A Moment in Time: Inspiring photo exhibition depicts life in the age of COVID-19

If you would like to take a look at the camaraderie and innovation taking place across SESLHD, look no further than the awe-inspiring A Moment in Time photo exhibition.

A novel initiative by the Nursing and Midwifery Directorate, the competition invited staff to share and celebrate their experiences of living and working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea was to capture and exhibit imagery and evoke the feeling of what it was like to live and work through this unprecedented time.

The collection of portraits submitted captured unique moments in time, including a sneak peek inside a COVID-19 testing clinic, empty shelves at supermarkets, performing 1.5 metre physical distancing in waiting rooms and first-of-its-kind experiences with telehealth.

Over 40 submissions were received however the winning photo, titled Birth, was submitted by Amanda Rehayem, a clinical midwife educator at the Sutherland Hospital’s Maternity Unit.

“Watching one of our women wear a face mask during labour was challenging to face, as midwives it wasn’t a picture of normal for us,” Ms Rehayem said. “The thoughts constantly running through our minds were – how do we social distance when caring for women and how will we work with our colleagues?"

Jane Dyson, SESLHD Media and Communications Officer, was one of the staff employed to judge the competition. “I love this photograph. It instantly evokes a combination of emotions that completely reflects the moment in time perfectly. It captures the emotion of the woman and needs no written explanation,” Ms Dyson said.

You can take a look at the full exhibition by visiting the SESLHD Facebook page. 

Pictured: The winning photo, titled Birth, by Amanda Rehayem.