Victorian Public Healthcare Award winners and finalists

Winner

School Readiness Program - a vehicle for families, children and educators to access early intervention and safe supported play-based community connection
South West Healthcare

South West Healthcare has been working with fifty kindergartens across its region to help early childhood educators and parents identify pre-school aged kids who would benefit from allied health support. This includes speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and social work – via early, fully funded interventions. The program achieved impressive results including increased educator and parent confidence, a rise in referrals to allied health services, and improved health outcomes for young children.

Finalists

CP@team - Community paramedicine providing equitable healthcare
Sunraysia Community Health Services

Sunraysia Community Health Service has adapted and implemented the internationally recognised Canadian CP@clinic community paramedic model across five sites in Mildura. The CP@clinic Program is known as CP@team in Mildura. CP@clinic/CP@team is a chronic disease screening, education and onward referral service. Paramedics support members of the community to manage their health outside of the emergency setting. They offer weekly drop-in clinics in accessible locations, community meals, food relief and walking groups. It has already improved healthcare access and social connectedness and aims to reduce ambulance calls and hospital presentations in the longer term.

---

MPOX Vaccination Program
Thorne Harbour Health

In July last year Thorne Harbour Health led a 10-week program to contain a Monkeypox outbreak within Victoria's gay and Men-who-have-Sex-with-Men communities. They developed a range of campaigns and health-related information and updates, they undertook community outreach initiatives, and hosted weekly MPOX vaccination clinics which resulted in 6,000 people receiving a vaccination. There were no new locally acquired MPOX cases reported after the successful 10 week program.

Winner

oneTEAM - inviting parents/carers to be part of the clinical team
The Royal Children’s Hospital

oneTEAM is a codesigned quality improvement project undertaken at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne to help avoid potentially preventable paediatric deaths. In many cases, parents have said they knew their child was deteriorating, but no one listened or acted upon their concerns. OneTEAM invites the parents and carers to be part of the clinical team and aims to improve the early recognition of the deteriorating child. oneTEAM has provided a simple consumer pathway for escalation, one that consumers feel confident to use and clinicians know how to respond to.

Finalists

Putting community back into community mental health
DPV Health

DPV Health has worked in collaboration with community members to create and operate a fully integrated, community-driven mental health service. Their overarching objective is to empower consumers to control their care journey, support them to thrive, and create a service that caters to the distinctive requirements of their diverse community. They implemented a wellbeing menu, offering customization of services, and ensured that lived experience workers are available every step of the way.

---

The Straight and Marrow (a collaboration between Peter Mac and Royal Melbourne Hospital)
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital

Clinical Nurse Consultants and Practitioners from the Haematology Parkville Precinct, recognized the need to improve educational and support resources for patients and their families undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation. AlloSCT is a complex treatment for blood disorders, demanding extensive commitment from patients and families. So they developed a pioneering podcast series called "The Straight and Marrow" to provide accessible and informative content. Since the series began it’s had more than ten thousand downloads.

Winner

Paediatric day-case adenotonsillectomy transfer to Hospital-in-the-Home: a new model of care
The Royal Children's Hospital

The Royal Children’s Hospital has developed an innovative program where children undergoing day case Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy can have their post operative care in their home. This new Hospital In The Home program makes the procedure more accessible and includes intensive education for families, home nursing visits and post operative monitoring. The model addresses surgical waitlist challenges, bypasses bed-lock and cancellation of surgery, and provides world class care in the patient’s home.

Finalists

Stroke Care innovation for a regional community
Echuca Regional Health

Echuca Regional Health has established a tele-stroke unit called BUILDS (Bridging the Urban and regional Divide in Stroke care). The program provides remote consultations by stroke neurologists supported by onsite stroke coordinators. It has improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced resource use.

