Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of spending time with teams across the Children’s Hospital, Gold Coast University Hospital, and NSW Health in Broken Hill. What has struck me again and again is the sheer heart, grit, and generosity of the people who show up every day to care for others — often without pausing to notice the impact this work has on their own energy.
In every workshop, I’ve watched people do something that is both simple and incredibly brave: stop long enough to reflect on themselves.
The conversations have been rich and honest. People have allowed themselves to explore questions that are usually pushed aside in the rush of a shift:
“Is this fatigue? What does it feel like in me? How did I get to where I am right now?”
These reflections matter.
They create space for awareness — and awareness is the first step toward reclaiming energy, choice, and wellbeing.
One of the most powerful moments in each session has been the goal‑setting activity. Watching people pair up, identify a goal that genuinely matters to them, and then break it down into something possible and achievable has been inspiring. The room shifts. People soften. They reconnect with something inside themselves that often gets buried under the weight of responsibility.
And then comes the icing on the cake:
accountability partners.
Seeing colleagues turn to one another and say, “I’ll check in with you next week — I want to see you succeed,” is a reminder of what healthy teams look like. Not just working side by side, but supporting each other to honour the commitments they make to themselves.
To everyone who has jumped in, reflected deeply, and dared to put yourself on your own priority list — thank you. I know how hard that is in a profession that trains you to focus on everyone else first. You are extraordinary. Your energy matters. Your wellbeing matters. And the work you do is too important for you to run on empty.
I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with more teams in the coming weeks — Penrith, Liverpool, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Gympie. I can’t wait to see what goals you create, what insights emerge, and how you continue to support one another to stay energised, grounded, and well.
Keep focusing on your energy.
We need you — not just for the work you do, but for the humans you are.
