Staff and volunteers from across NSW have been celebrated for their dedication, care, kindness, innovation and remarkable accomplishments at the 2025 NSW Health Awards, held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney last night.
The awards recognise the people, teams and programs making a significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of patients right across the state. Above all, it is a celebration of the entire NSW Health team enriching health in millions of ways every day.
Some of the innovative projects to win awards across the 15 categories included a world-first clinical study developing 3D bioprinting skin out of a patient's own skin cells to revolutionise burn and wound care and a program making it easier for people with intellectual disabilities to have blood tests outside of the hospital setting, boasting a 84 per cent success rate.
Awards were presented by Minister for Health Ryan Park, Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Regional Health Dr Michael Holland and NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM.
A total of 198 nominations were received across 15 categories, including:
- Staff Member of the Year Award
- Volunteer of the Year Award
- Secretary's Award
- Small Acts of Kindness Award
- Environmental Sustainability Award
- Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award
- Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award
- Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services Award
- Health Equity Award
- Health Innovation Award
- Health Research Award
- Keeping People Healthy Award
- Patient Safety First Award
- People and Culture Award
- Transforming Patient Experience Award.
The full list of winners and finalists and their projects is available on the NSW Health website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"I want to congratulate the winners and all 41 finalists for their remarkable achievements in providing the very best care to the people of NSW.
"I would particularly like to highlight the great work of proud Dharug Woman, Nicole Winters, from Western Sydney Local Health District, who was named Staff Member of the Year for her work to ensure Aboriginal voices are heard and respected in care planning especially in shaping culturally safe, respectful, and compassionate end-of-life care.
"It's also fantastic to see those winners from rural and regional areas, highlighting the great care available to communities right across the state."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:
"Congratulations to the Hunter New England Local Health District team for winning the mental health services award for their Farmgate Support Program. It's fantastic to see local initiatives making a real difference in people's lives.
"Farmers and rural communities face pressures that most of us don't see, this program has been there to support their mental and emotional wellbeing. It's made a real difference in the community with more than 80% saying their wellbeing has improved from the service. That's powerful."
"Across every nomination in this award category we have seen exemplary examples of patient care so I personally want to thank all the finalists for their dedication to providing compassionate mental health services right across the state."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Medical Research David Harris:
"South Western Sydney Local Health District were a deserving winner of the Health Research category for their ground-breaking work to create a new Nurse-led Geriatric Oncology Model of Care, which supports identification and management of age-related health issues often missed in standard oncology care and delivers improved clinical outcomes for patients.
"The work in South Western Sydney Local Health District reflects many of the amazing initiatives underway in our state, which are helping position NSW as a world leader in health and medical research."
Quotes attributable to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM:
"I'm incredibly proud to celebrate the people and teams in NSW Health who are enriching health in millions of ways every day - from our steadfast volunteers to our clinical treating teams who are there caring for patients and everyone else who works tirelessly to support patients and staff in our health system right across the state.
"I was honoured to announce The Bundaleer Project as the winner of this year's Secretary Award. It's an inspiring initiative which not only drives sustainability but also empowers First Nations patients to connect with Country, encourages hands-on engagement and supports community rehabilitation and recovery.
"All of the nominees, finalists and winners reflect the incredible work our people do, in a wide variety of roles right across the public health system, and I thank them sincerely for it."