---

Merri Health's Community Chronic Pain Service
Merri Health

Merri Health's Chronic Pain Service is easing the burden of chronic pain by providing free, accessible, evidence-based care in a community setting, close to home. It’s improved long-term health and wellbeing outcomes and reduced hospital waitlist pressure. Hundreds of patients have been referred to the program since it began in 2020, with almost all experiencing some overall improvement or significant improvement in how pain interferes with their daily life.

Winner

Victorian Virtual Emergency Department - Paediatric Service
Northern Health

The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department's paediatric service has revolutionised emergency care for kids and their families. It offers specialized paediatric care through consultations. This approach aims to alleviate the challenges faced by families when visiting physical Emergency Departments, such as travel, long wait times, and associated costs. It also relieves pressure on emergency wait rooms and ensures even those in remote areas receive vital support, treating more people from the comfort of their home.

Finalists

IPC Health opens Student Led Dental Service in Wyndham!
IPC Health

IPC Health has opened a Student Led Dental Service in Wyndham which has achieved significant improvements in access to dental care. As well as reducing waitlists and wait times, it’s also provided clinical experience and increased workforce career pathways for students. Students deliver oral health education, care and treatment under the supervision of senior qualified clinician mentors to help them become job ready and build client care skills.

---

Type 1 Diabetes at-home blood test - The Royal Melbourne Hospital
Melbourne Health

Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Hospital have revolutionised type 1 diabetes diagnosis with a world-first, at-home blood test. Over 17,000 children were screened, revealing that early detection prevents serious illness and allows for timely treatment. Led by Associate Professor John Wentworth, the study's innovative approach empowers families with knowledge and time to manage the disease effectively.

---

Collaborative Care Bridging the Chronic Care Continuum Acute to Community
Monash Health

Monash Health has created a powerful partnership and pathway of care for people with chronic conditions, which has seen significant reductions in Heart Failure representation rates, improved patient experience, and more than 1300 patients being diverted to community-based interventions. Community-based chronic disease Nurse Practitioners and Senior Medical Consultants review patients and engage them in the option to receive safe care at home. The partnership has improved patient outcomes and reduced pressure on the Emergency Department.

Winner

The Barwon Renewable Energy Partnership (B-REP)
Barwon Health

The Barwon Renewable Energy Partnership of Barwon Water, Barwon Health and Geelong Port, has collectively taken a big step towards using 100 percent renewable electricity and producing net zero emissions securing a power purchase agreement with a local wind farm. The agreement provides 68 gigawatt hours a year of renewable electricity, which offsets 100 percent of Scope 2 emissions for University Hospital Geelong and approximately 50 percent of other Barwon Health sites.

Finalists

The Royal Melbourne Hospital ED - Choosing Wisely Program
Melbourne Health

The Royal Melbourne Hospital has introduced a global initiative called the Choosing Wisely Program into its Emergency Department. The program assesses and reduces unnecessary patient tests and interventions. It’s led to a reduction in unnecessary blood tests, such as blood gases by 40 percent and coagulation studies by 25 percent. This has reduced their environmental greenhouse gas footprint, it’s also saved time, money and had health benefits for the patients.

---

Reducing unnecessary tests for sustainability & better patient experience
Monash Health

Monash Health's Pathology Stewardship and Electronic Medical Record Optimisation team has dramatically reduced duplicate and unnecessary blood tests. Their initiatives have resulted in a reduction in generated waste, reducing the environmental greenhouse gas footprint. It’s also achieved substantial financial savings and reduced the likelihood of potential health risks for patients, such as pain, anaemia and needle stick injuries.

---

South West Healthcare: Reducing Single-use Plastics
South West Healthcare

South West Healthcare is one of the state’s first Health Services to replace single use clinical plastic consumables with 100 percent compostable equivalents. In just 12 months they’ve prevented more than 300,000 plastic items from ending up in landfill. Working in close collaboration with manufacturers to co-develop the products, items include sterile anaesthetic packs, which are now made from re-purposed sugarcane and are 100 percent compostable.

