HESTA Excellence Award nominees gear up for 2024 ceremony

Representatives from aged care organisations such as Burling Aged Care Solutions, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care and Good Shepherd Home are among those who could claim a HESTA Excellence Award next week. 

Finalists have been listed across four domains – aged care, allied health, community services and disability services – with individual and team awards in all categories.

The awards recognise exceptional achievements by some of the sector’s best minds. Innovative measures that have earned recognition include bed turning technology, enhanced resident communication and targeted programming to connect socially isolated individuals with care services.

“Through their work they’ve demonstrated outstanding professional excellence and deep levels of care and compassion that’s improved outcomes for so many. Often, they’ve provided a vital lifeline in people’s toughest moments,” HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said.

Here’s a snapshot of the nominees. 

Aged Care – Individual Leadership

Tracy Burling, Burling Aged Care Solutions, NSW

With over three decades in nurse management, Tracy is recognised for pioneering the groundbreaking Burling Turn Assist Bed, transforming pressure injury prevention in aged care. 

Caregivers can turn residents with a button press, reducing staff injuries and enhancing resident comfort. There have been no pressure injuries in residents or manual handling injuries in staff as a result, plus a 97% reduction in resident position time. 

Mark Floresta, HammondCare, NSW

Mark developed and implemented an SMS Project for HammondCare at Home clients, providing timely notifications about caregiver arrivals or schedule changes. 

An 82% resident take-up of the service saw visit cancellations decrease by 36% because of improved communication between clients and the organisation.

Geraldene Marr, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care, NSW

As the manager of client service offices, Geraldene has incorporated traditional healing practices such as bush medicine workshops and cultural storytelling sessions for the benefit of their Aboriginal residents and clients. 

Partnerships with local organisations have also expanded access to healthcare services, resulting in improved staff cultural competence and resident well-being. 

Aged Care – Team

ACH Group Social Links Team, ACH Group, SA

ACH Group’s Social Links Team is recognised for enriching the lives of people over 60 in Adelaide through its Sing for Joy choirs, which address loneliness and social isolation. 

The team has established six community choirs and one in each of ACH Group’s nine residential care homes. A 2023 performance saw over 100 participants come together to break negative stereotypes about ageing. 

FRIEND Team, The Good Shepherd Home, QLD

The FRIEND program, also known as Frailty Reduction via Implementation of Exercise, Nutritional Support, and Deprescribing, aims to do what the name suggests: reduce frailty through tailored exercise programs, enhanced nutrition and careful medication management.

A 10-month implementation period proved a success. Almost 60% of participating residents did not experience a fall, 70% gained weight and 20% saw the number of medications they relied on reduced. 

The Critical Interim Support Program team, Brotherhood of St. Laurence, VIC

The Critical Interim Support (CIS) Program addresses service gaps and removes barriers to aged care by providing advocacy and hands-on assistance to older individuals who have limited or no supports and who experience deep socioeconomic disadvantage.

Over 90% of clients remain living at home because the service gap has been bridged while helping them to overcome challenging circumstances at home. 

Allied Health – Individual Leadership

Pradip Chandra Bhattacharjee, Monash Health, VIC

Pradip is a clinician at Monash Health with 30-plus years in emergency, intensive care, and mental health. He facilitates Trauma Informed Yoga and holistic occupational therapy programs, improving recovery for trauma-affected clients. 

Pradip’s initiatives align with community-focused mental health strategies, earning positive feedback and professional recognition.

Sally Harris, Bendigo Health, VIC

Through her leadership at Bendigo Health, Sally has improved rural and regional healthcare. Sally’s efforts have resulted in allied health workforce growth, increased student placements, and a strengthened research culture. 

She oversaw the COVID pathways program, which supported over 25,000 people in the Loddon Mallee region, and the growth of the Better@Home programs, providing care for people at or closer to home. 

Prue Walker, Monash Health, VIC

Prue is a senior social worker at the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS), where she has transformed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) care in Australia. 

She significantly improved support and awareness through advocacy, education, and establishing VicFAS. Her work earned her the 2023 Monash Health Excellence in Allied Health Practice award, highlighting her impact and dedication.

Allied Health – Team

Jacana First 1000 Days Clinic, Monash Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, VIC

The Jacana First 1000 Days Clinic is recognised for its work supporting infants and children aged 0-3 years at risk of developmental challenges associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Since opening, the clinic has assessed more than 80 children, providing early, transformative support to shape their futures positively.

