The Kind Side

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Susan, the Secretary of NSW Health, as she opens up about her journey from a nurse in Outback New South Wales to leading a healthcare system with over 180,000 staff and a $35 billion budget. Susan shares her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of support and teamwork in challenging times. Discover Susan's passion for kindn...

Join us for a special panel discussion celebrating the launch of The Kind Side. Podcast co-creators, healthcare worker Frances and consumer Stacey, ask consumer Ross, ISLHD Chief Executive Margot, ISLHD A/Director of Nursing & Midwifery Dan, and ISLHD Staff Specialist Emergency Medicine Dr. Bishan why kindness in health is important. Ross, a long-time patient, shares his experiences of kindnes...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Donna, one of the many Australians who experienced a stroke in 2020. Four years on, Donna opens up about her near-death experience and the journey that followed. She shares her positive mindset and the transition from recovery to discovery, living with a non-traumatic brain injury. Donna discusses the importance of support groups, the value of connection...

Join host Frances Wood in a remarkable conversation with Karen, a resilient patient at a NSW Health hospital. Despite battling Crohn's disease and undergoing numerous medical treatments for over 20 years, Karen maintains a positive outlook on life. She shares her experiences with intravenous nutrition, living with a stoma bag, and the challenges of frequent hospital visits. Discover how Karen's pe...

Join us on this episode of The Kind Side as we delve into an inspiring conversation with Paul, who shares his story of resilience and recovery after a serious cycling accident. Paul was out on a regular ride when an unexpected incident led him to the hospital with multiple injuries. He opens up about his sudden transition from a healthy, active lifestyle to being an inpatient in the hospital, surr...

Anita was inspired to become a sonographer by an experience she had as a child. Now Anita is hoping to inspire the next generation of puzzle-solving sonographers. Anita joined podcast host Frances Wood on a shift break in the sun at the hospital when she works. She shares her passion for her work, the difference between a sonographer and radiographer, and how she tries to provide patients with a g...

Dan shares his experiences in and perspectives on kindness in health as a Principal Aboriginal Health Worker. Dan started his career in sexual health and now works in chronic care. Dan is passionate about helping Aboriginal communities to improve and maintain their health. He shares some of the reasons why Aboriginal people may feel uncomfortable in hospital and how we can be more welcoming and in...

Charlotte is a pharmacist working at a hospital. She spoke with podcast host Frances during her shift. Charlotte shares why she wanted to become a pharmacist and the journey from studying to working. Charlotte explains how she works with patients, carers, doctors and nurses to ensure medications are used effectively in hospital and on discharge home. Charlotte talks about the time she spent workin...

Edna is a senior doctor who also helps to teach junior doctors. Edna spoke with Frances at the hospital where she works, reflecting on why she wanted to become a doctor and her journey to becoming a staff specialist in medicine. Edna shares how she juggles caring for patients in and out of hospital, with her teaching and family responsibilities. Edna talks about the small acts of kindness she appr...

Lee likes to brighten people's days by smiling and taking the time to have a chat with patients, their loved ones and his colleagues. Lee spoke with Frances during a short break in his shift as a stores officer at a local hospital. Lee shares the important role health care workers like him play in ensuring doctors, nurses, allied health and pharmacy have everything they need to provide safe qualit...

Nick loves being part of a team that cares for aged care patients, especially those with dementia. Nick spoke to Frances before starting his shift as a wardsperson at a local hospital. Nick helps our nurses and doctors however he can, and cares deeply about being a calming reassuring presence for patients with dementia on the ward. Nick talks about what brought him to health and how he actively co...

Nora is a mother-of-four who lives with kidney failure. She spoke with Frances at her chairside while receiving renal dialysis treatment as an outpatient. Nora comes to hospital three times a week for the life-saving treatment and talks about how she juggles her health care with being a mother and a wife whilst also working. Nora shares her Cook Islands culture and faith in God, and how she choose...

Pheobe is passionate about inclusive supportive cancer care. She sat down with podcast host Frances in a quiet room at the cancer care centre where she works. Phoebe is proud to work in administration as part of a team of health professionals caring for people with cancer. Phoebe talks about what it's like to work in health coming from a non-clinical background and how her team has improved wayfin...

Rose fell and broke her leg on a public holiday, relying on the kindness of strangers to support her and her three young children to get help. Rose spoke with podcast host Frances at her hospital bedside whilst recovering from emergency surgery. Rose reflects on her experiences coming to hospital via Ambulance, being cared for in the Emergency Department and on a ward, and managing intense pain. R...

Ross sat down with podcast host Frances at a community health centre after his visit with a wound care nurse. Ross lives with chronic illness and limited mobility. He shares his journey from feeling angry about the challenges he faces, to choosing to live positively and make friends with his health conditions. Ross reflects of his experiences of kindness in hospitals and community health centres o...

Sam has a stoma, a small opening in the abdomen used to remove bodily waste into a collection bag. Sam is also a nurse and cares for patients with stomas. She spoke with podcast host Frances in the hospital ward where she works. Sam explains why some people like her need stomas, and how they are created and managed. Sam says having a stoma helped restore her health. She's passionate about normalis...

Sofia spoke with podcast host, Frances at our local health district head office where she works as a multicultural health officer. Sofia reflects on her journey arriving in Australia as a refugee to studying at university and working in health to help improve the lives of other people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Sofa is a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community and shares...

Taara took a short break during her shift on a cancer care ward to talk with podcast host Frances about what it's like to be a junior doctor working in a hospital. Taara shares why she wanted to become a doctor, how junior doctors like her rotate through different parts of the hospital to learn, and how she copes with some of the emotionally challenging parts of her job. Taara tells us about a ges...

Tim is a second-generation midwife and nurse who spoke with podcast host, Frances at the local hospital where he works. Tim shares what inspired him to become a nurse and then train to be a midwife and retrieval nurse, helping to care for critically unwell patients as they are flown to hospital. Tim reflects on his experiences as a male working in predominantly female roles in health, and the magi...

Tony is a loving husband of a beautiful wife who lives with mental illness. Tony sat down with podcast host, Frances at a local hospital to share his experiences and insights. During their conversation, Tony reflects on his role partnering with health care workers to support his wife at home and when she is acutely unwell in hospital. He talks about the importance of making carers feel welcome and...

Caitin is a physiotherapist working at an innovative transitional aged care ward. Caitlin spoke with Frances during her break outside the hospital where she works. Caitlin talks about how she decided to become a physiotherapist as a child when experiencing the magic of physiotherapy after breaking her arm. Caitlin shares her passion for caring for aged care patients who are awaiting placement in a...