The Wujal Wujal primary health care centre team were heroes in their community during the December 2023 major flooding event. Photo: Supplied.
Heroes who spent the night caring for patients on the roof during the major flooding event in Wujal Wujal in December 2023 are being recognised at the state’s health excellence awards.
The Wujal Wujal primary health care centre team (PHCC) has been named a finalist in the Strengthening Our Patients’ Care category for the annual Queensland Heath Awards for Excellence, which will be held in Brisbane on 19 June.
With the local clinic almost underwater during flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper, seven staff members rushed to the roof with a young child who required clinical observation and his mother.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) chief executive Rex O’Rourke said the efforts made by the Wujal Wujal team during this time were inspiring.
“Our Wujal Wujal team have truly gone above and beyond to support their community through a genuine disaster, and the way they have responded to both the flooding event and in the aftermath has been inspiring,” he said.
When the entirety of Wujal Wujal was evacuated following the devastating event, the PHCC team proved to be leaders in their community, helping to facilitate the evacuation by the Australian Defence Force while providing emergency first aid.
TCHHS’s Transition to Remote Practice Program was also nominated in the Prioritising Our People category, which celebrates a responsive, skilled and valued workforce where staff feel supported.
The program, launched in 2022, allowed registered nurses direct entry into positions at TCHHS’s rural and remote facilities, where they are given opportunities to upskill in various situations relevant to remote healthcare.
“The Transition to Remote Practice Program is an example of true innovation which has proven to be a way we can both attract and retain good quality staff, but provide them access to opportunities to grow their skills with a focus on clinical and cultural safety,” Mr O’Rourke said.
“[These nominations are] a testament to the incredible work our staff do at all levels of our organisation.”
