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Northern NSW health workers named as finalists in 2024 NSW Health Awards

Healthcare workers from across the Mid and North coasts have been named as finalists in this year's NSW Health Awards for their stellar work.

Lismore Base Hospital
Lismore Base Hospital

Healthcare workers from across the Mid and North coasts have been named as finalists in this year's NSW Health Awards.

Staff from the Rheumatic Heart Disease Project, the Rural Paediatric Complex Care Coordination Project and the Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) model of care are among 42 finalists from across the state.

The teams are competing for the Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award and Health Innovation Award.

The awards, now in its 26th year, acknowledges outstanding work contributing to the wellbeing of patients and the wider community.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Project team members: Tracy Bradshaw, Sasha Harrington, Daniel Ashton, Emma-Jane Davies and Kirsty Glanville.
Rheumatic Heart Disease Project team members: Tracy Bradshaw, Sasha Harrington, Daniel Ashton, Emma-Jane Davies and Kirsty Glanville.

The Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Project aims to tackle the significant public health issue of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and RHD among Aboriginal communities in northern NSW.

Meanwhile, the Rural Paediatric Complex Care Coordination Project is a joint initiative between the Northern NSW, Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW and Western NSW local health districts, as well as the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

That team is working to improve co-ordination for the care of children, reduce costs and disruptions for families and improve outcomes for those being treated in regional NSW.

The Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) model of care was developed by a team of Aboriginal, pediatric and child protection staff from Mid-North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

The model of care is now used in procedural and mandatory training processes across MNCLHD, contributing to more positive patient experience as they access healthcare.

Mid-North Coast Local health District’s manager of HIV and Related Programs Jenny Heslop was part of the Dried Blood Spot Validation Study team named finalists in the Health Innovation Award category of this year’s NSW Health Awards.
Mid-North Coast Local health District’s manager of HIV and Related Programs Jenny Heslop was part of the Dried Blood Spot Validation Study team named finalists in the Health Innovation Award category of this year’s NSW Health Awards.

The team behind a first-of-its-kind project that could change how testing is offered for people at risk of hepatitis C has also been named a finalist for the Health Innovation Award.

A joint venture involving Northern NSW Local Health Distirct, MNCLHD, Justice Health, the Forensic Mental Health Network, NSW Health Pathology and NSW Health, the project aims to make Dried Blood Spot Validation a standard diagnostic tool.

Members of the Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) team at MNCAHD: Joanne Shipp, Joe Bryant, Tara Flemington and Associate Professor Jennifer Fraser.
Members of the Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) team at MNCAHD: Joanne Shipp, Joe Bryant, Tara Flemington and Associate Professor Jennifer Fraser.

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce said she was excited to celebrate healthcare workers who “enrich health in millions of ways every day”.

“I want to acknowledge the work being done across the system every day, by our teams of doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health and support staff,” Ms Pearce said.

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM praises the efforts of NSW healthcare workers. Picture: Jeremy Piper
NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM praises the efforts of NSW healthcare workers. Picture: Jeremy Piper

NSW Health received 186 nominations across a dozen award categories.

Winners will be announced at the NSW Health Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Sydney on Thursday, October 24.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/lismore/northern-nsw-health-workers-named-as-finalists-in-2024-nsw-health-awards/news-story/98f6b1db7c1c5238fb25b6279736c10f