While writing this report, I’m reflecting on the first couple of months of this year. We all have projects on the go and busy departments to run, and with Easter eggs and hot cross buns hitting the supermarket shelves I’m wondering where the first couple of months of 2025 have gone.

Having completed our first meeting together at the end of January, the Qld/NSW committee has been proactively developing ideas and shaping the events calendar for the year ahead.

Initially we conducted a brief survey to gather information around expectations, establish the needs and interests of members and importantly analyse the feedback. This was used as the basis to develop the events calendar.

The highlights of the survey:

In addition to the IHHC National Conference and Magazine, members want:

-        Educational webinars

-        Networking opportunities

-        Events every three months

-        A mixture of both in-person and virtual events.  Networking is important to everyone, and they want formal networking events and opportunities (more so than informal).

-        Involvement of people across the entirety of support services, including cleaning, laundry and broader hotel services.

In relation to education, they want to know about:

-        Current industry innovations

-        Professional development and skill improvement opportunities

-        Specific topics to cover – how to manage collective pain points of both monitoring and managing rising costs, human resources (recruitment, training and retention), staying up to date with policies.

Listening to the interests of members will ensure we can provide engagement to both members and supporters through education, information, networking opportunities and events for the year ahead.

With this in mind we have started planning our events for 2025.  The first was the annual bowls social event held in Qld on 8 February. It was a relaxed and friendly social event and everyone had a great time.  The attendees were able to network and share feedback as well as further great event ideas for the committee. 

Several further events are well in the planning stage. The next big one, which will have been held by the time this issue of the IHHC Magazine goes online, is a Factory Tour with breakfast and presentation on food product innovation in healthcare at the Revesby NSW factory of Birch & Waite, one of our Platinum Supporters.

A breakfast event in Qld with guest speakers is in the final planning stage and we are also looking at an event later in the year with St Vincent’s Aged Care on the new aged care standards with a focus on the dining experience.

We are looking to grow our members and supporter base across Qld and NSW with a more inclusive focus on all departments in support services. 

We would like to thank all the Qld/NSW committee members and in particular our Platinum and Gold supporters for the time and effort they put in so we can continue the work of the IHHC.  Their ongoing support ensures we can continue to learn, improve and exemplify a passion for excellence and innovation in healthcare.

Regards

BRENDAN HOST QLD/NSW Chair

KEVIN DUNNE QLD/NSW Deputy Chair