SA Health

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:03): My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on staffing initiatives in SA Health?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his question. SA Health is a large organisation with around 40,000 staff working to provide quality health services to South Australians across our geographically and culturally diverse state. I thank them for their hard work and dedication.

SA Health will shortly award a series of SA Health Awards to celebrate the achievements of the organisation. These awards demonstrate that, amongst all the challenges it faces, SA Health is delivering excellence—often excellent responses to significant challenges. I want to congratulate everyone who has been named as a finalist for the awards. As individuals, as teams, as projects, they are amazing. To the 40,000 strong SA Health team statewide, I want to thank each of them for the care they provide.

The awards are in 10 categories, from the Minister's Community Award to an award for Excellence and Innovation in Aboriginal Health, and there are three finalists in each of the award categories. Although there would not be time to name each finalist, I would like to mention a couple that I had the privilege of seeing for myself, talking to the staff involved and seeing the difference they make for their patients.

Earlier this year, I visited the Laklinyeri Beach House, which is operated by the Women's and Children's Hospital and built with the generous philanthropic donations through the foundation. The Beach House is a purpose-built home to allow families of children with complex ongoing needs to have some time away from their often difficult daily schedules.

Another finalist I have been able to visit is one of the finalists for the Minister's Research and Innovation Award. The Aged and Extended Care Services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital have partnered with staff and consumers to co-design a technologically innovative program to prevent falls. Falls are a major risk, especially for older South Australians. Last year, there were more than 22,000 people admitted to a public hospital after a fall, 68 per cent of them over the age of 65.

A third finalist I visited was a finalist in the category of Excellence and Innovation in Aboriginal Health. The Women's and Babies Division at the Women's and Children's Hospital was recently opened and provides a multidisciplinary team crucially involving Aboriginal staff to support culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal families before and after birth in the Aboriginal birthing unit. It brings together services that had previously been scattered around the hospital. It's the first purpose-built facility in the state.

Although I have mentioned those three, I want to congratulate all of the 30 finalists and all of those people who were nominated for the awards. Through these awards, we have the opportunity to thank SA Health staff right across the state for the excellent work being done.