Thank you for visiting our Northern Health Peer Support Program Intranet Page
To support our people, Northern Health is committed to strengthening our positive mental health and wellbeing culture of care. We acknowledge that our staff have different preferences and needs for how they wish to support their wellbeing, and our staff can access a variety of internal and external supports. Our people have told us that having access to peer support is essential, where staff can feel they are not alone, and be understood by a peer who shares their experience of working in health.
The Northern Health Peer Support Program is an avenue for employee support provided by a trained group of Northern Health employees who volunteer their time. It is not a counselling or emergency response service. It is a contact, support and referral service with an emphasis on brief, practical interventions providing people with support across a range of work and non-work related issues. Peer Support is a short term strategy to provide basic support to people in need.
All staff will have the opportunity to read the profiles and contact the Peer Supporter of their choice (see below). You may also connect with a Peer Supporter via contacting the Wellbeing Team at ohswb@nh.org.au
Please note: Whilst Peer Supporters may support critical incident responses, it is not a counselling or emergency services response and if out of hours support is required please see our existing resources e.g. our 24/hour EAP Converge.
Lets meet the team….
Name: Abbey White (ON MATERNITY LEAVE)
Job/Role: Registered Nurse in ED
Preferred method of contact/days and times available: Variable shift work, preferred method of contact is email/Teams, (Abbey.White@nh.org.au)
Why I became a Peer Supporter: Working in a clinical environment, I can’t stress the importance of debrief enough, but it should be just as important to talk to someone you’re comfortable with. I want to give staff a chance to speak to someone who isn’t their superior, or even in their clinical area, who understands the challenges of their role and the daily stressors that come with it. I want to be there for staff who want to debrief after an incident or just to get back to basics to destress and switch-off at the end of the day.
About Me: I am naturally a chatty person, at work you will often find me getting side-tracked talking to someone, so I will always find time for a debrief. I have always been passionate about clinical education but since covid my focus has been on staff wellbeing and support. I am currently studying my Masters of Critical Care but I mostly end up procrasti-baking cookies and cakes, and on days off I enjoy taking my 2year old mini-groodle out on adventures.
Name: Ruchi Sharma
Job/role: Clinical Nurse Educator BC
Preffered method of contact/availablity : Email, (Ruchita.sharma@nh.org.au ) Mon-Thursday 0800-1630
Why I became a Peer Supporter: I feel that this role aligns with the NH values and it all about looking after each other. It is about listening and maintaining a psychological safe culture where everyone feels supported.
About me: I enjoy spending time outdoors, binge watching, plant propagation (recent hobby), taking photos of my Westie.
Name: Yue Hu
Job/Role: Director of TALS ASU
Transcultural & Language Services (TALS) I Narrun Wilip-giin (NWG)
Preferred method of contact/avaliablity: Email, mobile, MS Teams / happy to support anytime unless I’m in meetings, which will show in MS Teams
Why I became a Peer Supporter: I love listening and I enjoy being with someone who needs a good listener. Being a migrant myself and having worked in the area of diversity and inclusion for many years give me good insights on how to support peers from diverse backgrounds. I also learn and grow myself while helping and supporting others.
About Me: I’m an introvert but a curious person. Life has been an adventure.
Name: I am Lori Bennett and I’m a Switchboard Operator. I work in the Communications department at the front of the hospital.
Job/Role: My job is answering phones, taking patient enquiries, programming pagers, calling codes and directing visitors to wards.
Preffered method of contact/availablity: I prefer to be contacted via email (Lori.Bennett@nh.org.au) I am available Wednesday mornings, Fridays, and some Tuesdays, but I work variable shifts, so may be covering shifts when other staff members are unwell or on leave. If needing to get in contact, email me first and I will get back to you with my availability.
Why did I become a Peer Supporter? I became a Peer Support worker to help colleagues with their problems, as helping others lifts my spirits and makes me happy.