Winner

Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Hub
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

The Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Hub at St Vincent Hospital is a purpose-built facility providing specialised, multidisciplinary, trauma-informed care in a quiet, calming and safe environment. Using an integrated model of care to deliver high-quality medical support and a best- practice approach for vulnerable patients in crisis, the Hub has almost halved wait times for patients presenting to the Emergency Department with mental health and/or alcohol or other drug issues.

Finalists

Alfred Functional Seizures Clinic
Alfred Health

The Alfred Hospital established the country's first public clinic dedicated to patients with functional seizures not caused by epilepsy. The clinic offers holistic, cross-disciplinary care and has led to significant improvement for patients and their recovery, with many returning to work and study, reducing unnecessary medications and reporting greater overall wellbeing. The successful results of the clinic have been widely shared and are driving the development of similar clinics nationally.

---

Peaks Program
EACH

The Peaks Program was created in response to the mental health challenges faced by small business owners during the COVID pandemic. It embedded mental health clinician consultants into industry peak bodies and regional chambers of commerce to provide tailored support. The program resulted in a 33 percent reduction in severe mental health issues among small business operators, and it offered resources and workshops attended by nearly 4,000 individuals.

Winner

Monash Health Residential Aged Care - Customised, residential care specific, prevention of occupational violence and aggression (POVA) training package
Monash Health

Increasing the capacity and capability of the Monash Health Residential Aged Care workforce using a customised prevention of occupational violence and aggression training package has resulted in significant improvement of quality of life for residents living with chronic mental health conditions and/or dementia.

The simplicity of the program has allowed this initiative to be effectively embedded into the program's education framework.

Finalists

The Bucket List
Bass Coast Health

With a focus on providing an exceptional level of person-centred care, BCH have introduced an initiative “The Bucket List”, providing residents an opportunity to participate in something special they have always dreamed of, or wish to achieve.
Recipients receive personalised experiences, that reflect the individual’s life wishes. They believe that genuine positive regard is truly experienced when a significant and meaningful experience is provided, promoting a deeper sense of purpose and identity, improving quality of life through building confidence, pride and dignity. The holistic benefits of this initiative are inspiring and benefits residents, their families, staff and the local community.

---

Central Highlands Rural Health
Central Highlands Rural Health

Central Highlands Rural Health have implemented the evidence based Aged Friendly Health System 4M’s (what Matters, Mind, Medication, Mobility) approach across all three Residential Aged Care facilities, resulting in more satisfying, better quality and safer care that is more meaningful for each resident and staff member.

Winner

Improving the health outcomes of Victorians through value-based oral health care
Dental Health Services Victoria

Dental Health Services Victoria has undertaken a transformative journey to improve oral healthcare in Victoria, pioneering a Value-Based Healthcare model. Their approach places patients at the centre of service design and delivery, with a focus on prevention and increasing access to care. Since 2016, they’ve reduced waitlist numbers, had higher patient attendance rates, all while saving costs. This innovative approach has not only improved oral health outcomes but also attracted international recognition.

Finalists

Reducing hepatitis C transmission and improving prisoner health
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

The State-wide Hepatitis Program provides evidence-based assessment, management and treatment of people living with viral hepatitis in Victoria’s prison system. It’s reduced the transmission of hep C, improved health outcomes for people in prison living with a viral hepatitis infection and chronic liver disease, and it’s delivered best-practice clinical care in a complex and challenging environment.

---

Western Health Same day discharge project
Western Health

In 2022 Western Health established its Same Day Discharge Project for patients undergoing hernia repair surgery. The new approach was inspired by the success in other countries and was designed to alleviate the strain on hospital beds following the COVID pandemic. The project has already improved patient access to surgery, reduced length of stay and enhanced patient satisfaction. In one year more than 300 patients who would have stayed overnight instead became day surgery cases.

Winner

Collaborative continuity of midwifery care close to home
Dhelkaya Health, Bendigo Health and La Trobe University

Dhelkaya Health in Castlemaine introduced a Midwifery Group Practice model for maternity care two years ago. An external evaluation of the model has found it to be highly valued by women in the community, emphasizing women-centred care, continuity of care and choice to birth locally, as key factors contributing to its success. Collaboration and trust between local and regional health services were vital in overcoming barriers and establishing a safe and successful rural maternity service.

