SEED Program: The development of a program that has enabled the learning and growth of staff in the response to a community crisis.

Authors

  • Maria Therese Mackay University of Wollongong Queen Margaret University
  • Padmini Pai Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
  • Stuart Emslie Milton Ulladulla Hospital, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
  • Andrea Knezevic University of Wollongong
  • Jacinta Mackay Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.4.1.14691

Abstract

This paper aims to share a program that took a whole-hospital approach in considering the wellbeing of staff at a time of recovery following the 2019–2020 bushfires. The SEED Program enlisted a person-centred participatory methodology that was embedded within a transformational learning approach. This methodology included collaboration, authentic participation, critical reflection, critical dialogue and listening where the staff voice was the driving factor in the development of strategies for recovery. The SEED Program resulted in the development of five initiatives that included four strategies and a celebration event where staff celebrated their New Year’s Eve in February 2020. The four strategies included the establishment of a quiet room, coffee buddies, Wellness Warriors and 24/7 Wellness. The outcomes from the SEED Program resulted in the development of a more person-centred culture and transformation of staff perspectives in how they understood their role in their learning and learning of others in recovery and support at a time of crisis. The key learnings were the effect of authentic collaboration, the benefit from enabling authentic leadership at all levels within a hospital, and the power of a staff connection to the ‘CORE’ values of the hospital and Local Health District. In conclusion, the staff involved hold the hope that others may benefit from their experience of transformational learning in creating more person-centred workplace cultures while supporting each other to move forward during a crisis. The limitation of the SEED Program was that it was a bespoke practice innovation designed in the moment, responding to an identified need for the staff following a crisis in the local community rather than a formal research approach to meeting the needs of this group of staff.

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Author Biographies

  • Maria Therese Mackay, University of Wollongong Queen Margaret University
    Maria Mackay is currently the Director of Work Integrated Learning and Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing, University of Wollongong. Prior to this, she had an extensive career as a nurse, midwife and health manager in the public health service in paediatrics, midwifery, aged and community care. Maria is involved with the local and international practice development and person-centred communities in the delivery practice development schools with the Foundation of Nursing Studies, Person-centred Leadership Program in Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and consultation with services on developing person-centred cultures.
  • Padmini Pai, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
    Dr Padmini Pai is a project manager and senior social worker in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. She has a background in developing cultures that are enabled by living your virtues and is passionate about enabling others to realise thier full potential through living authentically.
  • Stuart Emslie, Milton Ulladulla Hospital, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
    Operations Manager / Director of Nurisng and Midwifery
  • Andrea Knezevic, University of Wollongong
    Social Work Student
  • Jacinta Mackay, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
    Jacinta is a research assistant and registered nurse.

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Published

2021-07-14

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Articles

How to Cite

SEED Program: The development of a program that has enabled the learning and growth of staff in the response to a community crisis. (2021). Health Education in Practice: Journal of Research for Professional Learning, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.4.1.14691