Previous winners of the awards

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.

Winner

The McMonty: finding safe air
Western Health

Developed by teams at Western Health and the University of Melbourne, the ‘McMonty’ is an isolation hood device that allows for non-invasive ventilation for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This reduces the number of patients who have to undergo invasive ventilation and protects other patients and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The ‘McMonty’ was tested for three months in Western Health’s emergency departments and in the ICUs at the Sunshine and Footscray hospitals. It received positive reviews from staff and patients and, most importantly, rates of healthcare worker infections were very low among staff who had access to it. The ‘McMonty’ is now actively used across Western Health sites and available in more than 100 hospitals across Australia, as well as in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Finalists

Precision medicine for hypertension: screening for primary aldosteronism
Monash Health; Hudson Institute of Medical Research

Primary aldosteronism causes resistant hypertension – high blood pressure that does not respond well to treatment – often at a young age, leading to strokes, heart attacks, and death. It has long been considered a rare disease, however, a pilot screening program introduced by the Hudson Institute across selected general practices has shown primary aldosteronism may in fact be the underlying cause of hypertension in 1 out of 7 cases. This research could improve diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, leading to better care for patients with hypertension.

SHINE: a world-first trial helping our sickest babies
The Royal Women’s Hospital

The Royal Women’s Hospital has established a new method of care that can improve outcomes for newborns with breathing difficulties and help train doctors globally. The ‘Stabilisation with nasal high flow during neonatal endotracheal intubation’ or SHINE method uses humified oxygen to improve the safety and success of intubation, gently delivering a blend of air and oxygen through small prongs in the nose. A trial of SHINE at the Women’s involving the intubation of 250 babies showed that SHINE increased the chance of a breathing tube being placed correctly on the first attempt, and that babies’ oxygen levels were more stable during the procedure.

Winner

Barwon Health’s Palliative Care at Home
Barwon Health

Pal at Home (PAH), part of the Barwon Health Palliative Care Program, is giving people more choice on how they spend the end of their life. PAH provides patients with palliative care needs in their homes and offers support and planned visits for both the patient and their carer(s). This is the first model of care of its kind in Australia and has proven very successful. Not only is PAH allowing palliative care patients to remain in the comfort of their own home, it is also freeing up beds at Barwon Health sites. PAH has supported more than 300 patients since commencing in December 2019.

Finalists

Western Health’s Integrated COVID-19 Care at Home
Western Health

Western Health’s COVID-19 Positive Pathway (CPP) program supports patients in monitoring their symptoms and safely isolating at home. Initially created in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, the CPP program evolved in 2021 into a proactive, scalable, and sustainable solution to meet the increasing demand on Hospital in the Home programs. A 24-hour helpline was developed to provide advice to those in the program, and partnerships were established to expand care to obstetrics patients. The program also facilitates medication prescriptions and food package delivery. Patient feedback has been positive and the CPP program has now been embedded within Western Health’s Division of Chronic and Complex Care.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Cardiac remote device interrogation kiosk project
Melbourne Health

Regular checks of cardiac devices (known as ‘interrogations’) are critical for detecting malfunctions, battery-end-of-life, as well as any new heartbeat irregularities. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, when face-to-face device interrogations could not occur, the Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Cardiac Implanted Electronic Device (CIED) team devised a novel way to continue providing patient care and CIED management. The team implemented remote device interrogation in local pharmacies, providing participating pharmacy staff with training and equipment. This allowed patients to visit their local pharmacy for device interrogation, even during lockdowns. The program has already assisted 660 patients and has been of particular benefit to regional patients, who would otherwise need to travel to Melbourne. This world-first system of remote interrogation continues to be used and is now being adopted by other hospitals both in Victoria and interstate.

Winner

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s From community to community: COVID-19 messages in-language
Melbourne Health

Language barriers proved to be a significant obstacle in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which is why the Royal Melbourne Hospital emergency department team collaborated with its communications department to produce a series of videos spoken by hospital clinicians in their heritage language. These videos dispelled myths around the COVID-19 vaccines and encouraged people to get them. The videos were very effective in overcoming hesitancy observed among many patients at the hospital. They also helped raise the vaccination rate in the City of Hume through their Arabic translations.

Finalists

Reducing stillbirth at term in South Asian born mothers
Hudson Institute of Medical Research – The Ritchie Centre; Monash Women’s; Monash Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Monash University

In high income countries around the world like Australia, women of South Asian background experience higher rates of stillbirth when compared to locally born women. Thirteen per cent of all women giving birth in Victoria and 30 per cent of all women giving birth at Monash Health are of South Asian background. Monash Health sought to better understand the drivers of stillbirth in these women and identified that differences in the length of pregnancy may be driving the increased rates of stillbirth. Monash Health now offers fetal monitoring for South Asian women from 39 weeks rather than at 41 weeks. This earlier fetal monitoring for South Asian women has been associated with a 64 per cent reduction in the rate of term stillbirths and has also identified fetal compromise earlier than it otherwise would have been.

CALD community COVID-19 vaccination program: leave no one behind
Barwon Health

Communicating COVID-19 vaccination information to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities required extra attention to ensure the message struck home. Barwon Health identified that the understanding of this information among CALD communities was not as widespread as it needed to be, and so worked with a multicultural working group to address this issue. One of the health service’s key strategies was to create video and audio content in a range of languages so CALD members who could not read their own language could still receive the information. They organised vaccination pop-up clinics to support CALD people and rough sleepers and deployed a vaccination bus service for door-to-door transport to vaccination sites. They also organised vaccine hesitancy sessions and broader community promotions of the vaccines.

