Victoria's exceptional public healthcare leaders honoured

18 November 2011

The leadership and innovation of outstanding Victorian public health service providers has been recognised at the 2011 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.

At a ceremony attended by leaders from across Victoria’s health system, awards were presented to outstanding contributors to Victorian public health services across 20 categories.

Video transcript

Ted Baillieu MP

I think it's a fantastic night, it's always a good night to have an awards night and everybody is enjoying themselves and the recognition of professionals doing what they do best. Couldn't be better.

David Davis MP

I’m very proud to be here at these awards tonight, joining the Premier, the Minister for Mental Health, and people from health services across the state, community health centres and some fantastic winners. It’s a great outcome, showcasing Victorian healthcare, the dedication of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, I don’t think Victorians could be more proud of the results tonight.

Mary Wooldridge MP

The thing that's really important is that we all work so hard, everyone's got their head down day in day out and it's a chance to step back and acknowledge what's being achieved and the great impact that we are having for individuals, families and communities with mental health care and alcohol and drug work that's happening right across the whole state.

Fran Thorn

We always think that we recognise what a great job everyone does and that we don't need to do something special but we do. All the health services love this, their boards love it, their staff love it, you've just got to see how excited everyone is. They love the recognition and I feel really proud of everyone. I always feel proud of the health services but tonight is an opportunity where you get to glory in the wonderful thing that everyone does. It is a good night, I'm a sucker for awards.

David Ashbridge

What a fantastic evening it's been tonight, absolutely numero umo. It celebrates the excellence of Barwon Health, it celebrates the excellence of health services, the staff and the commitment of the community to their health service.

Emma O'Brien

I've had a wonderful night, so exciting and I was genuinely shocked as well.

Dr Jenny Johns

It’s completely unexpected, unnecessary. I keep saying, this is just my job, I do my job, but it’s also fantastic, it really is great.

Ann Cook

It is a recognition of all the hard work that people do every day and it’s just nice for them to be recognised for the efforts they put into patient care.

Orbost Regional Health

I think it’s the recognition of the work that staff does and also the community, I think it really renews their confidence in the health service. I think they are very confident about the health service but it just tells the community that they have credible people looking after them and a quality service.

Shelly Park

Recognising what people do and acknowledging it, I think it’s fantastic to do that because there is so much good work that happens within the system.

Tony Beddison AO

It’s a reflection on our achievements, it’s a reflection on how well we are doing against our peers. It’s important.

Premier Ted Baillieu said the passion, talent and dedication of the Victorian health workforce is highlighted by the individuals and organisations that have been selected for awards.

“Tonight we are paying tribute to Victoria’s outstanding healthcare leaders and acknowledging their leadership in ensuring Victoria’s public health services continue to provide the highest quality of care to Victorian families and communities,” Mr Baillieu said.

Major winners receiving the Premier’s Awards in 2011 include:

• Alfred Health – Metropolitan health service of the year
• Barwon Health – Regional health service of the year
• Orbost Regional Health – Rural health service of the year
• Doutta Galla Community Health Service – Primary health service of the year
• Emma O'Brien, Music Therapy Program, Melbourne Health – Premier’s Award for
• enabling person and family-centred care
• Centre for Palliative Care, St Vincent’s – Premier’s Award for translating evidence into practice.

The awards – now in their seventh year – profile innovative, informed and effective healthcare leadership across the Victorian public health system.

This year’s award winners include Emma O’Brien, an internationally recognised music therapist, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s program allowing young cancer survivors to use their experiences to improve cancer services for youth, the Centre for Palliative Care at St Vincent’s world leading palliative care clinical practice guidelines and a range of programs enabling greater access to community-based services for Victorians.

A highlight of this year’s program is the introduction of the Health Lifetime Achievements Awards.

The inaugural award-winners – Professor Graham Brown, Ann Cook, Professor Francis Dudley, Professor Don Esmore and Dr Jennifer Johns – all have outstanding careers in their respective fields and are truly inspiring individuals.”

Further information

A full list of 2011 award winners is available from the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards website.