Alice Springs local Helen Lamech named 2025 NT health professional of the year

Hot off the back of being named the best in her field nationwide, a Red Centre health practitioner has nabbed another two top gongs. Find out more.

Clockwise from back left: Brian Hatchard, Helen Lamech, Jake and Hamish Rucioch Judith Donna, Dr Kirsten neal, and Doris Stuart inside the Alice Springs Healthy Living NT office. Picture: Gera Kazakov

An Alice Springs-based diabetes educator – or the “the boss” to her patients – has been named the Territory’s top health practitioner for the year.

Hot off the back of being named the 2025 Jan Baldwin National Credentialled Diabetes Educator at the Australasian Diabetes Congress, NT Healthy Living Alice Springs diabetes educator Helen Lamech has now taken out another two top gongs.

Ms Lamech walked away with two awards at the 2025 NT PHN health professional of the year awards, held in Darwin on Saturday.

“Winning the overall one was a complete shock,” Ms Lamech said, referring to winning the Administrator’s Medal for health professional of the year.

NT Healthy Living Alice Springs diabetes educator Helen Lamech with NT Administrator Hugh Heggie in Darwin for the 2025 NT PHN health professional of the year awards. Picture: Facebook

The award was presented to Ms Lamech by NT Administrator Hugh Heggie, who said the award recognised “exceptional service and commitment to improving health outcomes for Territorians”.

“It is especially significant this year to see the medal awarded to Helen Lamech from Central Australia, whose work as a Credentialled Diabetes Nurse Educator has had a huge impact on diabetes care and education in the region,” he said.

“With up to 39.5 per cent of adults in remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia living with type 2 diabetes, Helen’s leadership in delivering culturally respectful programs, prevention initiatives and community capacity building is of immense importance.”

Ms Lamech was also named NT Health’s nurse/midwife of the year, and said she was really grateful for the community support she’d received in her role.

After being winning the Jan Baldwin medal at the beginning of September, one of Ms Lamech patient’s Doris Stuart Kngwarreye called her “the boss”.

“We all bow down to her,” she said with a laugh.

Ms Lameech said she wanted to thank those who worked alongside her – such as the GPs, dietitians, health practitioners and more – and the community for their support.

“It’s the whole team and we’re all working together – even though this award is individualised, but it’s the team and most of all the people living with diabetes for trusting me,” she said.