Year-in-Review-2021-22 - Flipbook - Page 107
Erin Heine (They/Them)
John Worthington
How long have you worked in health?
I have been working in heath for 10 years. I started
at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
completing the NSW Health Management Traineeship
in 2013, which included a Masters of Health Service
Management. I have worked in a range of roles including
operational and strategic management, supporting
facilities and clinical services, quality improvement
projects, Population Health and Diversity and Inclusion.
How long have you worked in health?
Where do you work?
I work within the Priority Populations Programs team
that sits within Population Health. We are based at
Forest Lodge but my role covers the whole District. I
am privileged to work for a team, and in a District that
allows me to be my whole self at work.
What do you do?
I am the Program Manager for LGBTIQ+ and Men’s
Health for the District. This is the first role of its kind
in a Local Health District and is part of the District’s
commitment to implementing the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health
Strategy 2023-2027. This role supports system wide
improvement to achieve the aim of Sydney Local Health
District being a leader in LGBTIQ+ inclusive healthcare
delivery. The system wide approaches range from
supporting health care professionals to develop skills,
knowledge and confidence in providing care to LGBTIQ+
consumers, to supporting the development of culturally
safe respectful and clinical healthcare environments for
consumers and staff who are LGBTIQ+.
Why do you do what you do?
As someone from the LGBTIQ+ community I love
being in a role that contributes to improving access,
outcomes and experiences of healthcare for that
community. I also love being in a role that supports
clinicians to do what they do best, provide highly
quality and safe healthcare.
I started working in health as an Intern at RPA
in 1982.
Where do you work?
I work in the neurology department here at RPA,
and the stroke team.
What do you do?
I am a Neurology specialist at RPA. As Director of the
RPA Comprehensive Stroke Service and the Sydney
Local Health District Stroke Observatory, a research
unit, my focus is on stroke and working in the stroke
team. RPA has a leading stroke and neurology service
and the ECRNOW service offers hyperacute clotretrieval for patients across the state. There are a lot
of working parts to preventing and managing stroke
and our team has attracted international awards for
stroke care and clot-busting.
Why do you do what you do?
It crept up. Although I always preferred acute care
I started with a strong interest in prion diseases and
sleep medicine. There was a lot of unmet need in
stroke care and I would pick up a clinic, draw up a
stroke clinical pathway, or do some leg-work in stroke
treatment trials. When there was a big push to improve
acute stroke care services I was on the spot. With
evidence for effective hyperacute treatments stroke
care became exciting, time critical and team based.
It was a good fit.
What’s the best part of your day?
Working with the team providing complex and
time-critical care. It is an exemplar and really
something. Lately the welcome home by our
fairly new dog is great. You really know you have
made it home.
What’s the best part of your day?
Every time I get feedback that healthcare professionals
have learned something new that can help them feel
more confident in their practice. Also to hear from other
LGBTIQ+ staff that the District championing and visibly
supporting LGBTIQ+ inclusion makes them feel seen,
valued and proud to work here. I feel the same way.
Year in Review 2021–22
107