Winner

‘Predict, prevent, priority: safety’ – an approach to OVA management
Western Health

Western Health has developed an organisation-wide safety campaign to help staff prevent and react to Code Greys. A Code Grey is an emergency response initiated by staff in cases of occupational violence and aggression (OVA) and can be scheduled in advance when an incident is anticipated. Dubbed the ‘Predict, prevent, priority: safety’ strategy, the campaign challenges key beliefs and unsafe practices that frequently expose workers to OVA. Staff created videos of workers sharing their own stories of OVA, and two e-learning packages were made to reinforce a messaging campaign encouraging staff to prioritise and protect each other’s wellbeing and welfare. The campaign was very well received by staff, leading to a significant increase in the use of planned Code Greys, and a decrease in Code Greys overall.

Finalists

Self care for healthcare: a Great Ocean Road Health initiative to support staff through the changes brought by the amalgamation of the health services and the COVID pandemic
Great Ocean Road Health

Following the amalgamation of two health services on the Great Ocean Road in early 2020, staff reported that the rapid change and impending pandemic had affected their health and wellbeing. A personalised wellbeing program for each individual staff member was introduced in response to this. A staff health and wellbeing committee was established, and staff wellbeing activities and mental health first aid training sessions were organised. A virtual hike of the Great Ocean Road was also organised, which involved staff walking the length of the road in sections, providing a video of the walk along the way. Staff participation rates in these programs were very high, and the 2021 staff People Matter Survey showed significant gains in all areas of psychological health as well as drops in stress.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Scrub Choir: caring for the carers so we can care for you
Melbourne Health

To help ease rising stress levels during the pandemic, Melbourne Health staff organised the Scrub Choir, a virtual choir consisting of healthcare workers. Feedback from staff was very positive, and the program was expanded in 2021. The success of the program inspired responses to other staff request for stress support, such as playing music in the Royal Melbourne Hospital Children’s vaccination hub and to sing at peak testing times outside of the hospital.

Winner

Pharmacist-led pharmacogenetics program for safer chemotherapy
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre implemented a pharmacist-led pharmacogenetics (PGx) program to minimise life-threatening toxicities from anticancer therapies. PGx refers to the interaction between an inherited gene and response to a medicine. The program focuses on optimising anticancer agents used to treat a range of tumour types to immediately improve patient safety and quality of care whilst also providing for future expansion. The program was first implemented locally and was then expanded to three regional hospitals as part of a pilot phase. Early results have been promising and there are plans to implement the program as a permanent care pathway.

Finalists

COVID Monitor Network: innovations in digital development for COVID-19
Austin Health

The demands of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare workforce inspired Austin Health to create the first operational remote monitoring program for COVID-19 patients in Australia. This digital program enabled patients to self-report their symptoms and made remote real-time escalation to clinicians possible. The team worked with Arden Street Labs to design a software called COVID Monitor to manage the data from patients, providing valuable clinical and operational advice and allowing for real-time user feedback. The initial deployment of COVID Monitor enabled access to care for over 100,000 COVID-positive patients. There was a 90 per cent reduction in emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for patients using COVID Monitor. A disease-agnostic version of COVID Monitor is now being developed for a pilot with non-COVID patients.

Keeping maternity care safe during COVID-19: have we changed the antenatal model of care forever?
Monash Health

As the pandemic spread globally, the Monash Women’s and Newborn team considered how best to deliver care safely to protect pregnant women and its maternity workforce from unnecessary exposure to COVID-19. In just 10 days, a team of obstetric, midwifery, and general practice providers established a world-first approach to care by integrating telehealth to replace up to two thirds of in-person antenatal consultations. In one year, it was able to deliver 31,537 telehealth consultations. Evaluation has shown replacing 50 per cent of in-person antenatal consultations with telehealth visits has not increased the risk of pregnancy complications compared with conventional antenatal care. The majority of women surveyed who had been pregnant more than once also said they would recommend the ongoing use of telehealth appointments for antenatal care. The use of telehealth has prevented overcrowding in waiting rooms, enabled greater flexibility in care delivery, and ensured Monash Health was able to meet the community’s care needs.

Winner

iCanEAT: implementation of the iCanEAT pathway for people with cancer, carers and health professionals
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Goulburn Valley Health; Eastern Health; St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne; Deepdene Surgery; healthAbility; Access Health and Community

Good nutrition is essential for all people with cancer, and 3 out of 5 people with cancer have a nutrition symptom that impacts eating. During 2018–19, the Victorian Cancer Malnutrition Collaborative developed a freely available cancer nutrition care pathway, the CanEAT pathway, to guide the nutritional care of cancer patients. Patients and carers with a lived experience of cancer were integral to all stages of the project. Forty-six new resources were created based on identified cancer nutrition information gaps and priority areas, including managing weight gain, finding a dietitian, and busting cancer nutrition myths. Analysis revealed 83 per cent of consumers saw benefit in using the CanEAT pathway while 74 per cent of health practitioners noted increased consumer confidence in nutritional care and information.

