Welcome to our newest trainees!

June 7, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

This week NSW Health Pathology welcomed a special group of 21 trainees – the first ever intake targeting marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

The new trainees attended an orientation session at Westmead on Monday and are now heading off to our collection centres, labs and administration offices across Sydney and regional NSW.

NSW Health Pathology Chief Executive Vanessa Janissen said she was thrilled to welcome the 21 new trainees to the organisation.

“It’s exceptionally exciting for us to be part of this project, providing a vital first step into a rewarding career in the health sector for these young people,” Ms Janissen said.

“I’m also proud to be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Real Futures, a First Nations employment and training firm, that will be providing the support needed to ensure these traineeships are a success and continue into the future.”

One of our new trainees, Kevin McMaugh, will work in specimen reception.

“It’s going to be very exciting; I can’t wait to see what comes of it,” he said.

“It’s going to give me something to look forward to every day. I can go to work thinking about ‘what can I learn today’. It’s going to give me a career.”

For Mariam Wadie, the traineeship represents a new start in the fascinating world of forensics.

“I think that this will lead me into a new career, and it will give me a lot of personal growth,” she said.

“I see myself working in this field and staying in forensics.”

Tia Peachey-Gaylor said she was looking forward to the opportunities the traineeship will provide.

“When I heard that I got the traineeship, I was excited, happy and proud of myself,” she said.

“It’s something I can get more experience from and move forward.”

The trainee program is funded as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to employ an additional 1000 apprentices and trainees across the state.

NSW Health Pathology recognises the challenges that jobseekers from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or those living with a disability face. The traineeships aim to assist those from marginalised and disadvantaged communities into a pathway towards long-term careers with NSW Health Pathology.

We’ll be ensuring our trainees have the social and cultural support they need, together with the formal training and education required to complete their traineeships.

A new partnership supporting First Nations careers

June 6, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

NSW Health Pathology this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with First Nations training and jobs provider, Real Futures, to foster career opportunities and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

NSW Health Pathology Chief Executive Vanessa Janissen joined Real Futures Chief Executive Officer Christianna Cartwright to sign the MOU, formalising the partnership between the two organisations.

“It’s about forging stronger connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Vanessa Janissen said at the signing.

“We will commit to identifying potential employment opportunities within NSW Health Pathology and encourage First Nations people to apply.

“I’m excited that within our newest cohort of NSW Health Pathology trainees, 10 per cent identify as Aboriginal.”

Ms Janissen said the MOU was also about improving NSW Health Pathology’s services for First Nations people.

“We will listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to better understand their needs and work to adapt our practices to deliver better health outcomes.

“We will put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at the centre of all that we do,” Ms Janissen said.

Real Futures is certified as a majority Aboriginal owned, controlled, and managed training and employment company.

CEO Christianna Cartwright said her organisation looks forward to working with NSW Health Pathology to ensure job candidates get the support they need.

“We will provide mentoring and assistance for successful candidates for the first six months of their employment with NSW Health Pathology,” she said.

“That includes support for ongoing attendance and to help them overcome any barriers to performing their job.

“Our aim is to upskill and empower First Nations people to gain meaningful work, become an asset to their workplace and role models for others.”

NSW Health Pathology’s Associate Director, Aboriginal Partnerships and Inclusion, Kevin Stanley welcomed the new partnership with Real Futures.

“Our MoU and formalised partnership with Real Futures solidifies our commitment to continue work that has been underway for more than six months,” he said.

“Connecting with community at a grass roots level is a key factor in the success of any Aboriginal works and our partnership with Real Futures is an amazing start to establishing such valuable connections.”

A group of men and women smiling and holding two documents. — (Photo L‑R) Real Futures Special Projects, Steve Clarke, Real Futures CEO Christianna Cartwright, NSWHP Director Aboriginal Partnerships and Inclusion Kevin Stanley, NSWHP CE Vanessa Janissen and NSWHP Deputy Director Strategic HR and Projects, Jessica Lee.

Jo farewells pathology after 43 years of service

May 31, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Jo Putra has been a mainstay around Hunter pathology labs for 43 years, and last week she hung up the gown for the last time.

Jo is retiring from her role as a Technical Officer in the Biochemistry department at our John Hunter pathology lab.

The world of pathology has seen massive changes since Jo’s first day on the job in 1980.

“Those years included after-hours call work with tests being assayed on individual analysers and where all results were handwritten in ledgers, not like nowadays!” Jo explained.

During her career, Jo has been part of her fair share of major events that have helped shape the Hunter community.

