Page 3766 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 November 2022
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our response to occupational violence in our health services. The TASC First Step strategy aimed to support the fundamental rights of nurses and midwives working in ACT public health services to be safe and protected from harm in their workplace. By the nature of the actions progressed we saw a strong campaign to embed a positive safety culture for all health workers.
In collaboration with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the ACT government has progressed 22 priority actions, with specific work undertaken to address key issues for nurses and midwives in the workplace, such as occupational violence, work practices in our health services and other areas of workplace safety. The TASC Next Step will build on the success and foundations of the First Step to embed a positive safety culture. This will support a further priority focus on psychosocial wellbeing, expand the roll-out of safe wards, enhance safety culture initiatives, and continue the community communications campaign to be kind and respectful.
A comprehensive clinical supervision program has also been progressively rolled out across our health services to facilitate development of reflective practice, and grow the professional skills of staff within their workplace. Next steps in this work include the development of the clinical supervision framework for ACT nurses and midwives, and further facilitation of an education program, which has already trained 119 clinical supervisors to date.
A number of clinicians across all areas of Canberra Hospital, including the prevocational education unit, physician training unit, obstetrics, and emergency departments, have been supported by CHS to attend the physician wellbeing director course—a virtual six-week educational series which equips leaders with the knowledge and tools to catalyse changes at the local level. Those attending have direct responsibility for junior doctor training, and the changes they implement will be targeted toward junior doctor wellbeing.
Initiatives have also been implemented as part of individual training programs—for example, the introduction of a weekly “lunch and learning” program for basic physician trainees. This provides trainees with a chance to take a regular break, liaise with colleagues and connect with physician training staff on a weekly basis, and has been positively received by trainees.
We have been listening to staff who have been telling our health services they want good access to professional development and better support for completing their training programs. Training programs are continuing to improve and are tailored to the needs of staff. For JMO staff this includes a refreshed simulation program and dedicated welfare education. Improved orientation processes and supports have been implemented. For example, international medical graduates have been provided dedicated orientation and support to assist them to become familiar with the CHS work environment.
There has also been an improvement in the guidance and training for staff who may be supervising staff or supporting them in distressing situations. This month the ACT government also delivered on our commitment to provide a world-class digital health record for all ACT public health services. It has been a major change process, and we
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