Finalists

Changing the healthcare story - One birth at a time
Maryborough District Health Service

The Maryborough District Health Service has introduced a Midwife Group Practice Model of Care which has enabled more women to receive pregnancy care and give birth locally. The Maryborough Model was developed in collaboration with local midwives, GPs, obstetricians and consumers. It’s reduced staffing challenges, increased efficiency and positively impacted the community’s wellbeing.

---

Maternity Outpatient Triage System
Peninsula Health

Peninsula Health has re-designed its maternity triage and assessment processes to improve patient experience and workplace satisfaction. Previously, patients were treated in the order they arrived, leading to clinical risks and negative feedback. By adopting the Birmingham Specific Obstetric Triage System, the most acute cases are now prioritized, reducing risks, improving care quality, as well as the overall experience for staff and women attending the service.

Winner

The Babaneek Booboop Program for First Nations children
Western Health

The Babaneek Booboop Program promotes the health and developmental outcomes of First Nations children in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. Establishing and tapping into strong networks, it’s supported more than 350 children and their families in their engagement with child health and promoted cultural safety in health. It’s seen more than 97 percent of participants complete Maternal and Child Health key ages and stages assessments. It’s also led to significant uptake of oral health, audiology, optometry, and NDIS referrals.

Finalists

Barwon Health's Aboriginal Audiology Clinic
Barwon Health, City of Greater Geelong Maternal & Child Health and Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children face a significant issue with middle ear infections known as otitis media, with rates much higher than non-Aboriginal populations. To address this, a collaborative initiative between Wathaurong Best Start, Barwon Health, and the City of Greater Geelong was launched to improve early detection and intervention of ear problems. The project, driven by Aboriginal stakeholders has enhanced referral pathways, provided culturally appropriate services, and reduced chronic ear infections.

---

Northern Health Aboriginal Support Unit, Narrun Wilip-giin
Northern Health

Northern Health’s Aboriginal Support Unit, Narrun Wilip-giin, introduced executive yarning circles and a possum-skin baby wrap project that have been instrumental in giving a voice to Aboriginal staff and patients. These initiatives have enhanced care, built community partnerships and promoted cultural safety. They’ve also empowered Aboriginal staff, provided cultural connection for mothers and babies, and positively impacted decision-making processes at Northern Health.

---

Winner

Rural Rainbows
EACH

Rural Rainbows is a social group for LGBTQIA+ people, aged 12-25 years, in the Yarra Ranges. Developed by young volunteer Peer Leaders and shaped by the input of its participants, it provides a safe, vibrant space for the young queer community. Its focus is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of its participants. The fortnightly meetings have included special guest speakers, a drag makeup tutorial, and mindfulness and relaxation sessions. It’s been so successful they’re looking to expand its reach.

Finalists

Safe Space: Victorian clinic provides hope for trans patients
Mercy Health

Mercy Health has established the countries first publicly funded gynaecological service for transgender patients. The clinic operates within an existing facility, but the multidisciplinary team, including gynaecologists, nurses, physiotherapists, and social workers, have undergone extensive training to provide specialised care for transgender patients. The clinic has received positive feedback and recognition from patients and medical professionals.

---

The Parkville Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Diversity & Inclusion Project
Parkville Precinct: The Royal Children’s Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Royal Women’s Hospital

The Parkville Electronic Medical Record Diversity & Inclusion Project run by the Parkville Precinct, was a 12-month initiative that updated patient systems to capture gender identity, legal sex, sex at birth, sexual orientation, pronouns and chosen name in the EMR. Hospital team members could then access this information to better support and provide care for patients who are members of the LGBTIQA+ community, improving safety, wellbeing and the consumer experience. This project is the first of its kind in Victoria where a collective of health services has come together and improved its medical records to better meet the needs of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Winner

Improving health outcomes in CALD communities
The Water Well Project

The Water Well Project seeks to improve the health outcomes of communities from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds by providing free, practical and culturally appropriate health education.