Finalist (highly commended)

Goulburn Valley Health’s Vaccination Buses
Goulburn Valley Health

Recognising that people living in rural and regional areas often have less access to health services, Goulburn Valley Health was keen to ensure that geographical distance did not act as a barrier to COVID-19 vaccination. The health service’s mobile vaccination hubs, better known as ‘Jabba the Bus’ and ‘Maxine Vaccine’, visited 160 locations and provided a number of priority groups – those living in high-risk accommodation, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, aged and disability care residents, and those living in geographically isolated postcodes – with access to the vaccine.

Finalist

Culturally adapted patient information: healthy eating for gestational diabetes
Mercy Health

Many people with limited English proficiency (LEP), especially among migrant and refugee communities, face significant difficulties when accessing health services and information; despite translations being widely available, they still often contain unfamiliar Western concepts. To help LEP patients to navigate the system better, Mercy Health co-designed a range of culturally adapted materials for women with gestational diabetes. By interviewing patients to learn about their food and culture and investigating the nutritional compositions of culturally appropriate foods, Mercy Health were able to develop more culturally appropriate and relevant patient information sheets and group education classes. LEP consumers have said these changes have reduced their anxiety and increased their confidence, while empowering them to make the appropriate food and portion choices during pregnancy.

Winner

Active outreach vaccination clinics: providing equity of vaccine to all
Sunraysia Community Health Service

In the face of an outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the Mildura community in October 2021, parts of the community were found to be experiencing barriers in accessing testing and vaccination services, including culturally and linguistically diverse community members, single parents, people experiencing homelessness and family violence. Working alongside community groups and engaging local leaders, the Sunraysia Community Health Service’s Active Outreach Clinics were tailored to specific communities that are traditionally complex to engage due to systemic inequities relating to transport, disability and racism. Taking vaccinations and testing into specific communities saw the delivery of almost 1300 doses of the vaccine across 35 sites over a six-week period.

Finalist (highly commended)

binGO MOVE: helping older adults stay active and healthy
IPC Health

binGO MOVE is an innovative program from IPC Health aimed at increasing physical activity in older adults which, in turn, reduces the incidence and impact of chronic health conditions. The program is an active version of traditional bingo run by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. Approximately three-quarters of older adults do not reach the daily recommended levels of physical activity. In binGO MOVE, each time a number is called it triggers an exercise, movement or dance, as designed by IPC Health’s team, which includes a cardiac rehabilitation nurse, exercise physiologist, and physiotherapist. Participants spoke highly of the ‘fun’ nature of the activity as well as improvements in their movement and overall physical and mental health, with many recommending the program to their friends.

Finalist

Monash Health’s South East Public Health Unit
Monash Health

Monash Health led the South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU) during the COVID-19 pandemic to respond to outbreaks, develop public health strategies, and deliver more than 1.4 million vaccinations to support and protect Melbourne’s diverse southeast and Mornington Peninsula. SEPHU achieved Melbourne’s fastest and highest vaccination rate, and ensured no group was left behind. It served Dandenong’s high proportion of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and socioeconomically disadvantaged residents with a highly visible walk-up clinic in the Dandenong Market carpark, which offered clinical and/or bicultural workers, interpreters, and private cubicles for cultural sensitivity. Targeted promotion achieved more than 31,000 vaccinations, of which more than 81 per cent came from a CALD background. SEPHU also delivered better health outcomes through education, expert voices, and case studies in local, state and national media, including press conferences and print and digital articles. This led to greater confidence in vaccination and resulted in increased demand at vaccination clinics.

Winner

Supporting LGBTIQA+ health: general approach and focus to safety
cohealth

cohealth recognises that the LGBTIQA+ community faces additional barriers when it comes to accessing inclusive healthcare and support services. To improve LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing, cohealth embarked on a foundational, whole-organisation effort to advance LGBTIQA+ inclusion and safety for its employees and clients. cohealth implemented a series of interconnected programs and policies to enhance cultural safety and inclusion for LGBTIQA+ individuals. As a result of its inclusivity and diversity efforts, cohealth achieved significant increases in LGBTIQA+ inclusion and cultural safety from March 2021–March 2022. cohealth received its Rainbow Tick accreditation in late 2021 and was named Service Provider of the Year at the 2022 Australian Pride in Health+Wellbeing Awards. Most importantly, LGBTIQA+ staff in cohealth’s peer support group reported that the measures taken enabled them to feel safe.

Finalists

Alfred Health’s HIV Service Advisory Group: future of HIV services co-design
Alfred Health

Great healthcare is about more than clinical care. It is about involvement and partnership between clinicians, organisations and community. Alfred Health’s HIV Service Advisory Group (HSAG) conducted a sensitive, powerful and public discussion with the HIV-affected community to co-design the next generation of HIV care. The result was a clear articulation of the community’s priorities and healthcare needs that will now guide the development of the statewide HIV service. More importantly, it initiated a genuine approach to service co-design, with the HIV community becoming an active participant in creating the services they require for the best health outcome.

LGBTIQA+ journey at DPV Health
DPV Health

The DPV Health ‘You Are Who You Say You Are’ needs analysis was the first of its kind to focus on the needs of LGBTIQA+ people in outer northern Melbourne. One hundred and fifty-one people took part and provided an understanding of the LGBTIQA+ population’s views, preferences, and support needs. The report – recognised as ground-breaking by former Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality – made 23 recommendations across 4 categories: broad cultural change; education, awareness, and training; support and services; and Rainbow Tick Accreditation. This work has established meaningful partnerships, led to improved LGBTIQA+ healthcare in Melbourne’s north, and influenced significant change in organisations.

