MLHD Winners Applauded At Health Awards Night

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) celebrated the outstanding contribution of health professionals and volunteers from across the region at the 2023 MLHD Excellence Awards.

More than 200 staff and guests from the district were on hand to congratulate winners at the ceremony on Friday night.

MLHD Interim Board Chair, Adrian Lindner paid tribute to award winners for their tremendous contributions.

“It is a pleasure to be able to pay tribute to our award winners, who are working hard every day to make a difference to the lives of people in our region,” Mr Lindner said.

“We have seen example after example of MLHD staff and volunteers who embody the values of excellence, innovation and collaboration which help improve the lives of people in their care.”

Winners were announced in 15 award categories.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the Chief Executive’s Choice Award and the Board Chair’s Choice Award.

Chief Executive, Jill Ludford said it had been an honour to celebrate so many high calibre nominees this years.

“And rewarding, too, to see the number of activities happening across our district with sincere efforts to support our First Nations communities,,” Ms Ludford said.

“What an enormous pleasure it was to present Nigel Smith with the Staff Member of the Year Award.

“Over the last 12 months, Nigel has been instrumental in the implementation of the Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. “Nigel is also taking a leading role in the implementation of the Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Program.”

Winner of the Keeping People Healthy Award was Saving Sight Is Our Vision, an opthalmology project to improve access to eye care services to Indigenous people living in the Western reaches of the district.

“Improving access to eye care services through the delivery of high quality, sustainable, affordable, regular and culturally sensitive eye services has been Griffith Opthalmology’s focus,” Ms Ludford said.

The MLHD School-Based Apprenticeship program was awarded the Enhancing People and Culture Award.

“This program really contributes towards our Growing Our Own strategy to attract and retain a skilled health workforce in our region, with a specific focus on young Aboriginal students developing industry ready skills into health careers,” Ms Ludford said.

Category winners were:

• Enriching Consumer Experience Award: Day Only Total Hip Replacement Program.
• Value-Based Healthcare Award: MLHD Emergency to Community Initiative.
• Exceptional Aboriginal Healthcare Award: Murrumbidgee Out of Home Care Pathway.
• Patient Safety First Award: Waterline Maintenance and Testing Regime: Reducing Biofilm.
• Innovation and Health Research Award: Magseed Technology Improving Breast Cancer Surgery.
• Keeping People Healthy Award: Saving Sight Is Our Vision.
• Digital Innovation Award: Establishing Mobile BreastScreen Assessments.
• Sustainability and Environment Award: Virtual Physiotherapy Service.
• Enhancing People and Culture Award: MLHD School-Based Trainees.
• Allied Health Staff Member of the Year: Brianna Chown, Allied Health Assistant, Temora District Hospital.
• Nurse or Midwife of the Year Award: Rebecca Stimson, Registered Midwife/Clinical Midwifery Educator, Temora District Hospital.
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Syd Dudley, LHAC Chair, Finley.
• Staff Member of the Year Award: Nigel Smith, MHDA Services Coordinator for Aboriginal Peoples.
• Chief Executive’s Choice Award: Murrumbidgee Rural Generalist Training Pathway (MRGTP) and Strong Bones Strong Staff (Orthopaedic Ward - WWBH).
• Board Chair’s Choice Award: Rural Medical Consultation Service.

• Topics:

• Awards
• Health & Wellbeing