Immersive leadership program stretches participants to face new challenges

“The real highlight for me was the immersive experiences. This was the first time that I’d participated in a program that incorporates you going out and undertaking real life experiences...the learnings from that have been phenomenal for me and I’ve been able to bring back [what I learnt] and apply it to my own team here in Western NSW.”

When Brendon Cutmore commenced the inaugural NSW Health Senior Executive Development Program delivered by HETI, he couldn’t see himself applying for a senior executive role with NSW Health. He felt he lacked the confidence required to take on a senior role.

Brendon has now stepped up to take on a new position as the Executive Director of Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing at Western NSW Local Health District. He credits his involvement in the intensive program as key in giving him the confidence to apply, and the strategic leadership skills to successfully land the position.

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New learning program sees guardianship matters fast tracked

“In the 6-month pilot of the guardianship education program, the number of days between lodging an application [with the tribunal] to date of discharge [for a patient] dropped from an average of 83 to just 27. The education program has helped people understand the new guardianship guidelines and get the process right."

Formal training developed by HETI is up-skilling health staff in new guardianship application guidelines, resulting in significant benefits to facilities and patients. Sue Steele-Smith, HETI Senior Program Officer from Allied Health, explains how the new blended learning package is helping to improve internal processes within hospitals and reduce hospital stays for patients.

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Removing Barriers to Vital Alzheimer’s Research

"Programs like the HETI Awards in Psychiatry and Mental Health provide an exemplary model of developing workforce capacity. It is a unique opportunity to work across a diverse range of clinical settings, in addition to fostering the development of research, education and advocacy skills.”

Sydney-based neuropsychiatrist and PhD candidate Dr Rebecca Koncz, is a passionate advocate for the HETI Awards in Psychiatry and Mental Health and credits HETI with providing her with the platform to delve into full-time research and specialist training that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible without the provision of the Awards.

Dr Koncz’s Research Fellowship enabled her to pursue important research into the genetic and environmental factors contributing to Alzheimer’s disease. Now the basis of her PhD candidacy, Dr Koncz continues to work with researchers at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, UNSW Sydney, using PET brain scans to investigate amyloid plaque build-up in twins over the age of 65 years.

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“One of the things I love about HETI is the flexibility of online learning. It means I can study on top of full-time parenting, full-time work, and contributing to the community.  If I need to travel with my kids, or for work, I can just take my laptop and keep up with the course load. There are also live lectures with special guest speakers, who bring the subject matter to life. I love attending these and being able to contribute to the live discussions.”

Gunnedah-based Graduate Certificate student, Linda Newell, is a passionate advocate of the recovery-oriented approach to mental health care. Linda shares her experience of studying at HETI and discusses how her insights have shaped the way she cares for her patients and also her community as a psychologist within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at Hunter New England Local Health District.

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