Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant awarded Queen’s Birthday Honour

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is among the pandemic heroes being recognised with Queen’s Birthday Honours, but she isn’t claiming the limelight for herself.

She was the hero who pulled NSW out of the darkest days of the pandemic and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours was a tribute for colleagues.

Dr Chant and former NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff will on Monday be honoured for their roles in navigating the state through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Chant said the award was a “tribute” to her colleagues for their “outstanding” efforts in keeping the community safe.

“The commitment, resilience and innovation demonstrated by everyone involved in the pandemic response, from those in our public health units and laboratories to those on the frontline in our hospitals, in the most challenging of circumstances has been nothing short of remarkable,” she said.

“Their commitment to keeping each other safe has been central to any successful outcomes we have achieved.”

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has been awarded a Queen’s Birthday Honour. Picture: Brendan Read

Ms Koff, who now works as a managing director at Telstra Health, and Dr Chant along with then NSW Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce were the trio that navigated the state’s health system through three waves of the pandemic resulting in one of the lowest death rates in the world.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the award was not just for Ms Koff and Dr Chant but for the thousands-strong workforce they represent.

She and former colleague Elizabeth Koff view the award as recognition for the wider health workforce. Picture: Brendan Read

“Dr Chant and former NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff have been rightly recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours as they committed themselves, heart and soul, along with then Deputy Secretary (now Secretary) Susan Pearce to lead a very committed NSW Health workforce through the pandemic,” he said.

“These awards are not just for these incredible leaders but for the teams that went above and beyond to keep NSW citizens safe.”

Ms Koff said she shared her award with the 140,000 health workers who were the backbone of the state during the pandemic.

“In accepting this award, I do so as a recognition of the incredible commitment of every person in the NSW Health system in the face of the one-in-one-hundred year Covid pandemic which tested and continues to test our community but particularly health workers,” she said.

“I am humbled to accept this award and as the former Secretary responsible for 140,000 staff of the NSW Health system, I say to all of them, I have been honoured to work with you. This is for all of us.”

Ten NSW Police Force officers will also be awarded Australian Police Medals in recognition of their dedication and service.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the award recognised the valuable contribution officers made to their community.

“Policing is a unique career, which exposes us to the best and worst of humanity and the APM is recognition of selfless duty to serving and protecting the community,” she said.

“On behalf of the organisation, I want to join the families and friends of today’s recipients, to thank them for their dedicated service.”