First Applied Safety and Quality Program Graduates

9 June 2023

Eight new graduates from Hunter New England Local Health District are the first in the state to complete all programs of the statewide Safety & Quality Essentials Pathway. The Pathway, developed by the Clinical Excellence Commission and led by local implementation teams, reached an important milestone with the graduation on May 30.

The Applied Safety and Quality Program is the final program along the Safety & Quality Essentials Pathway, which spans three capability levels and ultimately aims to make quality and safety everyday habits for all health workers.

Clinical Excellence Commission CE Prof Michael Nicholl said the program develops the capability of participants to be local leaders for safety and quality improvement and runs for one year.

"In the program we have four areas of focus, Patient Safety Applied, Improvement Science Applied, Safety and Quality Applied at the Point of Care and Safety and Quality Applied in Systems. There is a focus on application of learning in the workplace to develop everyday habits to lead and influence the safety and quality of local healthcare services," Prof Nicholl said.

"Ultimately, the program extends the participants’ learning journey from foundational and intermediate to the adept level of safety and quality capability and I'm very proud to see Hunter New England Local Health District’s first graduates of this final level of the pathway.

"The CEC has been working closely with local health districts and other health entities to not only implement the Pathway but support districts to phase this according to local time frames and strategies. This provides a meaningful and tailored implementation focus on different Pathway levels according to local needs."

The Hunter graduates are the first NSW Health staff to complete the whole Pathway and they will now progress to be part of the teaching faculty for the next Hunter program cohort.

Pathway graduate and Hunter Hunter New England Local Health District Rural ICU Clinical Nurse Consultant Kate Cobot said the program has many benefits for participants.

"The program had a profound impact on my ability to lead effectively, equipping me with the necessary skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on patient care and organisational outcomes," Ms Cobot said.

Murrumbidgee, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Far West, Southern and Western NSW local health districts are due to host their own first program cohort graduations in mid-2023.

Health workers can find out more about the Pathway or contact their local Pathway Implementation Leads.