About me: I enjoy working with essential oils and crystals. I am also an experienced singer and had lessons for 19 years, I do a lot of live streaming and run my own YouTube channel. I am also an animal lover, and love spending time with my 7 year old Cocker Spaniel, named Diva. I am driven, patient, friendly and understanding.
Name: Rachel Nolan
Job/role: Speech Pathologist outpatients at Bundoora Centre
Preferred method of contact/avaliablity: Contact via email- (Rachel.nolan3@nh.org.au) Monday-Friday 8-4:30
Why I became a Peer Supporter?: I became a Peer Supporter because I struggled with isolation and workforce demands whilst working in COVID Peak and recognised through incidental chats a lot of my colleagues were feeling the same. All I wanted was a safe space to debrief about these issues with colleagues who were experiencing the same. Therefore, this program stood out to me as a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing of others by listening without judgement, acknowledging feelings and supporting in any way I can.
About me: When I am not socialising with friends holding a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand, I am enjoying walks/runs, painting or catching up on the latest reality TV shows.
Name: Cathy Brimblecombe
Job/Role: Physician/Pallative Care
Contact: catherine.brimblecombe@nh.org.au
Why did I become a Peer Supporter: I am privileged to work within a highly supportive team at Northern Health, and believe that it is incredibly important for each of us to have a clear pathway for accessing collegial support when experiencing difficulties. Sometimes we might feel like we just need to ‘cope better’ or should just be able to ‘get on with things’ when we’re struggling – when actually we need to be able to recognise these difficulties for what they are, and feel able to safely seek out and accept support and assistance when it is needed.
Name: Melissa Sajeva
Job/role: HIS Operations Manager Coding
Contact/Availablity: Monday- Friday 7.00-17.30pm
Why I became a Peer Supporter: I am excited to be part of this initiative and I welcome the opportunity to provide support to assist the wellbeing of the hard working and dedicated NH staff.
About Me: I am passionate about Northern Health and have worked here since 2006. I have lived in the Northern suburbs all my life (I was even born at PANCH). I am a mum to three primary school aged children and a big AFL fan. When I get a chance I love to read and I can be dangerous with a credit card as I am a huge bargain shopper. I enjoy travelling with my family within and outside of Australia and cruising is a favourite past time.
Name: Natalia Dewiyani, (she/her)
Job/Role: Pastoral Care/Rainbow Working Group
Preferred contact/avaliablity: natalia.dewiyani@nh.org.au Mon – Fri : 8:30AM – 5PM
Why I became a Peer Supporter: I believe in the importance of offering holistic care not just for patient but also for staff. NH staff has gone through a lot in the last few years. When staff feel supported and care for, the patient will also feel the same. Happiness never decreases when shared, it multiplies J.
About Me: I joined Northern in May 2021 after taking spiritual care internship at Peter Mac. Many are surprised I worked in IT for 13 years in the past.
I am grateful I am still smiling today after having two cancer diagnoses. I admire and respect the healthcare staff (especially the nurses ) through my lengthy hospital stays. I am passionate about advocating for cancer (consumer for 2 cancer organisations) and inclusivity (member of NH Rainbow Working Group).
I see life as a fun adventure. I love my walks, waterfalls and being in nature (sometimes, you’ll spot me in the playground too). I enjoy my garden and sharing the harvest. I have a mission to make this world a happier place, one smile (and one hug – prior covid) at a time. It is always the little things that make a big difference.
Name/Title: Paige Shanmugam (she/her)
Job/Roles/Department: Social Worker, BH Unit 3 – Acute Aged Care & GEM
Preferred method of contact/days and times available: paige.shanmugam@nh.org.au – available M-F 09:00-15:30
Why I became a Peer Supporter: I became a Peer Supporter because emotional and psychological safety in the workplace is important to me and I enjoy connecting with my peers. I think having a safe space at work to share our experiences and connect makes a difference in how we cope with the difficult times in a challenging industry like healthcare.
About Me: I am 28 and live with my partner and cat. I am queer and am passionate about LGBTIQA+ health. I enjoy reading fantasy, binge watching tv series and my home is full of barely surviving plants
