Calvary John James Hospital

08/10/2026

“He has shown me that sharing time and just being for others matters.”

More than 60 years ago, Lorraine Bell arrived in Australia from England with her family. She still remembers how difficult it was to settle into a new country, make friends and find a sense of belonging.

Today, Lorraine is an Allied Health Assistant at Calvary John James Hospital and a mentor in our Refugee Mentoring Program, drawing on her own experiences to help others feel welcomed and supported.

Through shared stories, plenty of laughter and a little patience when words don't come easily, Lorraine has formed a special connection with a young participant finding his feet in Australia.

For Lorraine, the program about listening, making time for someone and helping them feel seen.

Thank you, Lorraine, for sharing your story and showing what it means to be there for others. 💙

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.calvarycare.org.au/news-and-events/news/lorraines-mentoring-journey

Through Calvary's Refugee Mentoring Program, Lorraine Bell uses her own migration experience to help participants build confidence, connection and community.

25/09/2026

🌟 STAFF SPOTLIGHT | NAOMI DOUMA 🌟

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Naomi Douma, who has been part of the CJJH family for an incredible 15 years! 💙

Over the years, Naomi has worked across several areas of John James, including ward clerking, administration and the Admission Centre, before finding her home in Accounts Payable, where she has spent the past eight years.

In her current role, Naomi helps keep things running behind the scenes by processing and paying invoices for our suppliers and service providers. While she never imagined herself working in finance, Naomi says she has really enjoyed gaining a different perspective and seeing how the hospital operates from a financial point of view.

When asked what she values most about her colleagues, Naomi shared:

“With everything we go through day to day, we still know how to have a laugh and we rely on each other when we are having a rough day. We provide a soft place to land for each other.”

That sense of support extends well beyond her immediate team, with Naomi saying she has built strong connections with people and teams right across the hospital.

Over her 15 years at CJJH, one of the biggest lessons Naomi has learned is not to stress too much. As she puts it, no matter how difficult things may seem, there is always a solution, someone willing to help, and ultimately, the job gets done.

Outside of work, Naomi enjoys reading, getting creative with crafty projects, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

Thank you, Naomi, for 15 years of dedication, teamwork and the positive spirit you bring to CJJH. We’re lucky to have you as part of our hospital community!

17/09/2026

We are thrilled to celebrate Caitlin Carter, who has been named 2026 ACT Vocational Student of the Year at the ACT Training Awards. 👏✨

Caitlin’s journey is one of dedication, determination and a genuine commitment to building a career in nursing. A proud Charnwood mum, Caitlin has continued to grow her skills and experience and now works as an Enrolled Nurse through the Graduate Nurse Transition Program.

Her recognition is a wonderful achievement for Caitlin personally, and one that we are incredibly proud to celebrate here at Calvary John James Hospital. 💙

A special thank you to Milan Adhikari, Clinical Facilitator, for the support she was there on the night proudly supporting Caitlin and representing the CJJH team a wonderful example of the people who stand behind our staff as they learn, develop and grow.

Congratulations, Caitlin! Your achievement is something to be incredibly proud of, and we can’t wait to see where your nursing journey takes you next.

11/09/2026

💛 R U OK? Connection starts with a conversation.

Yesterday, our CJJH team came together for a special R U OK? shared lunch taking a little time out of our busy day to connect, share a meal and check in with one another.

R U OK? reminds us that a simple “Are you OK?” can open the door to an important conversation. Sometimes, taking the time to sit together, have a laugh or simply ask how someone is going can make all the difference. 💛

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make our shared lunch possible, both front and behind the scenes:

🌿 Anne & Kevin from Mission
🤝 Tabitha from People & Culture
📋 Scarlet, Rosanne & Priya from Medical Records

And a special thank you to our Hospitality team for working hard behind the scenes and preparing the delicious Caesar salad for everyone to enjoy. 🥗💛 Your efforts helped bring everyone together around the table.

Thank you to all our staff for creating a workplace where we look out for one another, make time to connect and remind each other that no one has to go through things alone.

R U OK? 💛

06/09/2026

JERSEY DAY 2026! 💙

Our team at Calvary John James Hospital is proudly wearing our favourite sporting jerseys to support Jersey Day and the incredible work of the DonateLife network.

Jersey Day is more than just wearing your favourite team’s colours it’s about starting a conversation that could change lives!

