St Stephen’s Hospital Hervey Bay celebrates International Women's Day

UnitingCare Health hospitals will recognise the diverse achievements and contribution of women to society, particularly in the field of nursing and medicine, as part of International Women's Day on March 8.

This year's IWD theme is 'Pledge for Parity', and the UnitingCare Health group of four hospitals - The Wesley Hospital, St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital, The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and St Stephen's Hospital in Hervey Bay - is proud to be one of the largest employers of women in Queensland.

Acting Executive Director Terence Seymour said: “International Women's Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of women as part of UnitingCare Health's 4100-strong workforce, and in the broader community.”

St Stephen’s Hervey Bay Hospital has a workforce comprised of more than 70 per cent females, including many in both clinical and non-clinical leadership roles. Eighty three per cent of the hospital’s executive leadership team are also female, including Ms Amanda Cruwys (General Manager and Director of Nursing), Madonna Bowers (Assistant Director of Nursing Quality and Clinical Informatics) and Dr Monica Trujillo (Director of Medical Services).

Dr Trujillo, speaking at a special International Women's Day breakfast at The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim on Friday, said women had contributed to significant advances in medicine and healthcare over the past decade with regards to gender equality.

"I am proud to be among a group of dedicated and educated women who are committed to bettering the health of patients in the communities where we live and work,” Dr Trujillo said.

In addition to her role as Director of Medical Services at St Stephen’s, Dr Trujillo is also UnitingCare Health’s Chief Medical Information Officer. Dr Trujillo was also recently appointed to the Governing Council for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) - Asia Pacific, which is a global voice, advisor and thought leader of health transformation through health IT.

Ms Cruwys said International Women’s Day was a chance to recognise “girl power” at St Stephen’s in the form of its female nurses, chaplaincy, technicians, resident medical officers, patient services, catering, supply and administration staff.

“Women were the foundational members of the nursing profession and over time it has been an absolute joy to observe male nurses growing in numbers,” Ms Cruwys said.

“Healthcare is a wonderfully rewarding profession that has in part, developed from the hard work and dedication of women and we recognise this contribution on International Women’s Day.”

Mr Seymour said UnitingCare Health is proud of the contribution of all staff, both women and men, involved in providing the highest standard of clinical and non-clinical care of its patients.