Winner

SAFE audit: transforming health services to address family violence
The Royal Women’s Hospital – Centre for Family Violence Prevention; University of Melbourne

The System Audit Family Violence Evaluation (SAFE) Project was established to evaluate the Victorian Government’s Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) program in public hospitals and health services. In evaluating the SHRFV program, the SAFE project provides an evidence-based assessment to inform future work concerning family violence. The project worked with 18 Victorian health services to evaluate the SHRFV program. Results were given to sites to improve system change within their organisations to address family violence at the patient, staff and organisation levels. It is currently part of a pilot by the New South Wales Ministry of Health, highlighting its value as a measure system in relation to family violence work in hospitals and health services to enable sustainable change.

Finalists

Family violence program
Peninsula Health

Peninsula Health’s family violence program provides an evidence-led identification and risk assessment of children, young people and older people impacted by family violence. Through internal and external organisational collaboration, the safety of victim survivors is placed at the forefront. In 2021, Peninsula Health participated in the System Audit Family Violence Evaluation project led by the University of Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospital. This tool assessed health services against 10 domains evaluating the implementation of system change to address family violence. Peninsula Health’s overall score was benchmarked as the second highest in the state. In particular, the ‘Collaboration and Service Integration’ and ‘Governance and Leadership’ domains both received a score of 100%.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Family Safety Team
Melbourne Health

As a major tier 1 adult trauma service, the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) regularly identifies high rates of family violence presentations. To ensure that RMH provides an effective response to the thousands of patients cared for at the hospital each year who are experiencing family violence, RMH rolled out a transformational whole-of-hospital initiative to improve staff readiness and confidence when dealing with family violence situations. The establishment of a specialist multidisciplinary Family Safety Team has seen nearly 5000 staff receive training in how to safely support disclosures of violence, more than 300 staff members have been trained as Family Safety Advocates, standardised family violence screening has been built into the hospital’s new electronic medical record, deeper links have been made with family violence service partners and police to facilitate safe patient discharge, and a support program has been set up for staff experiencing family violence. Given the success of this initiative, RMH has provided permanent funding to support the ongoing operation of the Family Safety Team.

Winner

Building sensory bridges in dementia care
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service – Maddocks Gardens

Residents living with dementia at Maddocks Garden are seeing improved physical and emotional wellbeing thanks to sensory bridges which have been built at the Bairnsdale aged-cared facility. Using an approach that is respectful and responsive to the needs and values of each resident, the initiative incorporates sensory gardens with cultural connections and mixed reality experiences, which has resulted in improved engagement between staff, residents, and their families.

Finalist (highly commended)

Enhancing resident engagement through technology
Tallangatta Health Service

Tallangatta Health Service (THS) services the Tallangatta township and surrounding district, providing the only residential aged care in this area to residents with varying levels of cognitive ability and mobility. To maintain quality of life and satisfaction for residents, THS identified several technological solutions that could be introduced to improve communication for residents with their families and provide more meaningful and engaging activities for residents, with particular emphasis on those residents with the highest care needs. This enhanced the quality of life for residents through improved management of emotions, an increased ability to interact socially for people with dementia, and greater community and social cohesion as residents remained connected to their loved ones during the pandemic.

Finalist

Goulburn Valley Health’s Community kitchen project
Goulburn Valley Health – Grutzner House, Waranga Aged Care/Hostel, Tatura Parkvilla Aged Care

The establishment of a kitchen garden at all three of Goulburn Valley Health’s residential aged care facilities – Grutzner House, Waranga Aged Care/Hostel and Tatura Parkvilla Aged Care – where residents can be involved in growing and cooking their own produce is encouraging residents to be more active, improving their nutrition, enhancing models of care, and reducing social isolation. By consulting residents during the planning and purchasing phase for the kitchen gardens, many of them feel a greater sense of ownership and connection over the kitchen garden now that it is up and running. Providing greater social connection and food choice through the kitchen garden project is just one example of the power of person-centred care within aged care.

Winner

Mental Health: Hospital in the Home
Barwon Health

In response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and the need to develop innovative, person-centred models of care, Barwon Health’s Mental Health Hospital in the Home is allowing more people to receive mental health care and treatment within their own home. After one year of operating, 178 consumers had received care in the home, preventing up to 1780 days of hospital-based admission. Not only have carers said they feel more involved in the care of their family member, consumers have reported a great sense of empowerment and feel more hopeful about their future recovery. It is also giving Barwon Health greater capacity to respond to increased demand for mental health services from what is a growing community.

Finalist (highly commended)

The Autism Project
Barwon Health – Adult Autism Consultation and Evaluation service

The Adult Autism Consultation and Evaluation service, as part of the larger Mindful: Autism Assessment Capability and Capacity project, has paved the way for specialist neuro-diverse services within public mental health services by supporting Area Mental Health Services (AMHS) to increase its capacity to support autistic adults. Autistic consumers have unique mental health needs and benefit from tailored mental health care, and the objectives of this project were designed to improve mental health outcomes of autistic consumers by targeting workforce capacity, service delivery and service experience. These objectives were achieved through the concurrent offering of workforce capacity-building opportunities and specialist assessment and intervention that has helped improve uptake and support for the program. The project enabled six Victorian AMHSs to recruit an adult autism specialist clinician with the aim of upskilling the mental health workforce to identify autism and adapt interventions to better serve the neuro-diverse consumer group.

