On September 20th, we officially kicked off our 20th anniversary celebrations with the CSDSx20 Symposium. The event served as a hub for knowledge exchange, exploring new developments, and building connections to drive innovation in the healthcare sector.
The day began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country from Aunty Kathryn Fisher, followed by a nostalgic anniversary video that captured two decades of CSDS’s growth and progress. We were honoured by the support and congratulations from the Department of Health, Metro North Senior Executive Team, and the Metro North Board during the opening ceremony.
A special thank you to Samantha Prime, Director Clinical Excellence Queensland; Dr Shea Spierings, Metro North Board Member; and Grant Carey-Ide, Executive Director of Clinical Governance and Risk, for their opening remarks, as well as to Dr Helen Brown, Deputy Director-General Clinical Excellence Queensland, for her closing address.
Breaking from traditional symposium formats, we introduced an early morning tea break designed to encourage networking and discussion. This pause allowed attendees, speakers, and CSDS staff to connect, exchange ideas, and reflect on the symposium’s theme, “Advancing clinical skills.”
The CSDS Research Team showcased our newest addition, the Queensland Living Lab, which garnered significant attention. The Queensland Living Lab provides user-centred development and evaluations of medical devices and processes. Metro North Board Member Dr Shea Spierings was particularly interested in how we use the lab for data-driven improvement.
Another notable moment during the break was the revelation that the very first Project Officer responsible for establishing CSDS was none other than Kate Copeland, the Executive Director of Strategy Planning, Assets, Infrastructure, and Strategic Developments at Metro North. Although Kate officially retired in August, we are grateful that she has chosen to attend some events, including our symposium.
The morning continued with engaging presentations by Dr Mia McLanders, Kim Gourlay, Dr Nathan Peters, Michael Guerin, and Dr Toby Lyndham. Their thought-provoking talks sparked lively discussions and encouraged participants to think creatively about advancing clinical skills.
The afternoon featured an equally dynamic lineup of speakers, including Dr Ben Symon, Andi Thompson, Dr Chirag Patel, Melissa Andison, and Ross Hadfield. Each speaker brought unique perspectives that kept the audience fully engaged and inspired.
As is often the case in healthcare, Fridays can be unpredictable, and our symposium was no exception, as we encountered some AV challenges. However, our speakers rose to the occasion and delivered exceptional presentations despite the technical difficulties. None of this could have been achieved without our amazing MC, Louise D’Allura, who didn’t hesitate to step in and build a bridge when needed.
To fully relive the day, we encourage you to watch our highlights reel, with a full event recording coming soon.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in this celebration, making it a memorable milestone for the Clinical Skills Development Service!