From participating in the NBN telethon that funded the New Med building at John Hunter Hospital, to being evacuated during the Newcastle earthquake, all the way to working in the lab during the turbulent years of the COVID pandemic.

Jo quickly developed a reputation as a hard worker who was never afraid to go above and beyond.

“I can genuinely say I have put 100 percent into every day of those 43 years with a work ethic learned in those first “hard but fair” years,” Jo said.

“With pride, I can say I have helped pass that work ethic on to our three, now adult children.”

Throughout her years in the lab, Jo was an integral member of the tight-knit team at the John Hunter pathology laboratories – a bond that will continue.

“I will miss the camaraderie and banter with my colleagues but have built friendships that will last into retirement.”

Being a Newcastle Knights die-hard supporter, a frequent flyer to Bali, and having a close, loving family, Jo has her retirement plans sorted.

“I look forward to a future that involves more time with my husband, family, friends, spending quality time at our home here and in Bali, more travel, following my beloved Knights team and a life devoid of rosters!” she said.

“I also hold onto hope of a career as a grandmother relatively soon!”

Jo, thank you for all your years of dedicated service, you will be dearly missed.

Showcasing careers in pathology

May 28, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Our stall at the Central Coast Careers Pathway Expo earlier this year was a hit for high school students from around the region.

Dynamic duo Claire Padgett and Lara Bassell from our Gosford laboratory and collection centre worked the NSW Health Pathology stall at the April event which attracted 3,000 students from 22 schools.

For many students pondering life after high school, the lure of a career in pathology was an enticing prospect with Lara and Claire fielding questions from students all day.

“Many students were interested to find out what we did in the laboratory in general, as well as what different departments we had,” said Lara, who works in Haematology at the Gosford lab.

“The students were also very interested to watch Claire’s demonstration on collection techniques and were amazed with how it all worked.”

Students were keen to learn about the different pathways to get into a career in laboratory science.

Lara’s path to pathology is just one example of the many ways to pursue a career in the lab.

“I studied a Bachelor of Medical Science Pathology, part-time by distance through Charles Sturt University, while raising 3 young children and working part-time.”

And for those students considering taking the leap into life in pathology, her advice is simple.

“I would say go for it!” she said.

“Society will always need pathology services.

“A career in science and pathology is so rewarding as we are helping to save lives, and every day is interesting.”

When in doubt, go to the library

May 24, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Did you know that NSW Health Pathology’s Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS) has a library and a librarian available to assist with research, accessing publications and tracking down hard-to-find journals?

Margaret Gillies has worked as a librarian in the NSW Health system for 21 years, working in Multicultural Health, Auburn Hospital, the Children’s Hospital and Westmead Hospital. She now divides her working week between the Westmead library and FASS.

“I started at FASS in 2007 when there was an actual physical library with books and paper copies of journals,” Margaret said.

“There had been a long gap between librarians, and I couldn’t find any cataloguing records. So, I re-catalogued everything to the National Library of Medicine catalogue standards.

“Now I work mostly online, with just a small selection of books and paper journals along with historical reports that I’ve managed to keep and store here at the Lidcombe office. People can get in touch with me via the FASS Library link on the NSW Health Pathology intranet.

“When I first started at FASS, I had a gentleman come in and say ‘You won’t be able to help me, no one has ever been able to help me’. But I managed to convince him to give me a try.

“It turned out he wanted to submit an article for a journal, and different journals have different rules around submissions, so I helped him with that. I proof-read his work because English was not his first language and submitted the article. We became good friends, over the years and he ended up using the library quite a lot.”

A magazine stand filled with science journals. — The library still provides hard copies of some journals for FASS staff.

The library assists with research and information requirements to FASS staff at all 5 FASS locations. These include access to:

A variety of databases
Library Catalogue CIAP
Inter-library loans / Document delivery
Research assistance/enquiries
Standards
Training
Copyright advice
Purchasing

The library catalogue is a listing of all items held by FASS as well as the libraries in Western Sydney Local Health District, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and the Children’s Hospital Westmead.

Margaret says the library has both a science and medical focus, so is particularly useful for FASS staff.

Margaret uses many search platforms such as MyAthens (that is available to all FASS staff) to locate publications and she has a lot of contacts within different libraries to track items down.

“I once tracked down a journal in an African village. The man who wrote it was so happy I had found his work,” she said.

Margaret produces a regular library update, giving an overview of the services available.

“A lot of people do not understand how much more the library can assist them in furthering their expertise and providing useful information for their research. If anyone in FASS wants to follow up on a particular topic or service, they can get in touch with me.”

