Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) has announced its Staff Recognition and Health Innovation Award winners for 2025.
The 15th edition of the awards, held yesterday, celebrated staff and volunteers who have excelled and made significant contributions to the care and wellbeing of patients.
Award winners were chosen from peer nominations, including consumer nominations for staff and teams for excellence in service.
In total, 19 winners were announced across the categories, with many to represent Far West at the NSW Health Awards in their respective categories at a ceremony in Sydney later this year.
Among the winners was the District's Oral Health Service, which won the Inspiring Team Award for the hard work that saw it become the state's most improved public dental service following a redesign project.
The team improved its performance and waitlists through its dedication and clinical leadership, while it also developed new approaches and strategies for waitlist management of its patients.
These changes resulted in the team performing 100 per cent of its services on time for the first time in its history in April 2025, while also reducing its wait lists by 46 per cent over the past 12 months.
In addition to the District's Awards, the Agency for Clinical Innovation also presented its Rural Innovation Award, which was won by Brighter Beginnings Health and Development Checks program.
The Awards concluded with a presentation ceremony of Employee Recognition Awards for years of dedicated service, including staff who have served from 10 to 40 years.
The FWLHD 2025 Staff Recognition Excellence Individual and Team Award winners are:
- Far West Board Recognised Staff Member of the Year - Christopher McLoughlin
- Aboriginal Staff Excellence - Marilyn Williams
- Brilliance - Individual - Jessica Musgrove
- Brilliance - Team - Maternity Team BHHS
- Consumer Nominated - Staff Member - Tamara Thomas
- Consumer Nominated - Team - Social Work Department (Broken Hill)
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Allied Health and Integrated Community Services - Rebecca Deer
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Broken Hill Health Service (BHHS) Nursing and Midwifery - Elise Pascoe
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Cancer and Palliative Care Services - Shakierra Murray
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Chief Executive Unit - Nicholas Minns
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Executive Nursing and Midwifery/Clinical Governance - Aurelio Menzon
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Finance and Corporate Services - Brady Wauchope
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Mental Health Drug and Alcohol - Julieann Hall
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Remote Health Services - Rebecca Hatch
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Support Services BHHS/CHC - Jason Crowe
- Extraordinary Staff Member - Medical Administration and Doctors - Kristy McQueen
- Inspiring Team - District Oral Health Service
- Volunteer Superstar - Individual - Clementine Schultz
- Volunteer Superstar - Team - Broken Hill Kiosk Volunteers
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"It is a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of our health staff in Far West whose innovative projects are helping the local community lead healthier lifestyles.
"Far West Local Health District staff work extremely hard to provide the best possible care to their patients every day. I would like to thank each of the District's dedicated staff members and also extend my congratulations to the award winners.
"It is pleasing to see those individuals recognised for the exceptional work they do daily in Far West Local Health District, whether that is caring for our patients and clients or supporting those who do."
