Dr Catherine Pitman appointed Director Public Health Pathology

October 18, 2024 by Kristy Waddell Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Dr Catherine Pitman who has been appointed Director Public Health Pathology, NSW Health Pathology’s statewide service delivering a coordinated response for all NSW notifiable diseases in collaboration with the NSW Ministry of Health.

Previously, Catherine was Deputy Director of Public Health Pathology and had been Acting Director since March 2023, when Professor Dominic Dwyer stepped down. During this time, she has capably led the team with passion and energy, so it’s great to see her expertise further recognised.

In addition to this state-wide role, Dr Pitman is a Staff Specialist and Microbiologist at NSW Health Pathology. Catherine has broad Australian and international experience in health informatics, infection prevention and control, interjurisdictional and Commonwealth Privacy and Notifiable Disease law and consumer centric design.

Key priorities of the Public Health Pathology service is promoting collaboration between our expert teams of pathologists, scientists, technicians, ICT experts, logistics, and pathology collection staff.

As Director of Public Health Pathology, Dr Pitman works closely with her clinical peers, NSW Health Pathology laboratory staff and NSW Ministry of Health Directors to develop appropriate state-wide advice and input to address pathology-related system issues, and ensure NSW Health Pathology is responding to the evolving needs of NSW citizens, communities and the health system.

Learn more about our statewide Public Health Pathology service here.

Congratulations to our NSW Health Award Finalists

October 3, 2024 by Taylor O'Brien Leave a Comment

Congratulations to our NSW Health Pathology staff that have been named a finalist in the 2024 NSW Health Awards for their extraordinary efforts to improve the NSW public health system.

Now in its 26th year, the NSW Health Awards acknowledge the staff and programs of work that contribute to the wellbeing of patients and the community.

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said it is really exciting to celebrate the people and teams who are enriching health in millions of ways every day.

“These awards are a chance to recognise our incredible healthcare staff and volunteers, across the public health system,” Ms Pearce said. “I congratulate the finalists, but I also want to acknowledge the work being done across the system every day, by our teams of doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health and support staff.”

Congratulations to our finalists

A Digital Single Statewide Pathology Test Catalogue – Patient Safety First category

The Digital Statewide Pathology Test Catalogue is a project by NSW Health Pathology (NSWHP). The catalogue provides clinicians with timely and up to date information in a digital library to ensure the right tests are requested at the right time. This leads to informed decision making and better patient care and safety. The catalogue is designed to give a statewide overview of pathology testing services and advice for clinical teams, general practitioners, and patients.

NSWHP operates testing services at 62 locations and is supported by over 150 collection centres, ensuring high-quality care for patients and the community.

The catalogue was created in-house by project designers, in collaboration with clinical and scientific specialists. The large data set includes more than 2,000 tests tailored for location and scientific speciality. The platform is Accessible 24/7 via mobile and desktop devices. The geolocation feature delivers personalised guidance on test services, collection methods, transport, handling, billing and patient advice. Strong data governance ensures testing is consistent and reliable across NSW.

The Test Catalogue represents a major improvement in healthcare information management, setting a new standard for efficiency, accuracy, and better patient outcomes across NSW’s health system.

NSW Dried Blood Spot Hepatitis C Validation Study – Health Innovation category

The NSW Ministry of Health partnered with NSW Health Pathology and various NSW Health partners to validate the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test for diagnosing hepatitis C (HCV). The validation of the DBS test is the first of its kind in Australia. This project aims to make DBS testing a standard diagnostic tool, and, if successful, it will change how HCV testing is offered for people at risk of HCV.

Over six months, the NSW Ministry of Health in partnership with four Local Health Districts, Justice Health NSW and Clarence Correctional Centre, collected 1286 samples. NSW Health Pathology analysed the samples to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the DBS test and will use the results to apply to the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) for validation. If approved, this will be the only HCV DBS test available in Australia. The partnerships between the NSW Health sector have been essential for the largescale validation in a short amount of time.

The DBS test provides access to testing for vulnerable populations including people in prison and people with a history of injecting drugs and will help NSW Health meet its goal of eliminating HCV as a public health issue by 2028.

Sharon Neville – Staff Member of the Year category

Sharon Neville has made an exceptional contribution to the NSW Health and Justice systems. Her work at the Forensic and Analytical Science Service (FASS) makes NSW a safer place.

Sharon’s work of providing the highest quality forensic science; disrupts crime, minimises the health impact of illicit drugs in the community, supports the apprehension of perpetrators, and provides answers for grieving families and victims of crime.

Sharon oversees the Forensic Biology/DNA, Illicit Drug Analysis and Chemical Criminalistics units. She is committed to supporting and mentoring colleagues and collaborating with key partners, including NSW Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Her expertise is relied on by authorities in NSW and sought after by other jurisdictions around Australia and New Zealand.

