Media Release
27 April 2010
Inaugural awards to celebrate staff working in Australia’s private hospitals
Today, the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) will launch a new national awards program to recognise the innovation, ingenuity, passion and commitment of staff in our private hospitals.
“Our staff are our most important asset. They allow us to deliver care and health solutions to 3.1 million Australians who are treated in private hospitals annually,” says Michael Roff, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Private Hospitals Association. “Without private hospitals and our wonderful staff, many Australians wouldn’t get the care they need when they need it.”
This announcement is just one of the activities taking place today for the first National Recognition Day for private hospital staff. This is the first time private hospitals will join together to show their appreciation for the hard work and dedication for our staff. Hospitals across the nation are hosting local activities to celebrate the passion and commitment of our staff in caring and supporting our patients every day.
“The personal element of our hospitals – our staff and our patients – has been missing from current health debate. We hope that days such as this one, put the focus back on the over 80,000 nurses, admin, allied health and other staff who work in our private hospitals, celebrating their passion and their commitment to delivering better health outcomes to our patients,” says Mr Roff.
“We are committed to our staff, particularly in the areas of education and training where private hospitals have invested $250 million since 2005,” says Mr Roff.
“Our first national awards program allows us to recognise the valuable and vital role that our Australia’s private hospital staff make on a day-to-day basis and we would like to thank Hesta Super Fund whose support has been fundamental in allowing us to develop this awards program,” says Mr Roff.
The APHA Valuing Private Hospital Staff Awards will look to recognise those who demonstrated leadership and innovation in their workplace, to improve processes or practices that positively impact on the running of their hospital and the care their hospital provides patients. Three awards will be handed out across three categories with the winners each receiving $10,000 in prize money and recognition from their hospital and broader private hospital network.
The categories recognise that all staff in private hospitals play a vital role including allied health and our administration staff, catering and cleaning staff amongst others who work hard on a day-to-day basis. Awards for individuals in clinical and non-clinical roles and a team award will be announced in November.
“We will make more information available to our hospitals about the process available, such as eligibility, the nomination process and the evaluation method.” says Mr Roff.
About Private Hospitals Week
Private Hospitals Week is part of a national campaign showcasing the diversity of private hospitals and the services we provide to Australians. Throughout the week, hospitals across the country along with our staff, our patients and others, are dispelling the myths and misconceptions that exist about private hospitals while showcasing the work we do in putting Australians back on their feet.
Private hospitals are a vital part of Australia’s hospital system – without private hospitals many Australians would not get the care they need when they need it.
For media enquiries:
- Please contact Lisa Ramshaw, Public Affairs Manager, Australian Private Hospitals Association on 0413 971 999.
FACT: Private hospitals do undertake complex treatments. In fact, of the total 660 different procedures and treatments offered in Australian public hospitals, private hospitals provide 653 of them including complex surgery such as cardiac surgery for example. Private hospitals also undertake the majority of in-hospital chemotherapy, the bulk of hospital care for veterans, the majority of hip and knee surgery, psychiatric services, and rehabilitation, as well as gynaecology and obstetrics, eye surgery and much more.
Visit www.privatehospitals.org.au for further information about the vital role Australia’s private hospitals play every day in caring for Australian’s health and in supporting a sustainable health system.
