2023 Faculty Leadership Conference

Navigating the Next Frontier was the theme of this year’s Faculty Leadership Conference, which took place from 29-30 May in Cape Schanck. Delegates were selected by each of the schools to ensure there were contributions from a diverse mix of staff and students from across MDHS. The conference focused on challenges to health, such as health inequity, unaffordability, workforce burnout and un-navigable systems, and the faculty’s role in addressing these.

Delegates heard from some inspiring speakers, including The Hon. Jaala Pulford, CEO of St Vincent’s Health Australia, Chris Blake, and PhD student Siân Slade on changing health systems; Wendy Chapman, Olivia Carter, and Ed Hovy, on emerging technologies and Liz Molloy, MDHS Student Council co-chair Jonathan Glenning and Abi Brooker on reengineering the student experience.

The conference began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Bunurong Traditional Owners Josh and Danny West. Ngarrindjeri man Uncle Stevie Sumner, CEO of Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service, spoke at dinner generously sharing his personal journey and commitment to the Ngarrindjeri country and people.

At the end of the two days’ work, Dean Jane Gunn reflected on some of the exciting ideas and possibilities that had emerged including a student led clinic, a consumer committee, an audit of our teaching infrastructure, and a sustainability squad. She challenged everyone to continue to think about how we can turn our size and scale into our best asset and urged us to recognise and celebrate our past but not let it define our future.

We encourage delegates to share their reflections on the conference and what was discussed at their tables.