The Water Well Project seeks to improve the health literacy, health access and health outcomes of communities from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds by providing free, practical and culturally appropriate health education sessions. They’ve delivered more than a thousand sessions, and reached more than 17,500 thousand community members, in 40 different languages.

Finalists

Culturally Diverse & Connected Healthcare in the North
DPV Health

DPV Health has developed a CALD Action Plan to better connect with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities in their region to make healthcare services more accessible. The plan includes more than fifty actions aimed at enhancing community health and well-being awareness and engagement. It was created through extensive community consultation and has led to more CALD community members accessing the health service, as well as improved interpreter services, and higher patient satisfaction.

---

Rebuilding Together - cooking, community and connection
Your Community Health

Rebuilding Together – cooking, community, and connection program was developed to offer culturally safe and appropriate support for people experiencing food insecurity and to increase meaningful connection among Arabic-speaking communities in Darebin. The program was developed as a result of a needs assessment and community consultations. They offered free food relief boxes, as well as food literacy and cooking workshops to increase participants understanding of good nutrition, and connect them to the community.

Winner

Connecting Mental-health Paediatric Specialists and community Services
The Royal Children's Hospital and North Western Melbourne Primary Healthcare Network

COMPASS has been established in Melbourne’s northwest to connect Mental-health Paediatric Specialists with Community Services to upskill community clinicians in child and adolescent mental health care. It was co designed with GPs, paediatricians, nurses, psychiatrists and social workers and involves online tele mentoring and consultations with experienced child psychiatrists. The program has increased clinician confidence, improved psychological safety, wellbeing and reduced burnout.

Finalists

Medical Support Officers help ED workforce shortages at the RMH
Melbourne Health

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Emergency Department has developed an innovative new workforce to meet demand. Medical Support Officers were recruited from the ranks of senior medical students and employed to perform simple technical tasks, which they ‘d already learnt as part of their preparation for internship. This freed up nursing staff and enabled them to focus on more complex tasks. The approach accelerated initiation of care for waiting patients, alleviated frustrations, and enable students to develop their professional skills.

---

First Nations Women in Health Strong in Spirit
Weenthunga Health Network Inc

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Weenthunga Health Network has created a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Space to support First Nations women in health roles. It offers individual counselling, debriefing sessions, group sessions and retreats. It’s lead to a 98 percent retention in health roles, and one in five women have been promoted. One hundred percent of participants reported improved social and emotional wellbeing.

Winner

Enhancing patient access to timely care: Colorectal Outpatient Liaison Nurse role
Melbourne Health

The Royal Melbourne Hospital introduced an outpatient liaison nurse in Colorectal Surgery which has significantly improved access to timely care. It’s reduced waitlist breaches by 72 percent and provided urgent and routine patient care sooner. It’s been so successful it’s led to permanent liaison nurse roles in multiple outpatient departments. Data challenges during the project has also led to the development of a hospital-wide outpatient data dashboard.

Finalists

Improving Time to Antimicrobial Administration through Pharmacist Involvement in Sepsis-Related MET calls
Alfred Health

Alfred Health is the first hospital in Australia to include a pharmacist on the Medical Emergency Team to assist with administration of antimicrobials in patients with Septicaemia. The mortality rate of sepsis in hospitals is about 40 percent and for each hour delay in administering antimicrobials, chances of survival fall by 7.6 percent. The trial led to a significant reduction in the time taken to provide the vital medication and as a result a pharmacist was formally added to the Emergency Team last year.

---

The Victorian ECMO Service
Alfred Health

The Victorian ECMO Service is a collaborative initiative between key health services, to ensure a consistent approach to providing life saving ECMO treatment. Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation is a high risk therapy for lung and heart failure patients and outcomes varied due to decentralised services. This new model involves collaboration between seven major hospitals and a patient transport service. It’s lead to safer management and improved access for patients with severe critical illness.

