Friday February 2, 2024
Toni Gutschlag has made her way across the pond from New Zealand to take on the role of Executive Director Mental Health and Clinical Support at Eastern Health
Ms Gutschlag is pouring 28 years of experience into fostering excellent care and experiences for staff and consumers alike.
“To be effective in a role like this, it’s helpful to be interested in understanding how systems and communities work, as well as being interested in people. You have to be good at listening and know that people experience challenges, not just because of what’s going on for them as individuals, but because there’s all these different dynamics and pressures within their environment, including their workplace,” she said.
Ms Gutschlag started her career as a social worker in Christchurch, before taking on project work which led to her “learning about things that I didn’t know existed”, including outcomes measurement, workforce planning and project management.
This sparked a new passion for her working in a more ‘behind the scenes’ capacity.
“I started working across the South Island (of New Zealand) …and then I ended up in an area that we call ‘Commissioning,’ which included planning, funding, and strategy. I really enjoyed that. It felt like a good fit in terms of systems-focussed work and providing the right kind of conditions and enabling environment for people to get on and do great things.
“From there I got into general management, and completed a master’s degree in public administration through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government,” she said.
It was during these tenures that Ms Gutschlag encountered some of the most challenging experiences of her career.
“Along those different roles, I’ve experienced other life events that have been very big learning points for me, including earthquakes and emergency responses, and associated recovery processes. Those earthquakes went on for a lot longer than most people know.”
She surprised herself with her level of resilience and adaptability in the midst of these circumstances, and her ability to find a way forward when things get tough.
“I couldn’t have imagined what it would be like to live in and lead through events like that. I don’t think I could have anticipated what those experiences would actually be like.
“Without trivialising the trauma that some people experienced, but the ‘business as usual’ model becomes secondary, because people are focused on the basic things. There’s also some permissiveness that comes with big disasters, like we saw in COVID, that you can get on and overcome previous obstacles, and just get on and do it,” Ms Gutschlag said.
Now, in her new role at Eastern Health, Ms Gutschlag has an unwavering focus on continuing her work in improving community and staff outcomes and addressing the issues that matter the most to them.
“I love knowing that the work we do is going to make a difference for the end user. It’s about addressing those inequities that exist in society. That’s really exciting, as is finding some space for creativity to be part of developing solutions that maybe haven’t been thought about yet; there are just so many talented and experienced people here to do good.
“A big part of my new role here at a senior leadership level is about enabling others. Our job is to clear the path and remove obstacles and make it easier for people that work with us. Enabling others to be doing their best work is what I want to be doing,” Ms Gutschlag concluded.
Are you interested in joining our Mental Health team?
Head to easternhealth.org.au/careers-volunteers/mental-health-and-wellbeing/ for more.