Joy Smith

Joy has notched up forty years as a Health Information Manager, although this qualification has taken her from public, private and DVA hospitals to state health departments, from lecturing and tutoring in several universities to HIMAA’s first foray into providing training courses, and opportunities to work around Australia, South-East Asia and New Zealand but predominantly in Queensland where she and her family have made their home.

Joy is a participant. She is willing to volunteer her time, skills and energy for an important cause, whether that is for her professional organisation – HIMAA, or HISA, or the School P&C or one of the charitable organisations she supports. But what more important cause could there be than to participate in enterprises for the care, management and improvement of the health of our fellow citizens?

Becoming one of the inaugural CHIA practitioners is a highlight career achievement and Joy is keen to encourage more colleagues to pursue this recognition of their skills and experience in this broad field of health informatics.

Currently employed by Mater Health in Brisbane, Joy finds plenty of opportunities to contribute to the dynamic and innovative information and technology management environment at this large and diverse not-for-profit healthcare organisation.

While sharing in the thrill of applying new information and communication technology to benefit clinicians and patients – and our healthcare system – alike, Joy is always cognisant of the underlying principles of sound information management principles such as patient privacy and tempering the zeal of what can be done with an understanding of what should or may be done; that can make her and her associates the “fun police” at times but that’s all part of the team approach to ultimately achieving our goals.