---

Winner

South East Metro Health Services Partnership
Alfred Health, Better Health Network, Monash Health, Peninsula Health and South Eastern Primary Health Network

The South East Metro Health Services Partnership, originally came about as a response to a Department of Health directive to work together during the COVID pandemic, but it’s grown into something much bigger. Alfred Health, Monash Health, and Peninsula Health have led the way in building a collaborative model that encompasses acute, primary, and community health care partners. Delivering care to one third of the state’s population it’s evolved to become a trusted platform for innovation and reform delivering many benefits for the services and patients.

Finalists

Grampians Region Health Service Partnership
Grampians Health, Beaufort Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health and West Wimmera Health Service

Eight public health services across the Grampians collaborated to form the Grampians Region Health Service Partnership to improve healthcare outcomes for the region. It’s achieved significant progress including overseeing an Elective Surgery Reform Program, facilitating the Better at Home Initiative, establishing the Grampians Learning Hub, and outlining a strategic vision for the future. They attribute their success to strong governance structures, active CEO and staff engagement, and collaboration across multiple committees and networks.

---

West Metro Health Service Partnership
Mercy Health and Werribee Mercy Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women's Hospital, Western Health and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

The West Metro Health Service Partnership is delivering better health outcomes and a more connected health system. It brings together some of Victoria’s premier health services and organisations including Mercy Health, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital, Western Health, and the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network. Since it’s establishment two years ago it’s built strong connections with more than 280 stakeholders and delivered significant impact through 13 collaborative projects.

Winner

DPV Health creating a healthier and connected community with excellent care for all
DPV Health Ltd

DPVHealth’s vision is for a healthier and connected community with excellent care for all. They provide an extensive range of medical, allied health, nursing, mental health, family violence, refugee, NDIS and community programs in Melbourne’s diverse outer north. They co-design strategies with local community to inform growth needs, and they continually assess organisational performance. They aim to continue the significant success they’ve achieved in the first year of their new strategic plan.

Finalists

Dental Health Services Victoria

Dental Health Services Victoria delivers quality services across the state via the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and a network of fifty Community Dental Agencies. Their patients include children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, refugees, people without homes, and other vulnerable groups. They emphasize prevention and early intervention through a value-based healthcare model. Innovation is at the heart of the Service, with new programs, partnerships and processes aimed to create a Victoria that is dental disease and cavity-free.

---

Latrobe Community Health Service

The not for profit Latrobe Community Health Service delivers integrated healthcare for better health, better lifestyles and stronger communities. They offer a diverse range of more than 100 services across more than 70 sites. They’re committed to growth, diversification, innovation and excellent customer service. They invest in staff development and technology, ensuring quality care and safety. Patient centred care is a priority, supported by a Customer Voice Group for feedback.

Winner

South Gippsland Hospital - Sustained and improved performance
South Gippsland Hospital

South Gippsland Hospital serves the Corner Inlet Communities by providing high quality and safe acute and community care. They focus on partnerships, safety, workforce capability, and community engagement to provide high-quality healthcare services. They have a positive workplace culture for their 200 employees and consistently strong ratings in employee satisfaction surveys. They actively promote diversity and inclusion, and collaborate with various organisations to improve health and wellbeing in the community.

Finalists

Central Highlands Rural Health

Central Highlands Rural Health is dynamic and growing, serving the communities of Hepburn and Macedon Ranges Shires.

Central Highlands Rural Health lives its vision ‘to deliver Best Care to every person, every time’. Robust leadership, strong clinical governance, strategic partnerships, highly skilled staff and a broad range of services means it’s fully accredited and responsive to changing community needs. The introduction of evidence based and innovative new programs has allowed them to expand their reach.

