HCF Australia

HCF CEO Sheena Jack recently sat down with Health Industry Hub Managing Director Rozalina Sarkezians, to discuss the transformative changes reshaping the private healthcare sector, the future of care settings, and the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving down costs and improving patient outcomes. This highly engaging episode of the #Reimagining #Healthcare Senior #Leadership Series has been nominated as a finalist in the Health Industry Hub Catalyst for Change Awards 2024, celebrating leaders and change-makers who have captivated the diverse healthcare sector audience. To hear Sheena’s insights on the challenges and opportunities ahead, watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gcHfvhxF

As a major national partner of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, we're proud to support the Flying Doctor podcast, telling the remarkable stories of real patients and their families who've experienced the challenges and triumphs of life in the bush. In episode #105 you'll meet Dr Zoe Schofield, the RFDS's Federal Research Strategic Projects Manager and project lead for the life-saving research being done with the Australian Stroke Alliance to integrate portable brain scanners into aeromedical retrieval. Listen now at https://bit.ly/3AQq2kf

HCF has a social mission to build healthier communities by helping to address important social issues, impacting health outcomes. We know education is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and improving long-term health outcomes. That’s why today we’re proud to launch our major 3-year partnership with The Smith Family, a national children’s education charity. Our financial commitment will enable 1,500 young students across Australia to be part of the Learning for Life program, providing them with long-term financial, personal and practical educational support to reach their full potential. Additionally, HCF employees will have the opportunity to volunteer across a range of Smith Family activities. “In a time of growing affordability challenges and uncertainty, many Australians are finding it tough to pay the bills while maintaining access to quality healthcare and education,” said HCF CEO & Managing Director, Sheena Jack. “Today’s launch in our Parramatta Place office in Western Sydney allows us to highlight these issues, both locally and nationally, as we work to build healthier communities across Australia. With nearly 350 of our employees working and living in Parramatta, we are passionate about and invested in this diverse region.” Through the partnership, HCF and The Smith Family aim to make a lasting difference in the lives of young Australians in need, reinforcing the importance of education in building healthier, more equitable communities. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g27p_spN

As a major national partner of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, we're proud to support the Flying Doctor podcast, telling the remarkable stories of real patients and their families who've experienced the challenges and triumphs of life in the bush. In episode #104 you'll hear about how Greg, an Exmouth board rider, was completely blindsided by a paralysing, hemorrhagic stroke while surfing. Two years later, with his dedicated wife by his side, Greg's determination to surf again is inspiring stroke survivors across Australia. Listen now at https://lnkd.in/gR9xDY8v

We’re proud to have been the platinum sponsor of Australia’s first Women Against Heart Disease Lunch in South-Western Sydney last week, hosted by the @Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and the @Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. Held at Ottimo House, in one of NSW’s fastest growing regions with a disproportionately high rate of heart disease, the event raised awareness and essential funds for research to improve outcomes for women with heart disease, including Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). SCAD is a rare but serious condition where a tear in an artery causes a blockage, leading to angina, heart attacks or sudden death. Women in their 40s and 50s are most at risk, but it can occur at any age. The lunch was attended by the HCF team, including Head of Health and Wellbeing Linda Opie. Jen O’Neill shared her powerful story of experiencing three heart attacks due to SCAD and emphasised the importance of self-advocacy in managing this condition. Professor Jason Kovacic, Institute Director and CEO of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, stressed the importance of women being proactive about their heart health, noting many women don’t prioritise their heart health until it’s too late. Through our partnership with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, we provided more than 5,000 free heart health checks to members last year. And we continue to be committed to promoting healthy hearts and empowering women to take charge of their health. Find out more about our heart health checks: https://lnkd.in/gij_w4A8

We’re proud to sponsor Australian HR Institute (AHRI)’s National Convention & Exhibition 20–22 August, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will feature leading international and national speakers delivering keynotes, expert panels and masterclasses for HR professionals. We invite everyone attending to stop by the HCF stand to do a free quick health check with our Evolt scans and have a chat with our friendly team. #NCE2024

Last week the HCF Research Foundation, Australia’s largest non-government funder of health services research, hosted the first national roundtable on advancing short stay joint replacement models of care in Australia. The event underscores the Foundation’s commitment to fostering knowledge sharing and championing non-partisan, stakeholder-driven solutions to emerging healthcare challenges. The roundtable brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the key challenges and enablers in this critical area. The focus was on exploring how short stay models – which are often misunderstood as simply speeding up patient discharge – can enhance patient recovery by streamlining care from pre-surgery to optimal recovery, offering significant returns on investment if identified barriers are successfully addressed. “Without significant reform, the healthcare system will struggle to meet the increased demand for joint replacements given our ageing population, longer life expectancy, and rising obesity rates,” said Professor Ilana Ackerman, Deputy Director of the Musculoskeletal Health Unit at Monash University, who shared insights from her research funded by an HCF Research Foundation Innovation Research Grant. Dr Christopher Pettigrew, Head of the HCF Research Foundation added: “Addressing these challenges with innovative solutions is critical for meeting future healthcare demands. The diverse insights and collaborative spirit at the roundtable are essential as we work towards effective, patient-centred, and evidence-based solutions in healthcare.” The HCF Research Foundation will collate and share the results of the roundtable in an upcoming report to be published later this year. Find out more about the Foundation: https://lnkd.in/g2RBWrVR

Is your work causing you to feel stressed? Here's how chronic stress, anxiety and stress hormones can affect your mind and your body, and how to reduce the impact: https://lnkd.in/gFeDTsaM

We recently held our HCF Hero Annual Awards in celebration of this year’s HCF Heroes who embody our core values and go above and beyond to provide outstanding service to our members. The event was attended by over 100 employees to honor our 28 award recipients, and we were joined by Sheena Jack, our Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, who presented each winner with their gift card and trophy. It was wonderful to see so many people connecting and celebrating our HCF Heroes who make an exceptional contribution to HCF.

In the lead-up to NAIDOC Week we had the privilege of attending a Truth Telling educational session with Uncle Robert “Bobby” Young and Uncle James Michael “Widdy” Welsh from the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation KBHAC, built on the stolen land of the Dunghutti. Members from our Hearts & Hands Employee Reference Group, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Steering Committee and other HCF employees from across the business, heard truths from the surviving Uncles to continue legacies of these experiences. Hearing their stories highlighted the importance of amplifying Aboriginal voices to better understand what reconciliation means for Australia in the context of healing and truth telling. To mark the beginning of NAIDOC Week, we've partnered with Arrilla Indigenous Consulting to roll out its online cultural competency training program to all HCF employees, giving everyone the opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Celebrating events such as NAIDOC Week and the roll-out of cultural competency training helps us to build a deeper understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories and deliver on key commitments of HCF’s Reflect RAP.