Meet QEII Hospital Advanced Allied Health Assistant Maria Duong, whose daily dose of compassion is putting the patient experience at the heart of complex allied healthcare.
After five years working with dementia patients in aged care, Maria answered the call to QEII this January.
“I wanted to keep adding to my knowledge and broaden my horizons, so I decided to apply,” she explained.
“I feel very fortunate to be part of the Occupational Therapy team, because the staff here are so supportive and helpful. QEII is a beautiful community-sized hospital, so I feel good to be part of both the department and the hospital.”
Just six months into her QEII tenure, Maria's dedication saw her flourish within the Behaviour Support Team (BeST) and earned her the Staff Values: Partnering with Consumers (PwC) Award in June.
Behind the award is Maria’s enduring commitment to giving complex patients a voice. From friendly walks to chats over morning tea, Maria’s compassionate approach brings big impact to small moments.
“Whether I take them out for a walk or take them to hear some music, I just listen to them and try to hear what they have to say. At the same time, I can make suggestions to the senior staff to help make a personalised plan for each patient.”
Taking the time to understand each patient’s individual needs, Maria ensures they all feel heard, seen and supported throughout their healthcare journeys at QEII.
“Every day we have different challenges and different cases. But the great thing is we see different people and get to know them as a person. And once you get to know them well and they trust you, you can see the difference that you make,” she explained.
“Patients with dementia can feel very insecure and scared in a new environment. Once they know you are someone that they can trust and connect with, they feel safe.”
Maria’s passion for people is demonstrably infused into her work, which informs a personalised multidisciplinary complex care plan for some of QEII’s most vulnerable patients.
“You need that passion in order to feel happy doing this for other people, giving them a hand. Whether it’s a little hand or a big hand, every bit of help you can give counts.”
“I work hard and I’m passionate about what I do, but I’m just one part of this team, and I can’t make anything happen without them. It’s a team effort.”
Thriving in her new home base at the Allied Health Department, Maria says she’s fortified by the support of QEII’s highly skilled team.
“I feel so lucky to be part of QEII Hospital. The staff here are friendly, and well-equipped to deal with every situation and every complex case. They are really knowledgeable and very professional in everything they do,” she said.
Congratulations and special thanks to Maria for your inspiring dedication to patient-centred care.