Staff and volunteers across the NSW health system have been celebrated for their dedication, compassion, innovation and outstanding achievements at the 2024 NSW Health Awards, held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney last night.
The awards recognise the people, teams and programs in NSW Health that make such a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of patients of the communities they care for. It is - most of all - a celebration of the team enriching health in millions of ways every day.
Some of the innovative projects to win awards across the 13 categories included the use of artificial-intelligence to develop a wound app reducing average healing times, research to develop oral insulin as an alternative for injectible insulin expanding treatment options for diabetics and establishing a video interpreting service for multicultural communities.
Awards were presented by Minister for Health Ryan Park, Minister for Medical Research David Harris, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Regional Health Dr Michael Holland, and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM.
186 nominations were received across 13 categories, including:
- Staff Member of the Year Award
- Volunteer of the Year Award
- Secretary's Award
- Environmental Sustainability Award
- Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award
- Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award
- Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services Award
- Health Innovation Award
- Health Research Award
- Keeping People Healthy Award
- Patient Safety First Award
- People and Culture Award
- Transforming Patient Experience Award
The full list of winners and finalists and their projects is available on the NSW Health website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"I want to congratulate the winners and all 42 finalists for their outstanding contributions to our health system. Every day in NSW Health we see fantastic examples of care, dedication and innovation when it comes to improving the health and wellbeing of people across NSW.
"It's fantastic to see that five of the NSW Health Award winners are from rural and regional areas, highlighting the great care available to communities right across the state.
"I would particularly like to highlight the great work of Dr Nhi Nguyen from Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, who was named Staff Member of the Year for her leadership across initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between clinicians, policy makers and the community."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:
"I offer my congratulations to the South Western Sydney Local Health District who took out the Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services award for their Aboriginal Mental Health Transfer of Care project.
"This work has had a positive impact on hundreds of people and their communities, with a team of specialists set up to provide culturally responsive care and better discharge planning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, nearly halving unplanned re-admissions.
"Across every nomination in this category we see shining examples of a commitment to patient care and safety so I personally want to thank all the finalists for their dedication to providing compassionate mental health services right across the state."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Medical Research David Harris:
"Sydney Local Health District were a deserving winner of the Health Research category, for their ground-breaking work to expand treatment options for people with diabetes. The team has created an oral insulin treatment that is preparing for clinical trials early next year.
"It was a pleasure to celebrate the people helping position NSW as a global leader in health and medical research, and the work in Sydney Local Health District reflects many of the amazing initiatives underway in our state."
Quotes attributable to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM:
"NSW Health is very proud to celebrate the people and teams who are enriching health in millions of ways every day - our incredible healthcare staff and volunteers.
"All of the nominees, finalists and winners reflect the incredible work our people do, in a wide variety of roles right across the public health system., and I thank them sincerely for it."