Her vision is to provide world-class services, delivering high quality, reliable results as quickly as possible to support police investigations and the courts.
She introduced advanced DNA capabilities that have ensured the early identification of offenders, and helped police solve numerous cold cases. She recently led a team of experts to source and install the latest DNA robotics technology.

Sharon’s legacy will be having transformed the FASS Forensic Biology/DNA lab into a world-leader.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 24 October 2024.

Welcoming Sabrina to our forensics team

October 1, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

University of Western Sydney student and proud Wiradjuri woman Sabrina Cox has begun an internship at our Forensic & Analytical Science Service at Lidcombe, as part of NSW Health Pathology’s initiative to promote career pathways for First Nations Peoples.

This new internship will allow Sabrina to receive hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a bustling forensics lab.

Currently in her last semester of a Bachelor of Science degree at UWS, Sabrina has had a lifelong interest in forensic science and its ability to help family members find peace in their darkest moments.

“Growing up I always had an interest in science and I found forensic science to be quite fascinating and intriguing. I wanted to be able to help people and to be part of a system that finds answers and closure,” she said.

Sabrina sees the internship as an excellent opportunity to help shape her career path.

“It is extremely important as it helps set me up for future employment and cement the skills I have learned at uni by giving me real-life experiences.”

NSW Health Pathology is continuing to develop internship programs for First Nations people, as well as people living with a disability, and will be working towards filling 26 new traineeships across regional and metropolitan areas of NSW.

Four women standing in an office, smiling. — FASS intern, Sabrina Cox (second from right) with her new colleagues Amanda Homo, Zi Qin Zhang, and Tamara Kastak.

For Associate Director of Aboriginal Partnerships and Inclusion Kevin Stanley (pictured top), these programs play an important role in attracting diverse talent that reflects the communities that NSW Health Pathology serves.

“NSW Health Pathology is proudly comprised of people from all backgrounds, genders, sexualities, abilities and life experiences. Our rich diversity is what has driven our incredible scientific advances and success as the preferred provider of public pathology and forensic services in New South Wales,” Kevin said.

“We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the NSW communities that we provide critical services to, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, LGBTQIA+ people, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, and people of all genders, abilities and ages.”

NSW Health Pathology is proud to be providing trainees with valuable work experience across our laboratories and offices around the state – check out their stories here.

Bird flu – experts alert, but not alarmed

September 30, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Medical virologist and infectious diseases physician at NSW Health Pathology, Dr Jen Kok, discusses the worldwide bird flu outbreak and what we’re doing to prepare.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a viral disease of birds and is found around the world. Some strains have very minor effects on wild birds, while others can cause severe disease. Certain strains can infect mammals including seals, livestock, and occasionally humans.

The most well-known strains of bird flu are H5N1 and H7N9 and both have caused serious infections and deaths in humans.

A variant of H5N1, named clade 2.3.4.4b, causes significant illness and deaths in poultry, wild birds and mammals. It has spread rapidly across all continents except Australia and killed millions of wild birds. Human infections are rare and typically occur after close contact with sick birds and livestock.

The mortality rate of H5N1 in humans is about 50% in the almost 900 cases of people infected worldwide since 2003, but the mortality of the 2.3.4.4b clade is substantially lower.

We asked Dr Jen Kok, Medical Virologist and Director of the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology – Public Health (CIDM-PH) at the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) to explain what is happening and how Australia is preparing.

“Ongoing surveillance to monitor for this variant is critical, particularly in the animal sector,” he said.

“But there is no need for panic. I would say we are alert, but not alarmed.”

Health authorities in Victoria and NSW have this year been working to contain outbreaks of different strains of bird flu on several poultry farms near Melbourne and Sydney.

Earlier this year the NSW Government launched its emergency biosecurity incident plan to manage the outbreaks.

Thousands of chickens have been euthanised and quarantine zones have been set up to restrict the movement of birds and equipment.

“The chickens culled on farms in Victoria have had H7N3 and H7N9 strains of avian influenza, and in NSW it’s the H7N8 strain, not the 2.3.4.4b variant causing concern elsewhere in the world,” Dr Kok said.

“The virus doesn’t typically infect humans, because they don’t have the receptors in their throats, noses or upper respiratory tracts that are susceptible to the current bird flu strain.”

Symptoms can be mild

Dr Kok points out that avian influenza doesn’t always present as just a respiratory illness.

“In overseas cases, one of the symptoms reported was conjunctivitis, which is a feature that we see with low pathogen avian influenza viruses.

“Some infected people just get red eyes and nothing else, some of them just have very mild symptoms.

“The under-recognition of mild symptoms may be skewing the high mortality rates that are reported. The mortality rate may be even lower because we don’t recognise as many mild cases or asymptomatic cases.”