---

West Wimmera Health Service

West Wimmera Health Service has campuses in nine rural towns and is committed to providing sustainable, efficient and a wide range of health services. These include residential aged care, acute care, urgent care, allied health, and community programs. It’s one of the largest employers in the region, and places significant importance on staff satisfaction and engagement. They’re dedicated to cultural competency and diversity, and have launched initiatives to support disadvantaged communities.

Winner

South West Healthcare

South West Healthcare is the largest sub-regional health service in Victoria, covering a catchment of around 100-thousand people. They provide more than 150 services, including two hospitals, three mental health facilities, a recovery centre, and four community and allied health facilities. They’ve seen exceptional growth in recent years, with a focus on financial management, quality care, and community impact. They actively promote health and wellbeing, safety and quality, and inclusivity, especially for disadvantaged populations.

Finalists

East Grampians Health Service

East Grampians Health Service delivers high quality inpatient, urgent care, obstetrics, allied health, residential aged care, and home and community-based care across Ararat. It’s developed a reputation as a collaborative, innovative and progressive health service, a leader in the delivery of safe, high quality, acute, residential and primary care. They’ve achieved several milestones, including the establishment of a new obstetric model, an innovative medical student training program, and the introduction of a Home Support program.

---

Echuca Regional Health

Echuca Regional Health provides a comprehensive range of emergency, acute, sub-acute, community & residential aged care services. In the past year, they’ve achieved several milestones, including the implementation of a Tele-Stroke unit. They’ve also focused on improving the quality and safety of care, reducing wait times, and enhancing workplace culture. It’s deeply committed to cultural safety, with initiatives including their Aboriginal Cultural Safety Project.

Winner

The Royal Women's Hospital

The Royal Women’s Hospital is one of Australia’s leading tertiary hospitals for women and newborns with a strong reputation for providing high-quality, compassionate care to families across Victoria. It’s also one of the country’s major teaching and research hospitals. Its work goes beyond acute care playing a key role in the advancement of health and medical research and practice. It also provides state-wide training and leadership, and advocates in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, public fertility, family violence and health equity.

Finalists

Alfred Health: Caring for all Victorians
Alfred Health

Alfred Heath serves the local community of south-eastern Melbourne and it stands ready for all Victorians through 18 state-wide services that focus on critical, complex and specialised care. It’s continued to provide high-quality and innovative care to patients, while extending on its models to improve regional access to healthcare. It implemented strategies to address deferred care caused by the pandemic, and to improve health outcomes. It’s also built a stronger culture of listening and responding to the needs of staff, patients and community.

---

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

St Vincent’s Hospital has simultaneously delivered essential business-as-usual services while innovating and collaborating to improve health outcomes across Victoria. They commissioned a second surgical site, which allowed them to expand surgical capacity, reduce patient waiting times and achieve 98 percent of its surgical target. They ensured safe, person-centred care was provided to vulnerable populations, and they also increased home-based care, and strengthened regional partnerships.

---

Winner

Pauline D'Astoli
Individual - nominated by Peninsula Health

Pauline D'Astoli OAM has been a dedicated volunteer at Peninsula Health for more than six years working on various committees and projects advocating for consumers particularly in relation to the mental health services. She is passionate about best healthcare for everyone, bringing empathy and integrity to the role, as well as her own lived experience as a carer of her son.

Finalists

Dianne Dymond
Individual - nominated by Alfred Health

Dianne Dymond is one of the Alfred Hospital’s longest serving volunteers. During the last seven years she has dedicated more than 5000 hours supporting families in the ICU, assisting cancer patients and fundraising for The Alfred Foundation. Dianne is known for her leadership, compassion, and respect, coaching new volunteers and providing invaluable assistance.

---

Busy Fingers Auxiliary
Team - nominated by Northern Health

This year the Busy Fingers Auxiliary celebrated half a century of fundraising for Northern Health Bundoora. They’ve raised more than 3 million dollars for the health service, leading to the purchase of equipment, beatifying grounds and funding projects that have benefited countless individuals. It all began in 1973 and one thread at a time, these like minded, dedicated community members have been determined to create positive change.