In early 2000, a Sonic Healthcare planning weekend was held to discuss future strategies for the rapidly growing company, and to identify ways of assimilating the Sonic practices; in spite of their geographical spread.

Various unification teams were set up during this weekend, including a Sonic Amalgamation Team, which was formed to define and establish the Sonic Healthcare Values.

This team consisted of Gloria Armellin (Pathologist and CEO, Capital Pathology -Canberra), Marita Barnes (Operations Manager, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology - Brisbane), David Benson-Cooper (Radiologist, Mercy Radiology Group - Auckland), Annabelle Farnsworth (Pathologist and Medical Director, Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology -Sydney), David Papadimos (Pathologist, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology - Brisbane), Judi Causby (Personnel Manager, Clinpath Laboratories - Adelaide), Pauline Merlino (Safety Manager, Southern/IML Pathology - Wollongong) and Carl Svendsen (Assistant Laboratory Manager, Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology - Sydney). These eight people provided a wide cross-section of the Sonic Healthcare group at the time.

Their brief was to consult widely throughout all levels of the practices of Sonic Healthcare, and, through an inclusive process, to distil the essence of the values and cultures of the practices into one defining document.

This document was to be equally relevant to every single employee of Sonic Healthcare; irrespective of their role. It was intended that the Sonic Healthcare Values would then form a point of common reference for Sonic Healthcare in all its internal and external dealings.

Thousands of people working in all areas throughout Sonic Healthcare were consulted over the ensuing months and after working through many draft versions, the Sonic Healthcare Values were agreed on.

The Values were later adapted for New Zealand to include Maori translations and reference to the Treaty of Waitangi.

These Values have been enthusiastically embraced as a uniting code of conduct by Sonic Healthcare people. They are the yardstick by which each of us measures our interactions with our work colleagues and our customers, and our performance in our various duties.

SONIC HEALTHCARE VALUES

Commit to Service Excellence
Willingly to serve all those with whom we deal; with unsurpassed excellence.

Treat each other with Respect & Honesty
To grow a workplace where trust, team spirit, and equity are an integral part of everything we do.

Demonstrate Responsibility & Accountability
To set an example, to take ownership of each situation to the best of our ability, and to seek help when needed.

Be Enthusiastic about Continuous Improvement
Never to be complacent, to recognise limitations and opportunities for ourselves and processes; and to learn through these.

Maintain Confidentiality
To keep all information pertaining to patients, as well as professional and commercial issues, in strict confidence.

SONIC HEALTHCARE VALUES (NEW ZEALAND)

Commit to Service Excellence
Tuka te whakarite mahi hiranga.
Willingly to serve all those with whom we deal; with unsurpassed excellence.

Treat each other with Respect & H onesty
Whakanuia tetahi tetahi.
To grow a workplace where trust, team spirit, and equity are an integral part of everything we do.

Demonstrate Responsibility & Accountability
Whakatau kawenga tutika.
To set an example, to take ownership of each situation to the best of our ability, and to seek help when needed.

Be Enthusiastic about Continuous Improvement
Kia ngakau nui, kia whakapai ake.
Never to be complacent, to recognise our limitations and opportunities for ourselves and processes; and to learn through these.

Maintain Confidentiality
Me noho matatapu.
To keep all information pertaining to patients, as well as professional and commercial issues, in strict confidence.

Acknowledge the Treaty of WaitangiI
Whakamanatia te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The Treaty of Waitangi is acknowledged as a unique feature of the New Zealand community.