Annual Staff Gathering - Wollongong Golf Club

We gathered together this year to farewell the year of the TIGER and welcome the year of the RABBIT.

Looking back on the year of 2010 we can draw a few parallels between how its events unfolded and how a tiger stalks its prey.  Unlike our romantic notions of this powerful beast of prey a tiger spends much of its time laying in waiting, observing conditions, being patient, solitary, enduring the hardships of the hunt, taking risks and bearing the losses.

• SPC take over by Miliew in Jan 2010: This was a move to lessen the administrative burden of Sydnmind Pty Ltd
• Kali 1^st Anniversay Feb 2010 and is now close t celebrating her 2nd!
• Sponsorship approval for both SPC and NPC in the 1^st half of 2010 : this was an important achievement as it places both our companies in readiness to accept and sponsor Overseas trained doctors to join our practice.
• Medical Students – SPC has 2  and the RD has 1.  We have even in these times continued to share our knowledge and foster the next generation of doctors.
• Judy 15 years May 2010 – first day was in 1995.  Well done and thank you Judy!
• 1^st year anniversary for James & Family – 7^th Sept 2010 / James’ b’day today
• August 31 Customer service training – RESPECT / EMPATHY / RESPONSIVENESS / PROFESSIONALISM.  In spite of such pressure on our books translating into a more stressful work environment, we continue to value and develop excellent customer service.  In fact it's when times are tough that our true commitment to patient care is tested. 
• Eng’s father – passed on in Sept 2010
• Javad starts 29th Nov 2010 – just 4 months after our 1^st meeting.  Welcome to Matin his wife / living in shellcove.  Looking to do Fellowship!
• Kaitlyn graduation ANSTO – first class honours. Bachelor of science and Forensic science.  Last day tomorrow, Sunday 30th January.  Thanks for the past 5 years of service, it's been a joy working with such a bright your star!
• Bronwyn – whipple  on 12^th Dec 2010 – 12 months after her diagnosis.  All our thoughts and prayer go out to her and her family.
• Registrar Julian Northover –  Has joined us at the Robertson Doctor.  17^th Jan – 17^th July 2011

Looking to the year ahead we welcome a softer, fluffier year of the RABBIT.  Rabbits are peaceful vegetarians and they eat what is readily available.  They move with a succession of take offs and landings.

I'm setting my sights on the following projects for 2011.

• IT Infrastructure replacement and upgrade
• Greater managerial autonomy for each practice
• Greater resources dedicated to recruitment and retention of client doctors
• Recruit more doctors from UK and Canada or elsewhere
• Continue to fine tune our service to our doctors and the community

 I'd like to thank everyone who made 2010 the year it was, from our staff to our client doctors and allied health professionals.  

Here's to a soft, fluffy and bouncy year of the Rabbit!!!!!!!!!!!

Annual Staff Gathering 2010

It’s that time of the year where all our associated surgeries get together and actually see each other in person!

2009 has been an eventful year with the opening of the Robertson Doctor in November and James Botham immigrating from the UK to join us. In early 2009 Chantelle Kerr joined us as our in house psychologist and has quickly earned the respect and admiration of patients and colleagues at the NPC. Nada Ismail swept in then out of the NPC from May till October where she had to return to Iraq for family reasons. In that short time she showed us what a caring and professional doctor she was and we shall miss her!

The 17th February is also a very special date because it’s the first anniversary of Tariq’s first day back at work after his amazing heart transplant. It’s great to have you back Tariq! You’ve been at work a whole year with your new heart!

In March 2009 Anthony Wilson, our in house Podiatrist started his very own practice in Woonona. Congratulations! It’s been great to see your journey from the UK to Bulli to fatherhood to your own private practice.

In July Ben had an exciting helicopter ride from Bowral to Liverpool and then escaped ICU after 3 weeks in a labyrinth of plastic tubing. Happily he’s back doing what he loves best and well as the other stuff.

We also lost a few doctors in 2009: Daiva Kuzinkoviene left in August to join a Sydney practice closer to where she lives, Dai Tran also stopped doing his regular Sundays at the NPC. Trung Huu Ngo passed his fellowship exam and decided to take a GP position closer to his home in Revesby. Philip Healey left the SPC to join another practice. Stephan Eriksson can be found continuing his GP registrar term with Mark Condon. At the tail end of 09 Bronwyn Neal was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and has now commenced her battle. We’re all behind you Bronwyn!

Staff too have come and gone in 2009: In July we saw Gail return to us after a spell working with a specialist. Great to have you back on board! Stacey has left to try her luck with one of our—ahem—competitors. Denise has moved on to work with PRP diagnostics. Kali Joined the SPC in March 2009 and has proven herself to be an excellent part of the team and a great knack at giving the doctors the best nicknames—(no I’m not telling what your nickname is). The SPC was no longer able to retain a practice nurse in its downsizing and we wish Nicole Dillon all the best in her future endeavors.

We all now have a web presence but our websites as well as a practice manager’s website that is designed to help doctors who want to join us make the steps they need to take, to get themselves and their families to our lovely part of the world.


I’d like to acknowledge and thank everyone who made 2009 (with all it’s small victories and prickly challenges) the year it was. I feel very lucky to work with this talented and caring group of professionals serving the 4 different communities we cover. To all the staff I’d like to say that despite what your payslip says each week you’re contribution is priceless.

Now on to 2010! Welcome to Cornelius O’Neil who has just popped in for a few weeks from Tasmania via Ireland, he’s currently at the NPC and it’s just grand that you’re here! Welcome to Shawn Ghahri from Chatswood via Iran—I expect him to join the SPC in April. Shawn has just moved into Wollongong with his lovely wife Roshanak and is currently working in Wollongong hospital A&E. I’m also looking forward to Mehdi Samari joining the NPC hopefully around the same time. He’s from Hillsdale (near East Gardens) via Iran. Ali Mahdavi will be taking some sessions at the Robertson Doctor as soon as we attain accreditation, he’s from Wollongong Via Iran (are there any doctors left in Iran?) and is currently working at Wollongong Hospital.

A good community is made up of lots of good relationships. This gathering is to celebrate the good community of US.