The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Infection Management and Control Service (IMACS) was established in 2008 to consolidate infection prevention and control expertise across the District into one team. The service is established as a key component of the Clinical Governance Unit. IMACS core aim is simple: to make sure our patients have the lowest possible chance of acquiring an infection whilst in our care, and that our staff are properly prepared and protected against infection risks whilst at work.

Site-based infection prevention and control clinical nurse consultants are responsible for the provision of an effective and broad-based day to day infection prevention and control service across our 9 facilities (and community health) and also carry individual portfolio responsibilities for specialty areas such as hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, sterilisation etc.

Our infection prevention and control clinical nurse consultants report to the IMACS manager but also retain a professional reporting line to their respective site-based directors of nursing. IMACS is supported by our local infectious diseases specialists, clinical microbiologists and SEALS laboratory.