Previous winners of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing - Excellence in Public Health Awards

2023 metropolitan winner

City of Onkaparinga: Advance Care Directive peer-led workshop project

Left to right: Mayor Moira Were AM (City of Onkaparinga), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Judith Lowe (City of Onkaparinga).

The City of Onkaparinga was named the 2023 metropolitan winner for its Advance Care Directive peer-led workshop project. This cross-council, multi-agency model raises understanding of end-of-life care planning, and protects the community from ageism and elder abuse. Its peer-led approach to conversations about life, living, death, and dying aims to empower more individuals to voice their wishes regarding their end-of-life care preferences, to make informed decisions about their future care in their completed Advance Care Directives, and to raise community death literacy.

2023 regional winner

Mount Barker District Council: Air Quality Study  impact of wood smoke in our township

Left to right: Lily Do (Mount Barker District Council), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier.

The District Council of Mount Barker was named the 2023 regional winner and awarded $3,000 for its air quality study – impact of wood smoke in our township. Township wood smoke particulate levels were assessed against national standards, and raised councils and community awareness of the health and climate change impacts of wood burning, which is now seen as a public health risk for the Mount Barker community.

Highly commended councils:

  • City of Charles Sturt: Ngutungka (place of knowledge) library hub
  • City of Mount Gambier: The Haven, community domestic violence initiative
  • District Council of Kimba Revitalising Healthcare: a comprehensive approach to GP attraction & retention

Left to right: Bec Lyons (City of Charles Sturt), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Mayor Angela Evans (City of Charles Sturt), Adam Filipi (City of Charles Sturt).


Left to right: Chief Executive Officer, Deb Larwood (District Council of Kimba), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Mayor Dean Johnson (District Council of Kimba).

Left to right: Mayor Lynette Martin OAM (City of Mount Gambier), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier.

2022 award winners and highly commended councils

Metropolitan award winner – The City of Port Adelaide Enfield for food security – COVID recovery – supporting people on low income.

This project is part of the City of Port Adelaide and Enfield’s COVID Recovery Program. It was set up to ensure that residents on low and no income can safely access healthy food locally, to feed themselves and their families, reflecting council and community commitment to building local food security. Single women and their families, as well as people at risk through COVID, social disadvantage and isolation, are its chief beneficiaries.

Regional award winner – The Naracoorte Lucindale Council for its Naracoorte Lucindale Wellbeing Program.

Established by Naracoorte Lucindale Council in partnership with Wellbeing SA, the program supported community resilience and wellbeing in response to COVID-19. It demonstrates the value of local and state government partnership and council leadership that extends well beyond roads, rates and rubbish.

Highly commended councils for 2022

The highly commended councils for the 2022 Excellence in Public Health Awards were:

  • The City of Unley for the Design-athon School Competition
  • The City of Tea Tree Gully for Compassionate Communities
  • Yorke Peninsula Council for the Community Nutrition and Wellbeing Partnership.

2021 award winners and highly commended councils

Metropolitan award winner – The City of Salisbury for From Big Things Positive Things Grow – Adaptive Program Delivery in a Changing World.

This program is a multi-faceted initiative of the City of Salisbury’s Home and Community Services (SHCS) Program. The council worked with affected communities to design and repurpose programs and their delivery in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

Regional award winner — The Southern and Hills Local Government Association for Community Wellbeing Indicators for SA Local Government.

This tool for councils can track public health issues that are important to local communities, and ensure that planning, policies and interventions by local government are evidence-based, and data-informed.

Highly commended councils for 2021

The highly commended councils for the 2021 Excellence in Public Health Awards were:

  • City of Burnside – The Shed Programs
  • Wudinna District Council
    • Game On Wudinna! Eyre Peninsula Regional Games
    • Wudinna Apex Park – Integrated Recreation and Sports Activity Zone

Further information

For further information about the Excellence in Public Health Awards, email PublicHealthAct@sa.gov.au or contact Strategic Engagement and Policy on (08) 8226 7100.