In S 4 E 4 I am delighted to introduce Louise Fallon, Executive Officer of The Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, known as MBANSW, to speak about the their work supporting doctors. I first met Louise at The Doctor's Health conference in Adelaide last year.
The MBANSW is an independent charity that has been supporting doctors in NSW and ACT since 1896. They provide specialised counselling, information, referral and financial assistance to doctors and their families during times of adversity or hardship. Their aim is to provide non-judgemental support so that the doctor or family member, recovers their wellbeing and independence, and wherever possible, returns to their vocation. Their services are free, specialised, and no referral is necessary. All contact is kept strictly confidential, and they are independent of any regulatory body.
In this conversation Louise tells me about the history of the organisation, the work and services provided and their direction in more recent years. moving also into the preventative space. For me, a standout in this conversation is the very evident dedication, vocation and commitment Louise herself demonstrates for this work and her team.
"There comes a point where we need to stop pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out WHY they're falling in." Desmond Tutu
Links / references:
www.mbansw.org.au
MBANSW does wonderful work for those of our colleagues who are, at this very minute experiencing a hard time. One way you can show you care about Doctors welfare, is to go to their website www.mbansw.org.au and donate today, Knowing that their colleagues care is a big part of these doctors’ recovery – so please be part of the solution. All donations are tax deductable. If you can , please also consider a monthly donation as even small amounts, collectively, will allow them to plan their growth to support the increased demand.
The Mind Full Medic Podcast is proudly sponsored by the MBA NSW-ACT Find out more about their service or donate today at www.mbansw.org.au
Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Moreover views expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or other official organisations.