“Go for it, make the difference you want to make and back yourself”

... these were the take-away messages from panellists at the Brilliant Connected Women in Digital Health (BCWinDH) Network event hosted by Telstra Health and attended by around 100 guests in Melbourne and Sydney, with more tuning in online from around Australia. 

The event was promoted as a networking event and professional development opportunity that was open to BCWinDH Network members, and Telstra Health staff and stakeholders of every gender. 

ABC Medical Reporter Sophie Scott facilitated a panel discussion which focused on the existing challenges in the health care sector, career wisdom, personal and professional learnings, and the changing expectations of health consumers. 

Secretary for Digital and NSW Department of Customer Service, Emma Hogan, reflected on the ease to which workforces ramped up to respond to the pandemic and the more challenging task we’re currently facing of coming down from the adrenaline high of the past two years.

When panellists were asked what’s next for digital health, Emma talked about the potential role of the metaverse in healthcare in the longer term. 

“The metaverse today is what social media was 10 years ago. We need to think about 3D and 4D experiences people could have in the metaverse and how do we do this in a regulated and safe way,” Emma said. 

When asked what advice they would give to their younger selves, Emma said, “If I could go back to my 30-year-old self, I would say 'it’s ok to change'. Don’t limit your own beliefs about what you’re capable of and don’t convince yourself others have limited beliefs in you, as it’s not necessarily true.”

“There are lots of people who give you advice as a human…back yourself,” said Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr Jill Tomlinson, who is also Vice President of the Australian Medical Association Victoria. 

Partner at EY Port Jackson Partners and former Secretary of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Kym Peake, said she lives by the mantra ‘listen, learn and lead’. 

“In addition to kindness and compassion, I think the one other trait that is incredibly important [as a leader] is the ability to bring people together to create a learning system,” she said.

Kym added it’s important for anyone working in the public service to focus on why you’re here and how you want to make the world better.

“Go for it, make the difference you want to make and back yourself,” Kym added.

“You’re not in these jobs for a long time and doing them in a cautious, risk-adverse way? Well, what’s the point,” she said.  

You can watch the full panel discussion here.



Our panellists

 

Kym Peake

Partner, EY Port Jackson Partners

Kym Peake is a Partner at EY Port Jackson Partners and the former Secretary of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Kym has extensive experience in both State and Commonwealth Government, including as Deputy Secretary, Higher Education and Skills Group at the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Deputy Secretary Governance Policy and Coordination at the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and Executive Director, Productivity and Inclusion at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Follow Kym on LinkedIn

Dr Jill Tomlinson

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Vice President, AMA Victoria

Dr Jill Tomlinson is a plastic, reconstructive surgeon whose innovative and technology-led surgical practice was the first private specialist practice in Australia to fully integrate My Health Record systems. She is the Chair of the Australian Medical Association’s Digital Health Subcommittee, co-chair of the Victorian Department of Health Clinical Informatics Advisory Council and former Chair of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s Specialist Toolkit Steering Group. Jill is also the Vice President and a Board member of the Australian Medical Association of Victoria, Specialty Editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Follow Jill on LinkedIn

Emma Hogan

Secretary for Digital and NSW Department of Customer Service

Emma Hogan is the Secretary of the NSW Department of Customer Service. Emma was the NSW Public Service Commissioner from May 2018 to October 2019. Emma joined the NSW Government after a career in the private sector, working with iconic Australian brands across hospitality, retail, aviation, media and entertainment. Emma’s career spans executive leadership roles in people and culture (human resources), communications, customer experience, digital, change and transformation

Follow Emma on LinkedIn

Sophie Scott

National Medical Reporter, ABC

Sophie Scott is a highly respected and sought-after health presenter, with two critically acclaimed books and numerous awards, including the Australian Museum Eureka prize for medical journalism. Thousands of readers regularly respond to her blog about the science of positive psychology. Sophie is a board member of the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation, an ambassador for Bowel Cancer and Pain Australia, on the advisory board for the Australian Mental Health Prize and appointed an Associate Professor (Adjunct) at the University of Notre Dame Medical School.

Follow Sophie on LinkedIn

Kym Peake

Partner, EY Port Jackson Partners

Kym Peake is a Partner at EY Port Jackson Partners and the former Secretary of the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Kym has extensive experience in both State and Commonwealth Government, including as Deputy Secretary, Higher Education and Skills Group at the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Deputy Secretary Governance Policy and Coordination at the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and Executive Director, Productivity and Inclusion at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Follow Kym on LinkedIn

Dr Jill Tomlinson

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Vice President, AMA Victoria

Dr Jill Tomlinson is a plastic, reconstructive surgeon whose innovative and technology-led surgical practice was the first private specialist practice in Australia to fully integrate My Health Record systems. She is the Chair of the Australian Medical Association’s Digital Health Subcommittee, co-chair of the Victorian Department of Health Clinical Informatics Advisory Council and former Chair of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s Specialist Toolkit Steering Group. Jill is also the Vice President and a Board member of the Australian Medical Association of Victoria, Specialty Editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Follow Jill on LinkedIn

Emma Hogan

Secretary for Digital and NSW Department of Customer Service

Emma Hogan is the Secretary of the NSW Department of Customer Service. Emma was the NSW Public Service Commissioner from May 2018 to October 2019. Emma joined the NSW Government after a career in the private sector, working with iconic Australian brands across hospitality, retail, aviation, media and entertainment. Emma’s career spans executive leadership roles in people and culture (human resources), communications, customer experience, digital, change and transformation

Follow Emma on LinkedIn

Sophie Scott

National Medical Reporter, ABC

Sophie Scott is a highly respected and sought-after health presenter, with two critically acclaimed books and numerous awards, including the Australian Museum Eureka prize for medical journalism. Thousands of readers regularly respond to her blog about the science of positive psychology. Sophie is a board member of the AMA (NSW) Charitable Foundation, an ambassador for Bowel Cancer and Pain Australia, on the advisory board for the Australian Mental Health Prize and appointed an Associate Professor (Adjunct) at the University of Notre Dame Medical School.

Follow Sophie on LinkedIn

Our vision for the network is to bring together a community of likeminded individuals, both women and men, who work in or have an interest in digital health, and for them to share ideas, create new connections, inspire opportunities and celebrate the successes and outstanding activity of women in the sector.

By delivering regular events (virtual and in-person) with inspiring world-class digital health speakers, we aim to educate the broader community about the opportunities of digital in health and aged care, as well as explore the challenges women may face and how to be advocates for change.

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