices in research. Over the past decade, the Pitch has provided over $2 million in funding for innovative healthcare projects.

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The Big Idea Winner 

One of the standout moments of the week was the announcement of the Big Idea winner. Dr. Sam Bendall, Senior Staff Specialist at RPA Emergency Department and Deputy Director of My District OK, won the prestigious award with her team's R.E.S.E.T Debriefing Tool. This innovative tool, designed to help healthcare workers process stressful and traumatic events, secured $65,000 in pre-seed funding from Cicada Innovations and $25,000 in professional services from IDE Group. Dr. Bendall emphasised the tool's potential to reduce PTSD, burnout, and psychological stress among healthcare staff, ultimately leading to better and safer patient care.

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Sydney Innovation Week 2024, supported by Australian Healthcare Week, was a resounding success, shining a spotlight on the remarkable efforts to advance healthcare within the Sydney Local Health District. We look forward to continuing our support and witnessing the ongoing impact of these transformative initiatives.

For more information on Sydney Innovation Week visit: https://slhd.health.nsw.gov.au/innovation-week