Excellence Awards
The annual Southern NSW LHD Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the tremendous commitment and innovation of staff to improve what we do in all aspects of our health service.
Staff and teams from across our health District submit entries leading up to the Awards, with projects focusing on ways better health results can be achieved for patients through innovation.
The 2024 Excellence Awards Ceremony was held in Queanbeyan on Thursday 5 June 2024.
2024 Excellence Award Winners
Individual Awards
Dr Allan Hawke AC Award for Outstanding Leadership
Winner: Rebekah Bowman, Midwifery District Manager
Location: Moruya
Care and Kindness Award (Joint Winners)
Winner: Janelle Hopwood, Clinical Products Manager
Location: Queanbeyan
Winner: Susan Ahearn, Administrative Officer
Location: Queanbeyan Maternity Unit
Commitment to Service
Winner: Peter Lawrence
Location: Queanbeyan
Collaborative Staff Member of the Year
Winner: Christy Byrnes, Clinical Nurse Educator
Location: Eurobodalla Community Mental Health
Patient Safety Award
Winner: Dr Vimbai Kapuya, Visiting Medical Officer
Location: Yass Hospital
Emerging Leader Award
Winner: Nicholas Mason
Location: District-wide
Closing the Gap Award
Winner: Mob on the Imaging Job - Southern’s Bespoke Aboriginal Medical Imaging Traineeship Project
Location: District-wide
Elevate Award
Winner: Queanbeyan Maternity
Location: Queanbeyan
Team Awards
Board Chair Award
Winner: Voluntary Assisted Dying Service
Location: District-wide
Chief Executive’s Award (Joint winners)
Winner: Medical Workforce Unit
Location: District-wide
Winner: Surgical Service Improvement Program
Location: District-wide
Transforming Patient Experience Award
Winner: Paediatric Nitrous Oxide Project
Location: Bega
Volunteer of the Year
Winner: SERH and Pambula Spiritual and Pastoral Care Volunteers
Location: Bega and Pambula
Patient Safety First
Winner: Virtual Rural Generalist Service
Location: Braidwood, Bombala, Yass, Crookwell, Delegate
Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services
Winner: Safe Haven: Reducing Community Distress
Location: Bega
Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award
Winner: Culturally Aware: Learning Local Diversity
Location: District-wide
People and Culture Award
Winner: Procurement Team Gatekeeper Project
Location: District-wide
Keeping People Healthy
Winner: Preterm Birth Collaborative
Location: District-wide
Delivering Integrated Care Award
Winner: Moruya Maternity
Location: Moruya
Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award
Winner: Moruya Cancer Services
Location: Moruya
Health Research and Digital Innovation Award
Winner: Dental Services Contact Centre Web Chat
Location: District-wide
Environmental Sustainability Award
Winner: Green Relief: Rethinking Perioperative Pain Management Beyond the IV Route with Paracetamol
Location: Bega and Queanbeyan
Aboriginal Art Award
In 2016 the Health District held its first Aboriginal Art Award. The competition was open to all members of the Aboriginal community across our health District. It was held in recognition of the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People.
The themes for the competition were Partnerships and Collaboration, designed to reflect our District’s commitment to improving engagement and health outcomes for Aboriginal communities and mothers, families and children, which is being used to promote the District’s programs delivered to mothers and their children.
The winners were:
- Mothers, Families and Children.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Alison Simpson and Wayne Williams.
![SNSWLHD Alison Simpson Artwork](/sites/default/files/styles/content_x1/public/2023-11/SNSWLHD-Alison-Simpson-Artwork.jpg?itok=HE91Y1UX)
![Image of Alison Simpson](/sites/default/files/styles/content_x1/public/2023-11/SNSWLHD-Alison-Simpson_0.jpg?itok=awnx8ANr)
My name is Alison Simpson. I’m an Aboriginal woman from the Kalari clan of the Wiradjuri nation from central NSW as well as Wemba Wemba from northwest Victoria.
I am married with no children. I am an aunty to 38 nieces and nephews, and I have 9 siblings. We lost our father when I was four years old, and we were raised by our single mother.
I have 14 years’ experience working in Aboriginal health - 3 years in the community-controlled sector and 11 years in the public sector.
I have recently moved from Albury NSW and am employed in the community service sector delivering aged and disability services to the Aboriginal community in Eden. I have a private consulting business delivering cultural competence training which I do in my spare time, and I am also a student, studying Public Health.
I enjoy socialising and being around family and friends. I also love learning and being around knowledgeable people, especially older people. I love being outdoors and have great appreciation for nature and the environment.
I started painting in 2013 for therapeutic reasons and have been painting in my spare time ever since. My artwork is contemporary, and each piece tells a story.
Artwork selection | Description |
---|---|
![]() | The small dot in the centre represents the child. The child is being cradled by its mother and the mother and child being cradled by the father/partner. The orange circle signifies the strong family unit. |
![]() | The people outside the family unit represent service providers and community who work closely with families supporting them. |
![]() | The orange circles flowing out from the centre represent the positive ripple effect that strong family/community has on the growth of a family. |
![]() | The bright colours represent the joy/hope that comes with having a strong family/community. |
![]() | The blue stream represents water which is significant to our survival. |