Finalist

Grampians Health's Rural outreach program
Grampians Health

Acknowledging the impact that remoteness can have on its community, Grampians Health established the Rural Outreach program to address growing mental health presentations, increase community resilience through preventive care, and decrease associated stigma through education. Rural Outreach team members are from diverse backgrounds with varied lived experiences and work with a range of partners so they can ensure culturally appropriate care and deliver a nuanced, tailored response to individual client needs. Covering 28,000 square kilometres and four local government areas, the state-funded program offers a range of care and treatment options, including telehealth and face-to-face appointments. In its first year of operation, the program supported close to 1000 clients and has contributed to a better understanding within the local community of the importance of maintaining good mental health.

Winner

Young people's cervical cancer screening campaign
Cancer Council Victoria

Cancer Council Australia is helping Victoria eliminate cervical cancer in the state by 2030 through the Young People’s Cervical Cancer Screening Campaign. The campaign drove engagement with under-screened groups such as young women and people with a cervix aged 25–34 to increase participation in the National Cervical Screening Program. Using social media and radio to reach its audience, the campaign addressed barriers of fear and embarrassment for young women while providing information about cervical cancer. The campaign achieved excellent reach, with surveyed respondents reporting improved understanding and an increase in screenings following the campaign.

Winner

Connected, caring and culturally safe
Western Health

Western Health's innovative Aboriginal Outpatient Clinic has boosted outpatient appointment attendance at Western Health from 65 per cent to almost 88 per cent since its new care model was introduced. Western Health used data from Aboriginal patients and carers and healthcare professionals working with the community, as well as input from its Aboriginal Health Steering Committee to develop the culturally sensitive and responsive service. Commencing in mid-2021 and running weekly out of Sunshine Hospital, the new clinic is providing tailored care, offering emotional and cultural supports, improving appointment scheduling and reducing wait times, and providing transport assistance such as taxi vouchers and free parking.

Finalist (highly commended)

First Nations Dermatology Clinic
Melbourne Health

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations have a high burden of skin disease which, if left untreated, can result in long-term health conditions. In response to this, the Royal Melbourne Hospital established the First Nations Dermatology Clinic. Developed and staffed by Aboriginal clinicians, the service not only provides culturally safe care to patients with in-person and telehealth services, but helps to educate and upskill clinicians. The RMH Dermatology team identified that First Nations patients had variable, and often poor experiences with outpatient dermatology clinics – of the 550 dermatologists practising in Australia, only four identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Since opening in 2021, the clinic has cared for more than 100 patients. Due to popular demand, it has expanded to include communities in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

Finalist

Possum skin cloaks
Goulburn Valley Health

The community project ‘Wrapped in Culture, with Love’ in 2021 saw the gifting of two possum skin cloaks to the Goulburn Valley Health oncology department. Possum skin cloaks were once an everyday item for Aboriginal people in south-eastern Australia. These cloaks were worn for warmth, used as baby carriers, coverings at night, drums in ceremony and for burial. Incised and painted with ochre, possum skin cloaks also mapped the identity of their owner, holding stories of clan and Country. Possum skin cloaks provide spiritual protection and comfort when embarking on a significant health journey such as fighting cancer. Planned and co-ordinated by Yorta Yorta woman and breast cancer survivor Leah Lindrea-Morrison, the cloaks were gifted on Closing the Gap day in 2021 to Goulburn Valley Health’s Peter Copulos Cancer and Wellness Centre for use by Aboriginal patients receiving cancer treatment.

Winner

A stepped care approach to development care
The Royal Children’s Hospital

Over the past two decades, data has consistently shown that one in five Australian children begin school with a developmental vulnerability. The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) investigated how it could address barriers preventing families from accessing developmental care and developed the Stepped Care model. The initiative was co-designed with key RCH departments offering developmental care, aiming to deliver a consistent mechanism of triage to ensure children would be seen by the right person in the right place at the right time. The model also aims to educate and empower families and referrers to access other community developmental services, ensuring that time on a waiting list is not wasted time. Stepped Care is effective, adaptable, and cost effective, and in just 18 months has assisted 4,499 children, young people and families in accessing the most appropriate care.

Finalists

Monash Women's COVID streaming hospital for obstetric services
Monash Health

As the COVID-19 Delta wave spread in mid-2021, Monash Health developed a world-first centre of excellence for COVID-19 in pregnancy, providing expert multidisciplinary care, including intensive care for mothers and their babies. The outcomes achieved in this program were exceptional: no maternal mortality, a low rate of invasive ventilation and a very low rate of perinatal loss (1.5 per cent). The measures implemented were used to inform the development of guidelines used nationally. Working with Safer Care Victoria’s Maternity Expert Working Group, Monash Health developed detailed transfer and clinical guidelines for COVID-positive pregnant women, which provided pathways for safe emergency transfer and admission of pregnant women with COVID-19 across Victoria to be cared for by experts under a world-first interdisciplinary model.

Providing essential, engaging and accessible communications and health messages to families
The Royal Children’s Hospital

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has a long history of caring for Victoria’s sickest children while also working to improve paediatric care everywhere. It is a trusted and evidence-based source of information and education for families, health professionals and researchers. Over the past year, the RCH worked closely with world-renowned health professionals, drawing on their extensive expertise to create compelling communications and content for families and children. Information, tips and tools were shared through a diverse range of channels to help empower and guide families through what they needed to know and answer any queries they had. To ensure the RCH supported families from diverse backgrounds, vital information and resources were translated into various languages including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali and Vietnamese. Across all social channels, the RCH reached over 26 million people with its health information posts and its website received over 26.9 million page views.