Are we prepared for avian flu?

Dr Kok said Australia is well prepared for bird flu.

“This is not like COVID, it’s not a new virus. We know how it behaves and we know how to respond,” he said.

“NSW is prepared for diagnostic testing. The laboratory responses, the clinical responses, these are all essentially ready to go. As soon as the switch is flicked, all these plans should kick into place.”

He said in addition to monitoring animals, surveillance has also been ramped up to identify patients who are unwell with influenza.

“Those who are critically ill, those who’ve returned from overseas, those who have had contact with birds or sick animals, they’re at potentially increased risk of having avian flu,” Dr Kok said.

“So, if they have influenza A diagnosed, then they should have those viruses subtyped quickly to be able to say whether they have H5N1.

“Here at NSW Health Pathology in Westmead, we have the capacity to subtype viruses quickly, and we’re one of three World Health Organization (WHO) National Influenza Centres in the country able to do this work, the others are in Perth and Melbourne.”

Taking on the challenge of managing an outback laboratory

September 25, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

Sunita Goundar says her decision to move from Sydney to Walgett in northern NSW was about giving back to the community but has also changed her life for the better.

Sunita took up the role of Laboratory Manager at Walgett in September 2023.

“I’d been working in pathology in Sydney for almost 20 years, the last 14 with NSW Health Pathology,” Sunita explains.

“I’m from Fiji originally and when you come to a country like Australia to study and work, it gives you so many privileges, and you just want to give back because Australia has given me so much.”

Sunita loves exploring regional and rural Australia. A few years ago, on a trip to regional Queensland, she got talking to some locals about how hard it was to access healthcare and realised she wanted to help.

“I actually felt that I could do something, this was something I could do to help smaller communities.”

Does she miss living in a city the size of Sydney, where she has a network of friends and family?

“Not at all! Walgett is a beautiful place, the people are very friendly. I have colleagues who arrive every morning at 6am and we all go for a morning walk together. Everyone here is like a family, not like colleagues,” Sunita says.

“I make friends very quickly, and unlike Sydney where you don’t even know your neighbours, here, everyone knows everyone. My health has also improved. I have asthma and the air here is just so much cleaner and fresher than Sydney.

“Of course it’s very different to Sydney, but I was very clear in my thinking that I am here for a purpose, and I am happy to be here.”

Two men and a woman in a laboratory. — Sunita with her colleagues, Chavan Golukoruppuge and Mosisa Yusuf in the lab.

Sunita admits she was afraid of one thing moving to regional NSW – snakes.

“In my first couple of months I saw a couple of eastern brown snakes. But you know what? I’m not scared anymore because if you leave them alone they don’t actually harm you.”

Sunita says she was lucky to get accommodation near the hospital, as Walgett is no different to other regional areas where rental housing is in short supply.

“I’m only one minute away from work – a very short commute! We have a gym here as well, so I have everything I need close by.”

Sunita says the Walgett laboratory has a range of services and the work is challenging.

“We’ve got a biochemistry department, a haematology department, we also do blood transfusion and recently we’ve been dealing with more complicated cases for the blood bank.

“If there is an MTP (Massive Transfusion Protocol) we are here dispensing bloods, not just locally, but also for surrounding areas.

“We have a collection centre at Lightning Ridge and we also serve Collarenabri District Hospital, the AMS (Aboriginal Medical Service) and we are also helping Brewarrina with lab testing.”

Sunita says NSW Health Pathology has provided a great network of mentors and supportive managers since she arrived in Walgett.

“In six months, I never expected to grow so much and I should give credit to Ben Alchin (Senior Operations Manager for Western NSW and Far West) for linking me with so many great people in the organisation who have helped me.”

A group of people smiling with arms around each other. — The Walgett lab team: Chavan Golukoruppuge, Ben Alchin (Senior Operations Manager), Yen Holland, Sunita Goundar, Marla Gould.

Sunita’s advice to someone considering a tree change?

“They shouldn’t overthink it – just take the leap! Walgett is a long way from Sydney, but I do not regret one day that I made this decision. I am very grateful to be working here, because I love it here.”

Incentives to move to regional NSW

Hannah Beveridge is NSW Health Pathology’s Regional Talent Acquisition Specialist and says she loves hearing about staff who have had a successful career change into the regions.

“Sunita was able to take advantage of NSW Health’s Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme (RWIS) which offers financial bonuses for health staff and new employees taking up jobs in regional parts of the state,” Hannah said.

“It’s designed to attract and retain staff to regional, rural and remote NSW. Our ‘hard to fill’ positions and ‘critical vacancies’ across these locations are incentivised via a fortnightly allowance, which is worth between $10,000 and $5,000 per annum depending on the location, pro-rata for part timers.”

