The outstanding contributions of health professionals and volunteers from across the region were celebrated at Hunter New England Health’s annual Excellence Awards, held last night.
More than 145 staff and guests attended the ceremony at Ravella, Newcastle, to honour the achievements and dedication of individuals and teams.
Hunter New England Health’s Chief Executive Tracey McCosker PSM, congratulated the finalists and winners in each of the 13 categories.
“This year, we received more than 60 nominations from across our District, showcasing the immense amount of talent and innovative thinking among our teams,” Ms McCosker said.
“These awards celebrate the highest standard of clinical excellence and recognise those who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to delivering exceptional healthcare to our Hunter and New England communities.”
“I want to thank our rural and regional workforce for their significant contributions in delivering patient-centred care and congratulate all the recipients of this year’s Excellence Awards.”
Winners were announced across 13 award categories, with the evening culminating in the presentation of the Staff Member of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and the Chief Executive’s award.
Several recipients from the District will now be nominated for the NSW Health awards to be held in October.
Award recipients in each category were:
- Category: Staff Member of the Year
Award recipient: Jeanette Lacey, End of Life Nurse Practitioner (Medical Services, John
Hunter Hospital) - Category: Volunteer of the Year
Award recipient: Eddie Whitham, Multicultural Access Committee, Tamworth Hospital - Category: Transforming Patient Experience
Award recipient: All Together Now: Coordinating Care for Kids – Clinical Practice
Improvement and Innovation Unit, Children, Young People and Families - Category: Patient Safety First
Award recipient: What’s in a Call? The Impact of Follow-up Phone Calls – Research Centre,
Nursing and Midwifery - Category: Keeping People Healthy
Award recipient: Mobile Dental Van Program: A Vehicle for Change – Oral Health Services - Category: Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare
Award recipient: Little Ears, Deadly Care – Ear, Nose and Throat Outpatients Service, John
Hunter Hospital and Audiology Service, John Hunter Children’s Hospital - Category: People and Culture
Award recipient: Reducing Aggression and Violence within the Peel Sector – Administration
and Work Health and Safety, Tamworth Hospital - Category: Health Research
Award recipient: Building Cancer Research Capacity in a Rural Area – North West Cancer
Centre, Tamworth Hospital and Clinical Trials and Research - Category: Health Innovation
Award recipient: Enhanced Prehospital Acute Stroke Triage, Acute Stroke Service, John
Hunter Hospital - Category: Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services
Award recipient: Dhuruulin Yabangka Yimamulin ‘Leading the Way to Healing’ – Mater Mental
Health Centre - Category: Environmental Sustainability
Award recipient: Outfits to Fitouts – Allied Health, John Hunter Hospital, and Rankin Park
Centre - Category: Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare
Award recipient: Interpreting Oral Health – Virtually! – Oral Health Services - Category: Chief Executive’s Award
Award recipient: Rural Generalist Program – Allied Health
