Northern Sydney Local Health District

Winner​: People and Culture Award

The Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) Emergency Department has introduced the "Parental Leave Understanding and Support (PLUS) program.” This program is tailored to address the unique challenges faced by new working parents in emergency medicine.

The PLUS program is a comprehensive return-to-work initiative that includes:

• mentorship
• dedicated wellness sessions
• lactation support, and
• a family room for psychological and physical well-being.

The program aims to increase staff retention and promote a resilient workforce. The PLUS program been embraced within RNSH, and has gained attention nationally, showcasing its effectiveness and potential for replication.

Ongoing research aims to further validate the program's impact on staff psychological preparedness and organisational outcomes.​​