Allied Health Excellence Awards

The ACT Allied Health Excellence Awards were celebrated on Allied Health Professionals Day on 14 October 2022.

The winners of each award category were:

2022 Allied Health Professional of the Year and Practice Excellence: Carol McCrum (Canberra Health Services)

Carol has been recognised as Allied Health Professional of the year by demonstrating exceptional patient-centred care and motivation for change through being kind, respectful and recognising the importance of colleagues’ expertise and consumer views. Carol's exceptional abilities, drive, determination, and influence have led to significant improvements in clinical care in the field of Rheumatology.

Carol has also demonstrated Allied Health Practice Excellence through outstanding clinical leadership in the implementation of a nationally recognised innovative, advanced practice, Physiotherapy-led, multi-disciplinary service.

Allied Health Management and Leadership Excellence: Cassandra Tinning (Canberra Health Services)

Cassandra has been recognised for being an outstanding mentor and a strong advocate for allied health who has demonstrated leadership in the delivery of culturally responsive services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, identifying innovative solutions to improve client safety, and delivering evidence-based, client-centred models of care within existing resources.

Cassandra is also recognised for her ability to build trust, strengthen team dynamics, and improve team culture and performance, with warmth, kindness, and positivity.

Allied Health Team Excellence: COVID-19 Wellbeing Team (ACT Health Directorate)

The COVID-19 Wellbeing Team has been recognised for demonstrating an awareness and sensitivity to the complexity of cultural beliefs and practices of all people, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whilst striving to support and improve mental health and wellbeing of those impacted by COVID.

The team created solutions and refined processes to meet the evolving needs of the community and developed an appropriate and supportive community service.

Allied Health Early Career Excellence: Jelena Puskarica (Canberra Health Services)

Jelena has been recognised for her professionalism, exceptional communication, high drive, a caring client-centred collaborative approach, and dedication to innovation.

Jelena has demonstrated her dedication to allied health by making the most of opportunities to learn and develop new skills, engaging in self-reflection, sharing learnings widely, improving team processes and making a positive impact on organisation processes.

Allied Health Excellence in Provision of Services to Improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing: Indigenous Allied Health Australia National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy - ACT Implementation Team (Indigenous Allied Health Australia, ACT Health Directorate, Canberra Health Services, Canberra Institute of Technology, Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate, Education Directorate and University of Canberra)

The ACT Implementation Team has been recognised for demonstrating inclusivity by facilitating an inter-professional, team-based, proactive and collaborative approach to implementation of the Indigenous Allied Health Australia National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy in the ACT.

The team are also recognised for their inclusive participation and support of colleagues, students and stakeholders.

Allied Health Research Excellence: Alison McDonald (Canberra Health Services) 

Alison has been recognised for displaying dedication to converting best practice into evidence-based practice through her work on the development of the Canberra Health Services Social Work Voice Research Think Tank.

Alison is a passionate advocate for social work and its unique contribution to research culture and outputs and has implemented and evaluated a process for building research capacity among social workers at Canberra Health Services.

Allied Health Assistant Excellence: Melanie Montgomery (Canberra Health Services)

Melanie has been recognised for the skills, knowledge, compassion, kindness, and respect she displays in her interactions with patients, carers and colleagues within the Driver Assessment Service.

Melanie has demonstrated a strong ability to use innovative, equitable and creative ways to engage personally and respectfully with clients, build rapport and trust, provide tangible support and develop an effective therapeutic relationship with consumers.

Allied Health Education Excellence: Rowan McIntyre (Canberra Health Services)

Rowan has been recognised for implementing innovative education activities and promoting a positive and respectful learning environment, including a culturally responsive and enjoyable learning environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Rowan is particularly commended for teaching, facilitating and coordinating key education and interprofessional learning opportunities, helping students to meet learning goals and objectives and stimulate interest in health careers. 

Watch the 2022 Allied Health Excellence Awards Ceremony

2021 award winners were announced on Allied Health Professionals Day, Thursday 14 October 2021. There were 20 nominees across eight excellence award categories. 

The winners of each award category are:

John Wsol is the 2021 ACT Allied Health Professional of the Year award winner - in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education. 

As Lead Pharmacist for Education at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, John is recognised for outstanding interprofessional collaborative practice to achieve high quality learning environments and patient outcomes.
John is also the recipient of the Allied Health Education Excellence Award, recognised for the ability to respond to complex clinical challenges with individual and service level responses. John is an outstanding mentor who demonstrates a creative approach to making sure that education is engaging and meets the needs of learners.

Andrew Slattery, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Management and Leadership Excellence 

Andrew continuously shows tangible respect for the cultural beliefs and practices of consumers and staff which has resulted in the implementation of innovative and inclusive initiatives at Canberra Health Services. 

Renata Kiss, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Clinical Excellence 

Renata contributes significant innovations to the development of new service initiatives.  Renata has demonstrated leadership and innovation in implementing and sustaining the Strengthening Health Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) program at Canberra Health Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengthening Health Responses to Family Violence Team, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Team Excellence
Team members: Ursula Hawkins, Fiona Holihan, Renata Kiss, Anna McLeod.

The team has developed, implemented, and evaluated an innovative program dealing with family violence, which required significant training and practice change. The team is recognised for collaboratively creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for a complex and sensitive topic based on best practice.

Laura Triggs, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Early Career Excellence

Laura demonstrates initiative in leading innovative projects and activities to promote the profession of Pharmacy, contribute to the care of vulnerable groups, and promote Canberra Health Services as an employer of choice.
Laura brings a positive, inclusive and supportive influence to both the Pharmacy profession and the culture of the Canberra Health Services Pharmacy Team. 

First Nations Menu Team, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Excellence in Provision of Services to Improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing
Team members: Taryn Billing, Graeme Brown, Jacinta Bryce, Susan Davis, Danial Farias, Joyce Graham, Sanjay Prasad, Andreas Seibold, Andrew Slattery, Suzi Vrbat.

The team has demonstrated excellence through design and implementation of an innovative, progressive, and sustainable culturally sensitive food menu across Canberra Health Services.
The team is recognised for their ongoing collaborative engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumer representatives to ensure respect for culture and connection with food and health.

Rosalyn Stanton, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Research Excellence

Rosalyn makes a significant contribution to proactive and collaborative leadership of allied health staff and allied health research across Canberra Health Services. 
Rosalyn is recognised for innovation in practice, directly through evidence-based practice and indirectly through providing professional development and growth opportunities for staff and students. Rosalyn strives to create a supportive and positive environment and always demonstrates the highest level of integrity and ethical standards.

Carol Manga, Canberra Health Services — for Allied Health Assistant Excellence

Carol demonstrates excellence by using innovative, equitable and creative ways to engage personally and respectfully with clients, build rapport and trust, provide tangible support, and develop an effective therapeutic relationship with consumers.
Carol is recognised for being an inclusive mentor and role model.

Nominees

In 2021 there were 20 nominees across the eight Allied Health Excellence Award categories. Congratulations to the following nominees:

• Allied Health and Nursing Team, Ward 9B, Canberra Health Services
• Allied Health P.A.R.T.Y Team, Canberra Health Services
• Allied Health Pilot Team, Community Services Directorate
• Ashlee Bullock, ACT Health Directorate
• Elizabeth Webb, Calvary Public Hospital Bruce
• Forensic Toxicology Unit, ACT Health Directorate
• Fran Freeman, Canberra Health Services
• Homelessness Outreach Team, Canberra Health Services
• Pain Management Unit Allied Health Team, Canberra Health Services
• Roisin O’Hagan, Canberra Health Services
• Student Network Engagement Team, Education Directorate