Winner

The Queen Elizabeth Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Centre’s (QEC) Early Parenting Services offer programs for families with children from birth up to the age of four, supporting families on a range of challenges – from sleeping and feeding, to mental health and family violence. QEC supports 3000 families every year with a workforce that comes from a range of professions: nursing, social work, psychology, early parenting, child development. QEC works closely with families with home visits for the first 12 weeks, to ensure that the environment is welcoming and that parents and children learn at the pace they want to learn. Some of QEC’s collaborative programs include partnerships with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Ramahyuck Wanjana Lidj Family Service, and local government maternal and child health referral pathways.

Finalists

Alpine Health

Alpine Health (AH) is a multi-purpose service located in Alpine Shire, at the heart of Victoria's high country and ski fields in northeast Victoria. AH services approximately 12,700 people, with a median age of 49 years; the Alpine Shire population is older and growing older than the rest of regional Victoria. More than 380 staff and 265 volunteers provide acute health, residential aged care, community home support, early intervention and health promotion, and education and training. AH believes the best community health is served through local, decentralised service models, and that this creates better experiences for patients and consumers. Some key projects for AH include partnering with local GPs to provide COVID-19 testing capacity across the region, collaborating with the Local Public Health Unit to provide vaccination sub hubs, and the Roll Up for our Region campaign.

South Gippsland Hospital

South Gippsland Hospital (SGH) is a small rural health service of 164 staff. It provides acute and community care to residents and visitors to the Corner Inlet region, which has an estimated permanent population of 7000. Person-centred care underpins safe, high-quality healthcare at SGH, and its approach is based on clear purpose, strategy and strong leadership. SGH’s key achievements over the last year include collaboration with Latrobe Regional Hospital to reduce elective surgery waitlists; the introduction and growth of innovative centre, community and home-based respite care; and successful COVID-19 planning and response to meet local, subregional and regional needs. SGH focuses on great outcomes that support the individual needs and choices of patients, clients and staff.

Winner

Latrobe Regional Hospital

Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) is located 150 km east of Melbourne at Traralgon and is the regional provider of specialist health services in Gippsland. LRH cares for a population of more than 290,000, with a catchment covering about 42,000 square kilometres from Phillip Island to Mallacoota in the far east. Services offered include cardiac care, surgery, medical care, dialysis, emergency care, aged care, obstetrics, allied health, rehabilitation, and pharmacy services. Medical and radiation oncology are offered on site. LRH is the main provider of acute mental health services in Gippsland with inpatient care at the hospital and community mental health teams in the Latrobe Valley, Sale, Bairnsdale, Yarram, Orbost, Warragul and Wonthaggi. LRH is the largest employer in Gippsland with a workforce of 2,450. In the past 12 months, LRH has provided programs including the innovative Call Don’t Fall campaign, a mobile communication triage service, and a stroke medical emergency team.

Finalists

East Grampians Health Service

East Grampians Health Service (EGHS) is a rural health service that delivers a wide range of services, including inpatient, urgent care, GP-led obstetrics, allied health, residential aged care, home and community based care. There are 564 staff and over 150 volunteers from the local community employed by EGHS. Staff numbers have expanded by 10 per cent over the last three years to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased provision of service delivery, including increased surgical capacity, a COVID-19 swab clinic, a community vaccination clinic, COVID-19 screening of staff and visitors, increased presentations through the urgent care centre, preparations for increased throughput through perioperative services, and local clinical services for the Hopkins and Langi Kal Kal Correctional Centres. EGHS is a collaborative, innovative and progressive health service and a leader in safe, high-quality, integrated acute, residential and primary health care to meet the health needs of the community.

Maryborough District Health Service

Maryborough District Health Service (MDHS) is a leading rural health service embarking on a program of social capital reform, cultural reform, service enhancement, and physical infrastructure enhancement. MDHS has 475 staff, 3 campuses, a service catchment of 15,000, 94 aged care beds, 30 acute beds, integrated community health, and maintains full accreditation across all clinical areas. The demographic of the region includes an ageing population with enormous socioeconomic/health disadvantage. MDHS provides services including acute care, paediatrics, dialysis, oncology, palliative care both in hospital and community, maternity services and urgent care centre treating 7000 people per year. In the last 12 months, it provided initiatives including a new maternity model of care, a partnership with Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Service, a statewide elective surgery blitz, and a fever clinic conducting PCR and rapid antigen testing.

Winner

Melbourne Health – The Royal Melbourne Hospital

The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) is Victoria’s first public hospital, opening its doors as a 10-bed hospital in 1848. Today, RMH is one of the largest healthcare providers in the state and the leading healthcare provider within the eminent Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. The health service provides a comprehensive range of specialist medical, surgical and mental health services, including statewide trauma services and infectious diseases, as well as rehabilitation, aged care, outpatient and community programs. With more than 11,000 employees and 1,350 beds across 32 sites, the RMH has strong partnerships the world-renowned Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, the University of Melbourne, and the West Metro Health Service. Over the past 12 months, the RMH has provided services such as the RMH Flying Squad, RMH@Home and the statewide Palliative Care Advice Service.

