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 & 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