A man and a woman holding eskies standing in front of a NSW Health Pathology-badged car. — Mosisa Yusuf and his NSWHP colleague from Bourke, Jennifer Bolton, at Walgett.

Hannah says one of the biggest challenges in attracting new employees to rural and regional areas is the perception that you need to live and work in a bigger metro area to grow and further your career.

“Sunita’s story is exactly what it’s all about! Her passion to help her community ignites excitement and inspires others.

“Career growth, health improvements as well as the impacts she is having to the Walgett community, is a success for everyone. Keeping our regional workforce healthy means our communities have access to local healthcare and timely results.”

Interested in a job in rural or regional NSW?

Find your next career move and all our eligible RWIS positions here!

Training to be part of the ‘SAS of the medical world’

September 11, 2024 by Liz Farquhar Leave a Comment

This year four NSW Health Pathology staff were selected to undergo training with AUSMAT, the Australian Medical Assistance Team, preparing them to be deployed to disasters or health responses at short notice.

In August 2023, the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) sent out an expression of interest seeking medical science professionals for recruitment into the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) volunteer database for future AUSMAT deployment opportunities and activities.

Over 40 applications from NSW Health Pathology staff were received – with four selected to undertake the rigorous training required in the 2024 courses.

Philip Dupal a Hospital Scientist at our Maitland laboratory, Luke Ryan a Hospital Scientist based at our Bathurst laboratory, Claudia Alvarez Chavarriaga from the Transfusion team at Randwick and Infectious Diseases physician at Sutherland Hospital Dr Ben Knippenberg all recently completed the training at the NCCTRC in Darwin.

A man and a woman stand inside a large industrial shed smiling. — Luke Ryan at the training course with Leanne Jones, who heads up the pathology lab for AUSMAT.

What is AUSMAT?

The Australian Medical Assistance Team is a World Health Organization-accredited Emergency Medical Team managed by NCCTRC for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. AUSMAT leads the way in civilian medical team preparedness and response to sudden onset disaster, medical or humanitarian emergency, domestic or international.

It’s made up of medical professionals, including physicians, registered nurses, allied health and paramedics, and non-medical members such as logisticians.

While initial responses concentrated on international events and disasters, more recently the focus has shifted to public health emergencies, such as the measles epidemic in Samoa (October 2019-January 2020), as well as to domestic deployments including the catastrophic bush fires in Victoria and New South Wales in January 2020, and Australia’s COVID-19 response.

A group of people setting up a field tent. — Setting up a field tent.

What does AUSMAT training involve?

The training course involves a comprehensive six-week online course plus a one week face-to-face residency held in Darwin at the NCCTRC’s newly renovated training facility.

The standardised national training brings together trainers from a mix of professions and jurisdictions to deliver the course.

Course content includes:
• Survival in austere environments
• Equipment familiarisation/management
• Hostile negotiation
• Trip planning
• Cultural awareness
• Medical management of multi casualties in the field
• Humanitarian operations
• Crowd management
• Water purification

Luke Ryan says the course has been developed to expose participants to a range of essential techniques and survival skills needed for successful management in the field during a health emergency.

“It’s particularly focused on testing the participants’ capacity to survive in difficult and hostile environments as a valued team member,” he explained.

“It involves both classroom and practical exercises including an overnight field deployment.”

Claudia Alvarez Chavarriaga described the training as tough but life-changing.

A woman in a uniform and hat in a forested area. — Claudia Alvarez Chavarriaga from our Randwick Transfusion team during the AUSMAT training session.

“Physically and mentally, it was a lot to take on board,” she said.

“Unlike other deployment organisations, AUSMAT required us to undergo practical simulations as though we had been deployed to a real mass casualty event.

“We had to deal with and improvise as though we were under heat stress and in hard-to-access locations. But it was immensely rewarding!”

Philip Dupal said it was a privilege to have been invited to attend the pre-deployment training.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to work with a diverse group of professionals and develop new skills together,” he said.

“I look forward to using these new skills and working with the AUSMAT team in the future if I am required to respond to a crisis.”

Two men in blue shirts with AUSMAT logos, looking tired and dirty. — Luke Ryan and Phil Dupal at the AUSMAT training course.

NSW Health Pathology’s Emergency/Disaster Manager Scott Pearce said the organisation was excited to be boosting the number of its staff involved with AUSMAT.

“We currently have two trained and deployable medical staff listed in the AUSMAT database, and we are proud to have another four staff in training,” he said.

“The training is about making sure they are prepared for whatever situation they may find themselves in, whether that is a disaster situation here in Australia or overseas.

“They need to be able to deploy rapidly, with the assistance of the Australian Defence Force, and can be self-sufficient once they reach a disaster zone.

“It’s all about helping people and communities affected by disasters in desperate need of medical assistance.”