Finalists

Alfred Health

Alfred Health provides care for 700,000 Victorians who live in inner-southern Melbourne with complex, acute or chronic conditions. It has a workforce of 11,000 staff and 323 volunteers across 16 statewide services. The three hospital campuses – The Alfred, Caulfield Hospital and Sandringham Hospital – and community-based clinics provide care spanning life-saving treatments, specialist and rehabilitation care, as well as mental health services for all ages and the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre. Alfred Health serves a diverse community with a large multicultural population and consumers across the range of socioeconomic levels. Alfred’s intensive care unit (ICU) has expanded to become the largest and most acute ICU in the country. Programs delivered this year by Alfred Health include the ICU Nursing Expansion Program, the PPE PPL campaign and the Hotel Support Services program.

Monash Health

Monash Health is Victoria’s largest and most comprehensive public health service. Its workforce of 22,000 people provides safe, high-quality care to 25 per cent of Melbourne’s population across the entire lifespan, from pre-birth to end-of-life. Monash cares for local government areas in Melbourne’s southeast, which includes some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities. Its secondary and tertiary catchments span Bayside, the Mornington Peninsula and east to Gippsland. Monash delivers care at over 40 care locations, via telehealth and in people’s communities and homes, offering a full spectrum of health services, research and education. Over the past year, Monash Health has introduced care-focused programs including a high acuity discharge clinic for non-COVID patients, a virtual emergency department (ED) that diverted 75 per cent of patients from the in-person ED, and a COVID-19 infusion clinic that reduced the likelihood of hospitalisation and death by as much as 85 per cent.

Winner

cohealth

cohealth is one of Victoria’s largest community health services, with more than 1,200 staff delivering health services from 30 locations across the inner, west and north of Melbourne. It delivers 500,000 health services to Melbourne’s most disadvantaged people and manages the most complex client cohort of any community health agency in Victoria. cohealth provides integrated medical (general practice and medical specialists), nursing, dental, allied health, counselling, alcohol and other drug, mental health and community support services. It delivers outcomes through the social model of health and invests in creating a safe environment for its clients and staff. cohealth has worked with major partners to deliver programs such as COVID Positive Pathways, From Homeless to Home, and Homeless Outreach Mental Health Service.

Finalists

EACH

EACH is a community-based health and wellbeing service in Melbourne’s east and south, which delivers more than 170 programs across medical, allied health, dental, disability, aged care, and mental health recovery services. EACH has a workforce of 1,750 staff and 60 volunteers and uses the social model of health to deliver services to its consumers of hidden disadvantage and complex needs. EACH launched its strategic plan ‘Health. Hope. Opportunity.’ in 2021, and some of its recent initiatives include providing critical surge capacity to the health system by rapidly scaling up to deliver more than $31 million of COVID-19 services and boosting its telehealth-based service delivery. EACH was a community health participant in the Smile Squad program, helped promote mental health care outside hospital via the Early Intervention Psychosocial Response program, and was also an early community health participant in the now-statewide COVID Positive Pathways program.

Merri Health

Merri Health is one of Victoria’s largest not-for-profit community health organisations. It provides over 70 health and wellbeing services across child and aged care, disability, allied health, mental health, dental, chronic conditions and population health to support people at every age and stage of life. Merri Health manages 430 staff and 45 volunteers across 10 sites, delivering responsive integrated services in ways that meet community needs. It has recently expanded programs to regional Victoria while still servicing the Moreland area, and is now a statewide provider of carer services. Some of Merri Health’s recent initiatives include delivering over 4700 COVID-19 vaccinations at a pop-up hub, setting up the High-Risk Accommodation Response (HRAR) team to support COVID-19 safety in high-risk, high-density community accommodation, and launching Kinder Partnerships, Homelessness to a Home, and Merri Mates disability volunteer services.

Winner

Bruce Young
Solve-TAD

Bruce has been a technical volunteer with the Melbourne branch of Solve-TAD since 2004, designing, making and modifying equipment for clients living with a disability. A retired mechanic, Bruce is an ‘everything’ handyman who creates highly complex projects for his clients, alongside an occupational therapist, to promote their independence and quality of life. Bruce ensures every project is highly customised, working with the client from day one to ensure it fits their exact specifications – his projects have included wheelchairs, kitchen aids, fishing rods, garden beds, ramps and many more. The ‘go-to’ volunteer when a project is very complicated, Bruce loves volunteering as it keeps his mind active and brings a convenience and ease to his clients’ lives.

Finalist

Amanda Mandie OAM
Koala Kids Foundation

Amanda (Mandy) Mandie OAM is the founder and full-time volunteer executive director of children's cancer charity Koala Kids Foundation, which provides support and activities to children with cancer and their families – the small things that make a difference to their treatment journey. In just the last 18 months, Mandy has delivered exciting and valued programs to more than 1,700 children and young people undergoing cancer treatment, including fun activities, meal deliveries, birthday cakes and parties. Mandy ensured these programs continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – when hospitals restricted visitors, Mandy ensured activities were delivered to children by the healthcare teams; when larger fundraising events were not permitted, Mandy pivoted to private catered lunches. Mandy has made a huge difference to the lives of many families going through the traumatic cancer journey.

