1. M E D I A R E L E A S E
2 SEPTEMBER 2015
CHA CONGRATULATES 2015 EMERGING LEADER STEPHEN TIPPETT OF ST
VINCENT’S HOSPITAL MELBOURNE
Catholic Health Australia congratulates Stephen Tippett who was honoured with the CHA Award for Emerging
Leader 2015 at the annual Catholic Health Australia Awards held this year at Parliament House, Canberra.
Stephen, who is the Manager of Food Services at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, was presented with the
award at CHA’s National Conference for his standout leadership qualities, his dedicated service to patients’
health, his continued ability to provide strong but sensitive direction for staff with disabilities, and for his
provision of exceptional care, in keeping with the Catholic mission.
As an outstanding young leader within the Catholic health care sector, Stephen, in his role of Manager of Food
Services, believes the patient meal experience is an essential part of a patient’s recovery and continued
wellbeing and Stephen wants all staff to know it.
“Positive outcomes for patients are only achieved through the consistent engagement of our staff,” he said.
“It’s the little things, the details that really matter. We have to listen to our patients, each and every individual.
It’s about trust, the patient’s trust in our ability to provide complete care for each individual.”
When addressing delegates at the annual Catholic Health Australia National Conference, Stephen told the
story of a young woman who was soon to lose her tongue – and any ability to eat – to cancer. Upon being
asked by the family of the woman to provide a cake for her birthday, a few days before surgery, Stephen
decided that he and his team were capable of much more.
Stephen decided to go a number of steps above and beyond in order to provide a truly memorable meal for
the woman and her family. Providing a cake was not enough in his view – he wanted to make her favourite
meal, lasagna, as well.
“We went down to the shops and hand-picked a number of quality organic ingredients. Fresh tomatoes and
meat for the lasagna, top quality chocolate and fresh raspberries for the cake,” Stephen said. “It was all about
making this meal as home-like as possible for the patient. I wanted to make the best lasagna of my life.”
“It’s about providing lasagna when only the cake was asked for.”
CONTACT: Stephen Lyons mobile: 0432 601 377
CHA represents the largest single grouping of non-government health, aged and community care services in Australia.