Organ and tissue donation can give someone a second chance at life, but it all starts with a conversation with the people who matter most. 🫶

We’re showing our support, celebrating the sports we love and helping raise awareness about the importance of making your donation decision known to your family.

Wear it. Talk about it. Make your decision known.

Thank you to our wonderful Calvary John James team for getting behind this important cause!

Find out more about Jersey Day and how you can get involved:
Jersey Day

31/08/2026

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate Caitlin Carter, one of our wonderful nurses at Calvary John James Hospital, who has been named a Finalist in the 2026 ACT Training Awards ACT Vocational Student of the Year! 🏆

This is an incredible achievement and a wonderful recognition of Caitlin’s dedication, commitment and passion for her training and career in healthcare. To be selected as a finalist among a strong field of nominees is something truly worth celebrating! 💙

Caitlin’s journey is a wonderful reminder of the opportunities that vocational education and training can create, and we’re so proud to have her as part of our CJJH family.

Join us in wishing Caitlin the very best as she heads into the 2026 ACT Training Awards, with the winners to be announced on Thursday 3 September. ✨

Congratulations, Caitlin we’ll be cheering you on! 🎉

28/08/2026

🎉💙 The birthday celebrations continue at CJJH! 💙🎉

There’s been plenty of cake, smiles and celebrations around the hospital this month, and today we’re shining the spotlight on our wonderful Rebecca Butler! 🥳🎂

Rebecca has been part of the Calvary John James Hospital family for almost 15 years, with this incredible milestone coming up in December. Throughout her time at CJJH, she has made a lasting impact through her warmth, dedication, kindness and genuine care for the people around her.

And at the moment, Rebecca is taking on the Acting General Manager role while Daniel Wood is on secondment. It’s wonderful to see her stepping into this role and continuing to lead, support and bring her trademark positivity to our hospital community.

Today, we’re not just celebrating her birthday, but the wonderful person behind the role someone who is so valued and appreciated by the CJJH family. 🫶

📸 Rebecca is pictured surrounded by some of our lovely Managers and Executive Team, who joined in the celebrations and helped make her day extra special. 💐

Happy Birthday, Rebecca! 🎈 We hope your day is filled with plenty of happiness, laughter and all the things you deserve. Here’s to celebrating you today and to the exciting milestone ahead in December! 💙🎂

27/08/2026

Happy Birthday, Vangie! 🎂

Today we’re celebrating Vangie with her colleagues at Calvary John James Hospital! 💙

Vangie has been part of the CJJH family for 8 years, starting in Hospitality and now as part of our Medical Records team.

Wishing you a wonderful birthday, Vangie, and a year ahead filled with happiness, good health and plenty of reasons to smile! 🥳🎈

26/08/2026

STAFF SPOTLIGHT | DECHEN

Behind every safe procedure is a team of dedicated people working behind the scenes and today, we’re shining the spotlight on Dechen from our CSSD team.

A valued member of the CJJH team, Dechen plays an important role in ensuring every detail is handled with care, precision and a strong focus on patient safety.

We asked Dechen what inspired her to work in healthcare, what she loves about CSSD, and what she gets up to outside of work. 👇

💬 What inspired you to work in healthcare?
“I wanted to contribute to people’s wellbeing. I joined the CSSD team because I wanted to be part of the important work behind the scenes that helps keep patients safe.”

🔍 What do you enjoy most about your role?
“Every day is different and I’m always learning something new. I enjoy being part of a team and knowing our work contributes to patient safety.”

Dechen also reminds us that CSSD is all about attention to detail every step matters when it comes to supporting safe surgery. 🏥✨

Outside of work, Dechen keeps active with Pilates, walking, hiking and workouts. She also loves creating TikTok content, spending time with family and friends, and exploring new places.

And what always makes her smile? The little moments, laughs and memories shared with the people she loves. ❤️

Thank you, Dechen, for everything you do behind the scenes to support our patients, our surgical teams and our hospital community. We’re proud to have you as part of the CJJH team! 💙

22/08/2026

Happy 50th Birthday, Regan! 🎂

Today we’re celebrating a very special milestone for our Supply Manager, Regan West! 💙

Wishing you a fantastic 50th birthday filled with plenty of happiness, laughter and good times. Thank you for everything you do for our hospital and for being such an important part of the team.

Here’s to 50 fabulous years and many more to come! 🥳🎈