PACE Program, Alpine Health & Beechworth Health Service, VIC

The PACE Team is recognised for expanding its flexible cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program into Indigo Shire. By using telehealth and community-based care to reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular hospitalisations they help patients improve their quality of life.

Western Kids Health Complex Care Team, Western Kids Health, WA

The Western Kids Health Complex Care Team is recognised for enhancing the lives of children and youth with complex and invisible conditions. The team received international recognition as an Ehlers Danlos Centre of Excellence. It launched the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Psychology (POP) program in 2022, helping to increase quality of life of over 50 families.

Community Services – Individual Leadership

Matthew Parkinson, Bendigo Baptist Community Care Inc, VIC

Matthew is recognised for his transformative leadership in Bendigo, including growing MADCOW (Make A Difference, Change Our World) into a key charity. His belief in the dignity and worth of every individual drives MADCOW, as they care for and support the homeless through a self-funded model that also provides employment opportunities for Karen refugees.

Kylie Pussell, Miracle Babies Foundation, Liverpool, NSW

Kylie, co-founder and CEO of Miracle Babies Foundation, is known for her dedication to supporting families with premature or sick newborns. She oversees the national support program, championing mental health, advocating for extended parental leave, enhancing a family’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery (SCN) experience and fostering a community for families.

Jessica Staines, Koori Curriculum, NSW

Jessica is a proud Wiradjuri woman and early childhood educator recognised for her dedication to integrating Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood education. Her initiatives extend to a membership program, the Koori Curriculum Club, with over 1,000 educators, and free resources. Her impact is evident in the growing confidence of educators and the broader acceptance and celebration of First Nations culture in Australian society.

Community Services – Team

Building Resilience via Advocacy, Counselling & Education (BRACE), Odyssey House Victoria, VIC

BRACE is recognised for embedding Youth alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and Mental Health Clinicians in high-needs secondary schools in northwest metropolitan Melbourne, supporting 1,500 young people with tailored counselling, outreach, and education to mitigate substance misuse and its consequences. BRACE has successfully improved students’ understanding of AOD-related issues and reduced risky behaviours.

Little Dreamers, VIC

Little Dreamers is recognised for its support to over 6,000 Young Carers in Australia, providing advocacy, aid, and tailored programs that improve outcomes in education, employment, health, wellbeing, and financial literacy. Annually, the team delivers 14,500+ hours of respite, education, and peer support.

Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Team, Parkinson’s Western Australia, WA

The Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Team, nearing 25 years of service and responding to 15,000 diagnosed individuals, expertly supports over 3,000 patients in WA, along with their families and loved ones. The team help enhance life quality and healthcare navigation, aiming to reduce hospital visits through coordinated care and strong GP relationships.

Disability Services – Individual Leadership

Emily Caska, Down Syndrome Institute, NSW

Emily has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that have helped empower and deliver positive outcomes for people living with disabilities and their families. Her strategic vision and drive led her to establish Australia’s first Down Syndrome Institute for research and medical care advancement.

Samara Cunningham, (It’s No) Drama, VIC

Samara is recognised for her transformative work as the Artistic Director of (It’s No) Drama. This regional theatre company helps empower people living with disabilities through performance. Her championing of inclusivity and equity in the arts has elevated disability visibility in the community, helped break down stereotypes, and created more opportunities in the arts for people with disabilities.

Lisa Moshovis, Ability WA, WA

Lisa is recognised for her exceptional contributions as a Clinical Lead Speech Pathologist, addressing dysphagia (swallowing problems) and mealtimes in disability care. Her innovative research and collaborative efforts elevate care quality and patient well-being, establishing new industry benchmarks.

Disability Services – Team

‘Aspire to Be’ Yooralla project team, Yooralla, VIC

‘Aspire to Be’, a partnership between Yooralla and Anglicare Victoria (AV), is recognised for supporting over 100 children and young people with disability in out-of-home care to receive a diagnosis of disability, to support them to gain access to the NDIS and the disability supports they need for stability and the best possible developmental outcomes.

Taum’s Fishing Day, Parent to Parent Association Qld Inc, QLD

Taum’s Fishing Day team is recognised for its innovative approach to creating a peer-led inclusive community for people with intellectual disabilities and their family members, in the Moreton Bay regions. With over fifty participants, the activity promotes connection and opportunities for friendships.

Spectrum Writing, SA

The Spectrum Writing team is recognised for its remarkable expansion from two groups in 2019 to 26 across South Australia, providing a nurturing space for neurodivergent people. Founded by award-winning autistic author and advocate Jason Fischer, Spectrum Writing has filled a void in support for neurodiverse writers and gamers.

The eight winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 29 August 2024.