#WeAreNorthern

Meet Sherrilyn Ballard, Consumer Participation Coordinator at Northern Health.

Q. Sherrilyn, could I start with your coffee order, please?
I enjoy a pot of Tasmanian breakfast or Melbourne breakfast tea.

Q. You are the Consumer Participation Coordinator at Northern Health, what does the job entail?
I have the privilege of working together with staff and consumer advisors in the recruitment and onboarding stage. Staff are really keen to have consumers on their committees and projects. Consumer advisors bring a fresh perspective on what matters to our patients, families, and carers. Their contribution to Northern Health committees and projects enriches conversations and helps us make more informed decisions in our meetings to improve the quality and safety, and accessibility of health care. We are fortunate to have a diverse Consumer Network at Northern health that represents our community. At the Northern Health recent National Volunteer Week celebrations, we had four consumers receive their 10-year service award and four consumers receive their five-year service award. Consumer advisors have made a difference to how Northern Health provides services and care to our patients.

Q. If you could describe Northern Health in a sentence, what would it be?
Our value of ‘Together’ – if you are seeking some knowledge or assistance for your work that you need, there is always someone in Northern Health who has the expertise. You just need to find out who it is, and reach out, and they will help you.

Q. What is your favourite memory since working here?
NAIDOC Week event 2016: The Theme was “Songlines: the living narrative of our nation,” and the Poster title was ‘Songlines Tie All Aboriginal People Together.’

Narrun Wilip-giin (Aboriginal Support Unit) invited a local Aboriginal pre-school Bubup Wilam, to perform for NAIDOC Week. Children and their teachers sang significant songs from their Aboriginal community in the Northern Health Hospital front foyer. They were bright-eyed and excited about sharing their culture through singing and actions. To say thank you to the children, each child was gifted an Aboriginal story book from Narrun Wilip-giin.

Q. How do you relax after a long shift?
Working behind the scenes in a non-clinical role, we sometimes have longer shifts. I like to relax by having a warm, home-cooked dinner with my family, preferably Moroccan, that has been prepared in advance.

Q. What is something that most people would not know about you?
I have a fraternal twin sister, five minutes older than me.  In a photo of my four sisters, no one guessed my twin the first time. Always a laugh!

Q. Favourite destination to travel?
My favourite destination for holidays at the moment was given to me by one of our Northern Health Consumer Advisors, Maureen, excellent advice. I am about to head off with my husband on our second holiday to Palm Cove in far North Queensland (where the sun is always shining) in July to celebrate our wedding anniversary.