A woman reaches into a cupboard for a book — A small collection of historical reports and journals remain in Margaret’s office at Lidcombe.

See how far we’ve come at Coffs Harbour!

May 23, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

We’ve been transforming Anatomical Pathology services at our Coffs Harbour laboratory, attracting more pathologists and support staff, and achieving better outcomes for patients.

A passion for working in regional areas has been the driving force behind the career of Dr Richard Tustin, Senior Pathologist and Clinical Director for Anatomical Pathology at our Coffs Harbour laboratory.

Richard has worked hard to create an AP lab that now serves the entire Mid North coast region, even taking on work from other parts of the state when needed.

“I’m from South Africa originally and have worked in regional areas all over the world,” he explains.

“I have found that patients in regional areas don’t always have access to the same anatomical pathology services as those in metropolitan areas. My philosophy and passion is for bridging this gap.

“We have largely succeeded in doing so in Coffs Harbour and surrounds, in an area extending from Port Macquarie to Grafton,” Richard said.

“Coffs Harbour Base Hospital provides full surgical and oncological services to the community. In order to support these services, it was essential we develop our AP service to fulfill the demands for rapid diagnosis as well as prognostic indicators for various cancers.”

When he arrived in Coffs Harbour 7 years ago, Richard realised the laboratory needed upgrading if it was to attract more pathologists and laboratory staff.

Since then, NSW Health Pathology has invested in building a dedicated Anatomical Pathology laboratory, histopathology laboratory, a suite of pathologists’ offices for reporting as well as installing state-of-the-art equipment.

A group of people wearing lab coats working in a laboratory. — Staff of Coffs Harbour AP at microtomy stations

A man sits at a desk with a microscope. — Dr Renukadas P Sakalkale, Senior Staff Specialist Pathologist

“We now have 6 full-time pathologists working in the area, up from only 1 full-time pathologist in 2017,” Richard said.

“We have an automated immunohistochemistry stainer on site, with the aim to purchase a second one shortly. This enables us to provide rapid turnaround times for biopsies and other urgent specimens.

“As a result of this transformation in services the workload has expanded considerably from 6000 patient episodes back in 2017 when I commenced working here to over 18,000 cases in 2023.”

Richard says his laboratory team has developed excellent working relationships with colleagues in the clinical disciplines.

“We routinely provide diagnoses within 24 hours for breast cancer patients as well as patients with metastatic disease. We report all the breast screen biopsies for the mid and far north coast too.

“We also provide a pathology service to the private sector – the workload of which has grown considerably over the past 7 years.

“The psychological impact on patients waiting for a diagnosis is extremely stressful and the sooner they get a definitive management plan, the better. The benefits of early treatment speak for themselves too.

“In line with my thinking of attracting pathologists to work in regional areas we have established 2 registrar positions in our laboratory, both of which are filled. I find it extremely rewarding working in regional areas.”

Senior Hospital Scientist, Zoe Schmidt at embedding station.

“I knew I wanted to do something related to cancer.”

Managing the laboratory alongside Richard is Coffs Harbour local, Zoe Schmidt, a 27-year-old Senior Hospital Scientist who went off to university with dreams of helping people with cancer.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do (when I began studying), but I knew that I wanted to do something related to cancer,” Zoe said.

“Cancer affects a lot of families, but it affected my family quite a bit, so it was an area I wanted to make a difference in.”

After working in laboratories in Wollongong and Sydney, Zoe says she’s very happy to be back in her hometown.

“I find the work way more rewarding in a small lab because you get exposure to things that you don’t get in a big lab. There’s so much more variety to our work in Coffs Harbour,” she said.

“Now we are getting bigger, a lot of our staff are skilled in a lot of areas so they can move around, and that’s what makes it rewarding.

“It was daunting initially taking on the lab manager’s role, but I have great mentors with Richard and Trevor Baillie (the former AP lab manager) – it’s great to always be learning and watching what they do.

“We work very closely with the pathologists here in regional, so the relationship the staff get to have with the pathologist is really enriching, including getting to learn how and why we do things the way we do.”

Zoe says patients get access to fast, accurate results.

“Recently we were contacted by a woman who wanted to say thank you,” Zoe said.

“She’d had surgery on a Monday and by Tuesday afternoon got a phone call from her surgeon giving her the results of cancer tests, which were all-clear.

“It was great that she wanted to thank us for the fast turnaround of results, but I told her we just did what we always do!”

Richard says he’s proud of what’s been achieved at the Coffs Harbour laboratory and his team remains focused on getting the best possible outcomes for regional patients.