St John of God Health Care (SJGHC) has introduced a new scholarship for staff that offers an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the group’s founding Sisters and patron saint.
The Jennifer Stratton Scholarship was announced in July 2015 by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Michael Stanford, after the retirement of long-serving Group Director of Mission, Jennifer Stratton.
Ms Stratton was the first lay Group Director of Mission and contributed significantly to the organisational understanding and application of the Vision, Mission and Values of SJGHC.
The Jennifer Stratton Scholarship is a formation opportunity as the recipient is invited on the organisation’s pilgrimage to Spain and Ireland.
Learning and Development Manager, Jude Savy, was announced the winner of the inaugural scholarship on St John of God Day on 8 March.
Mr Savy will spend two weeks abroad in September, learning about the organisation’s founding Sisters, the Sisters of St John of God, in Wexford Ireland; and patron saint, St John God, in Granada, Spain.
He started his career with SJGHC 21 years ago at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, as a registered nurse and later as a team leader, clinical educator and as the hospital’s learning and development programs coordinator.
Mr Savy now works with the organisation’s learning and development team as the system administrator, assisting staff with the online education system.
He is well regarded by colleagues for his warmth, compassion, kindness, professionalism and consistently high standard of work.
Group Manager Learning and Development, Kathryn Clews, said that Mr Savy truly embodies the Mission, Vision and Values of SJGHC, and that many colleagues could attest to his upstanding personal character.
“I remember when I first commenced in my role… Jude was warm and welcoming and ready to assist me in any way… I felt like I had a guardian angel sometimes.
“I don’t think I could find someone who has embodied the values and vision as much as Jude, and all in the most humble ways.”
SJGHC is one of Australia’s largest non-government hospital operators and is Australia’s largest Catholic hospital operator. It has been operating for 120 years and employs more than 13,500 caregivers across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
It operates 23 facilities comprising more than 3,000 beds and also provides pathology, home nursing and disability services throughout Australia and in New Zealand.
It has extensive social outreach programs nationally and in the near Asia Pacific region, and in the current financial year has administered programs worth $66 million.
It currently has capital developments worth $624 million under way.