Inductee

Dorothy Davis
South West Healthcare

Dorothy is an 83-year-old volunteer at South West Healthcare. She is the health service’s longest standing volunteer, having delivered Meals on Wheels to the Camperdown community for 57 years. Dorothy found time in her busy life to volunteer, with seven children of her own and running a beef cattle farm with her husband. As well as Meals on Wheels, she has assisted with transporting patients for medical appointments, and for many years, she read newspapers on recorded tapes that were distributed to people with low vision. She has helped countless people stay connected, independent and living in their own homes for as long as possible. Dorothy’s genuine, thoughtful and caring manner as a volunteer has brought sunshine to her community for nearly six decades – her clients look forward to Dorothy’s friendship and chats as much as her meal deliveries. She has made a deep and profound difference to thousands of lives.

Winner
Banyule Community Health

Highly Commended
Merri Health

Finalist
Gippsland Lakes Community Health

Winner
Numurkah District Health Service

Highly Commended
Yarrawonga Health

Winner
South West Healthcare

Winner
Ambulance Victoria

Highly Commended
Melbourne Health

Finalist
St Vincent’s Hospital

Finalist
Bendigo Health

Winner
Austin Health
MumSpace – Digital hub for mums with depression and anxiety

Finalist
Dental Health Services Victoria
Improving the oral health outcomes of pregnant Victorians through the Midwifery Initiated Oral Health Education Program

Finalist
Banyule Community Health
We Love Stories

Winner
Barwon Health and Ambulance Victoria
Prehospital Response of Mental Health and Paramedic Team (PROMPT)

Highly Commended
Peninsula Health
The Wellness Clinic – Optimising the physical health of clients

Finalist
Monash Health
Promoting recovery and trauma treatment in public health

Finalist
Numurkah District Health Service
Dairy Industry Support project

Winner
VincentCare
Rainbow Tick Accreditation for VincentCare Victoria

Highly Commended
Cancer Council Victoria, Thorne Harbour Health
Public Cervix Announcement campaign

Finalist
Hepburn Health Service
Hepburn Health: Inclusion and Diversity

Winner
Goulburn Valley Health, Albury Wodonga Health, North East Health Wangaratta, Nexus Primary Health, NCN Health
Community Interlink – a public health aged care consortium

Finalist
Monash Health, Alfred Health, Eastern Health, Northern Health, Western Health, Monash University, Office of the Public Advocate (Victoria)
Guardianship in Hospitals: a health services/OPA pilot program

Winner
Women’s Health West, cohealth, Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health, Maribyrnong City Council, Western English Language School
Human relations education program for newly arrived young people

Highly Commended
Merri Health, Moreland City Libraries
Word Play

Finalist
Cancer Council Victoria
Bowel cancer screening campaign for the South Asian community

Winner
Women’s Health West, Health West, Western Bulldogs, IPC Health, Hobsons Bay, cohealth
Community champions take action

Finalist
Hepburn Health Service
The Cook, the Chef and Us

Finalist
Merri Health, The University of Melbourne
Count Me In

Winner
Monash Health
Keeping mothers and babies together: a better way of assessing sepsis risk

Highly Commended
Western Health
Maternity Connect Program: rural service sustainability

Highly Commended
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, Koorie Maternity Service, Barwon Health Foundation, Barwon Health Women’s and Children’s
Excellence in Koorie women’s maternity health

Winner
Western Health, Mercy Hospital for Women, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VACCHO and La Trobe University
A culturally safe and collaborative model of midwifery care

Highly Commended
Lakes Entrance Aboriginal Health Association, Gippsland Lakes Community Health
Djinbung – To breathe: a picture is worth a thousand words

Highly Commended
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service
Improving Aboriginal health outcomes and healthcare experience

Winner
Alfred Health
Professor Paul Myles

Finalist
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash Health and The University of Melbourne
EXTEND: a game changer for ischemic stroke treatment worldwide

Finalist
Austin Health, Monash Health
Improving the management of paracetamol overdose

Finalist
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Avoiding major surgery for patients with bowel cancer

Winner
Monash Health
Early Neurodevelopment Clinic Team

Highly Commended
The Salvation Army and St Vincent’s Hospital
Integrating primary health at the Salvation Army’s 614 precinct

Finalist
St Vincent’s Hospital
Physician home visits to patients with advanced lung disease

Finalist
Melbourne Health
Better health outcomes for diabetes patients: RAPIDS

Winner
Western Health
Improving safety: routine emergency department risk assessments

Finalist
The Kilmore and District Hospital
REACHing for a positive workplace culture

Finalist
Eastern Health
Creating a values-based culture

Winner
cohealth, Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), North Western Melbourne PHN and Green Cross Project Inc
Mobile Health Access Point (MhAP)

Highly Commended
Sunraysia Community Health Services
Team Palliative Care

Finalist
Monash Health
Delivering a better quality of life to patients with malignant ascites with in-home paracentesis via an indwelling drain

Winner
The Royal Children’s Hospital
RAPID model of care in The Royal Children’s Hospital ED

Highly Commended
Austin Health
Optimising patient outcomes in hypogonadism

Highly Commended
Northern Health
Respiratory Care Unit

Winner
Echuca Regional Health, Rochester & Elmore District Health Service, Cohuna District Hospital, Kerang District Health, Northern District Community Health, Swan Hill District Health
Murray SHRFV Cluster

Finalist
Eastern Health
Everyone at Eastern Health is able to respond to family violence

Finalist
Bass Coast Health
Bass Coast Health and the Change for Sam Initiative

Finalist
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter Mac Says No to Family Violence