#WeAreNorthern

Meet Rolando Mendoza, Maintenance Team Leader, Engineering and Building Services, Bundoora Centre.

Q: First, let’s start with your coffee order?

A: A good latte!

Q: Tell us about your journey at Northern Health.

A: My journey at Northern Health began in 2010 when I first joined as a handyman. From the very beginning, I was drawn to the organisation’s strong commitment to patient care, teamwork and continuous improvement.

In my early role, I was responsible for repairs and maintenance that supported the day-to-day operations of the hospital. This included assisting patients where needed, maintaining equipment and working closely with different teams across the organisation. That experience helped me build a solid foundation not only in technical skills, but also in collaboration within a healthcare environment. Over the years, I’ve grown both professionally and personally, and I’ve gradually taken on more responsibility.

Today, I work as a Team Leader here at Bundoora Centre. My role focuses on maintaining equipment reliability, ensuring safety standards are always met, coordinating with different departments and supporting patient care. I work closely with my colleagues every day to ensure everything runs efficiently and safely, and I’m proud to contribute to a supportive environment for both patients and staff.

Q: What is the best part of working at Northern Health?

A: One of the things I value most is the strong culture of teamwork. Everyone works together, respects each other’s role and supports one another during busy or challenging times. That sense of collaboration creates a really positive workplace and makes a big difference to the work we do every day.

Q: What’s something people might be surprised to learn about your role in Engineering?

A: What many people don’t realise is how proactive the role is. We don’t just respond to problems; we focus heavily on preventive maintenance and continuous improvement. A big part of what we do is making sure issues don’t happen in the first place, which is incredibly important in a healthcare setting.

Q: If you weren’t in your current role, what would have been instead?

A: If I wasn’t working at Northern Health… I would still want to work in a role where I can make a meaningful impact while using my technical skills, most likely somewhere within the engineering or maintenance industry. I enjoy solving problems and making sure things run smoothly, so I know I’d still be doing something hands-on and practical.

Q: Sweat or savoury?

A: Savoury most of the time… but I definitely won’t say no to something sweet now and then!