A welcome win

Over the past 100 years, Mater has received many accolades for innovation in the health care industry and this year has been no different.

Mater Private Hospital recently won second place in the Private Hospital Association of Queensland and HESTA Super Fund Innovation Practice in the Private Sector awards for their innovative approach to engaging and aligning staff through the Welcome Program.

Launched 12 months ago, the Welcome Program is an intensive information program introducing new staff members to Mater's heritage, mission, values and business goals. People who attend the week long program are given the chance to meet and talk one on one to staff specialists, executive members, allied health professionals and other co-workers. There is also an opportunity for existing staff members to take part in the sessions to help them re-align with the mission and the values of our organisation.

The Innovation Practice in the Private Sector Awards are held every year and were established to recognise outstanding innovation in the private hospital sector as well as providing a platform where new initiatives can be shared amongst industry colleagues.

This year, there were a record number of applicants from across Australia who submitted papers. From this number, 14 finalists were chosen and a panel of industry specialists voted on the four best presentations in the categories of “Innovations in Education and Human Resource Management” and “Innovations in Care Delivery and Patient Safety”.

The Welcome Program presented by Don Murray and Dulise Maxwell was the runner up in the Innovations in Education and Human Resource Management.

According to Mr Don Murray, Executive Director of Mater Private Hospital being named as a runner up in the awards is a wonderful achievement for the hospital.

“The Welcome Program has been a huge success in assisting new staff members to understand what working at the Mater Private Hospital is all about and we are all very proud of what we have achieved with this program so far,” Mr Murray said.