SA Health Awards

The SA Health Awards showcase excellence in the public health sector.

The Awards recognise and reward individuals, teams, programs or projects that have significantly improved the delivery of health services to the South Australian community. They also honour the commitment of those who work to improve the performance of the public health sector.

The SA Health Awards Ceremony was held on Friday 29 November, to announce the 2024 winners. Congratulations to our 2024 winners and finalists and the amazing programs they work on and incredible work they do.

Premier’s Award – Healthcare for Future Generations

This award recognises nominations that exemplify one of the Public Sector’s key values – Sustainability – for projects and initiatives that deliver the best results for current and future generations of South Australians into the future, by providing cost-effective and consumer-centric infrastructure, systems or services.

This Award aligns with the Department for Premier and Cabinet’s Strategic Direction 2022-25.

Winner: Year 12 Integrated Learning Nursing & Midwifery Pilot Project, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)
Finalist: Sustainable healthcare for SA with CALHN’s Kangkanthi clinical services building, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN)
Finalist: Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing, SA Pharmacy, Statewide Clinical Support Services (SCSS), CALHN in partnership with NALHN, SALHN and DHW

Minister’s Award for Innovation

This award recognises those who demonstrate innovation in healthcare.
It supports the South Australian Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2025 by one or more of the following:

  • Partnering with clinicians, consumers and carers using research and evaluation to design high-quality, innovative and contemporary health services.
  • Using emerging technology, new treatment and research breakthroughs that challenge our existing methods and assumptions.
  • Fostering a culture of continuous innovation, learning and improvement.

Winner: An Australian-first digital and animation pathway for clinical genetics appointments, WCHN / CEIH
Finalist: Prioritisation in the Pocket (PiP), SA Pharmacy, SCSS, CALHN
Finalist: Project Check Mate, Preventive Health SA

Dr Phil Tideman Award for Improving Access and Equity

This award honours Dr Tideman by recognising his boldness and innovation for change. Dr Tideman was a mentor, educator and an outstanding leader who ensured that those living in rural and remote Australia were provided with access to the highest quality care and the best clinical outcomes.

This award recognises individuals, teams, or initiatives improving access and equity in healthcare.
It acknowledges the pursuit of excellence through innovation, boldness, and ambition to drive better health outcomes for all South Australians.

Winner: Equitable Access to Contemporary Cancer Care for Regional South Australians, Rural Support Service
Finalist: HOME (HOme MEchanical) Ventilation Program, SALHN
Finalist: RAH Burns Unit is Improving Healthcare Access and Equity Across South Australia, CALHN

Enhancing Access to Acute Care

This award recognises those who demonstrate a contribution to strategies that enhance access to acute care and keep people out of hospital, or get them home sooner, through one or more of the strategies below:

  • Facilitate effective coordination and continuity of care.
  • Minimise the pressure on our health system.
  • Deliver quality care closer to home.

Winner: EFNLHN Palliative Care Service, EFNLHN 
Finalist: Supportive Weekend Interprofessional Flow Team (SWIFT), NALHN 
Finalist: Transfusion@Home, WCHN
Finalist: Virtual Women's Assessment Service, WCHN

Improving Patient Care

This award recognises those who demonstrate a contribution to making hospital care better by one or more of the strategies below:

  • Improving health outcomes for people in hospital care.
  • Improving efficiency and effectiveness of hospital care (e.g. patient flow or financial efficiency).

Winner: FAAIRI Service for management of children IV access, SA Medical Imaging, SCSS, CALHN / WCHN 
Finalist: Borderline Personality Disorder Co (BPD Co) Gold Card SA, BHFLHN
Finalist: State Health Coordination Centre - Statewide Interfacility Transfer Project, DHW 

Excellence in Collaboration and Building Partnerships

This award recognises outstanding leadership and outcomes in strengthening partnerships, both within SA Health, with external agencies; or by supporting SA Health’s Safety and Quality programs and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS) through partnerships with the community, consumers and/or carers.

Winner: Northern Adelaide Pain Rehabilitation Service – Reducing Opioid Reliance Program, NALHN
Finalist: Paediatric Chronic Pain Service – Education Resource Project, WCHN
Finalist: Narungga Health Assembly, YNLHN

Services Supporting Care Delivery

This award recognises individuals, teams, or initiatives that provide outstanding corporate or administrative support, advice and direction. It acknowledges improved policies, processes and efficiencies that support the delivery of high-quality healthcare and/or wellbeing initiatives.

Winner: South Australia’s Aged Care Assessment Program Waitlist Project, DHW
Finalist: Listen Project: Listen to care, learn and heal, LCLHN
Finalist: Clinically Responsive Intervention for Shortage in Supplies – CRISIS, NALHN

Young Professional of the Year

Young professionals are the current and future leaders of SA Health. This award recognises the commitment and dedication of our young professionals. It acknowledges the pursuit of excellence in innovation, creativity, leadership and ambition resulting in health reform and/or wellbeing initiatives.

Winner: Amelia Ware, EFNLHN
Finalist: Dr Lauren Lim, NALHN
Finalist: Jordan Tabe, BHFLHN

Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Health

This award honours Dr O’Donoghue by recognising her tireless advocacy, ground-breaking leadership and endless commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians. It celebrates and encourages excellence in the field of Aboriginal health, ensuring that her pioneering spirit and dedication continue to inspire future generations.

This award recognises excellence and innovation by individuals and/or teams in the delivery of improved health outcomes for Aboriginal people.

It supports the Aboriginal Health Care Framework 2023 – 2031 Strategic Priorities:

  • Healthier Aboriginal Communities
  • Strengthen Aboriginal Workforce
  • Improve Health Service Access and Delivery
  • Partner for Better Outcomes

Winner: Ngangkita Ngartu - Aboriginal and Maternal Infant Care Trainees, Practitioners and Midwifery team, WCHN
Finalist: Aboriginal Women’s Business Clinic, NALHN / CALHN
Finalist: Targeted Aboriginal recruitment in the Regional Enrolled Nursing Cadet Program, Rural Support Service

Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care

This award recognises outstanding improvements in patient safety and quality of care.
It supports the priorities of SA Health’s Safety and Quality programs and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS).

Winner: Intensive Support Program – Noarlunga Acute Community Mental Health, SALHN
Finalist: Improving Patient Safety at CALHN with Disinfection Caps for PICC Lines, CALHN
Finalist: Child and Adolescent Mental Health – Acute Care Services, WCHN


More information

For more information, contact the SA Health Awards Coordinator on email sahealthawards@sa.gov.au

Previous winners and finalists by year