Deborah steps down from Board Member role

For the past decade, Deb Monaghan has played an instrumental role in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal communities on the North Coast. Now it’s time for someone to continue her legacy.

After a decade as a Board member for the Northern NSW Health Distrriict, registered nurse at Grafton Base Hospital Deborah Monaghan is stepping down.

After a decade in the role, Northern NSW Local Health District Board member Deborah Monaghan is stepping aside to allow the next generation to take up the mantle.

“I really do believe there’s someone out there who has a different slant on things and perhaps a different way of offering information to the Board that will be more of a benefit,” she said.

For the past decade, Grafton Base Hospital registered nurse Deb Monaghan has played an instrumental role in improving health service outcomes for Aboriginal communities on the North Coast. However, she said its success has been the result of a combined effort.

“I’m just one of many people behind it,” she said.

“The Board has got a real interest in looking at all aspects of health and incorporating Aboriginal awareness and being reflective of the heritage of this area in all the things that they do.

“They give me hope because they’re so keen.”

Outgoing NNSWLHD Board Member Deb Monaghan is stepping down from her Board role after 10 years. As a Bundjalung woman...

Posted by Northern NSW Local Health District on Thursday, July 15, 2021

Ms Monaghan said that the past decade had seen a significant change in attitude toward recognising Aboriginal culture within the health framework.

“I think there is a higher profile in nursing now for indigenous nurses and that’s really great,” she said.

Ms Monaghan said her the role had also allowed her to bring her local knowledge to the forefront of training and inducting new staff into Northern NSW Health facilities.

“A lot of people who work here are from Sydney or the city and, unless you’re a local, you don’t know how far home might be from the hospital for some people,” she said.

“For example, if you discharge someone at 10pm at night from Lismore and they’re living in Tabulam, there are no bus services. If you’re not from around here, you don’t know that, so there is also that local education.”

Registered nurse Deborah Monaghan with anaesthetist and fellow NNSWLHD Board member Dr Allan Tyson outside Grafton Base Hospital.

Recognising the significant contributions she could make in an executive role, Grafton Base Hospital doctor and fellow Board member Dr Allan Tyson suggested early on that she apply for the role.

“I remember walking into a surgical scrub bay when Deb was scrubbing up one morning and talking about that and to her astonishment, my suggestion that she might be someone who would be helpful on the Board,” he said.

“I was correct. She’s had an opportunity to have quite a significant input, not just with Indigenous perspectives, which she’s been strongly involved in, but just by bringing her background and understanding of different communities to the board.

“We hope that Deb’s replacement on the Board that we have somebody who can bring those same things.”