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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.

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Defence Housing Australia has completed two new developments in Canberra, adding 113 new properties to the region’s housing supply. 

The new properties comprise 76 properties for serving Defence members and their families with another 37 properties built to support the local private housing market. 

The Crossing development in the suburb of Coombs includes 46 new DHA-owned two- and three-bedroom townhouses for contemporary living close to amenities.

The Academy Close redevelopment in Campbell has seen DHA deliver 30 Defence-owned, three- and four-bedroom townhouses, and detached homes for Defence members and family. 

Homes at The Crossing are now available for the current posting cycle.

Both developments are well positioned for convenient access to the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Royal Military College, Defence Force College and Defence Russell Offices.

The DHA properties are integrated among the privately owned townhouses that were sold to support the region’s housing market.

Defence members began moving into the Academy Close properties earlier this month, while The Crossing will see its first Defence member resident move into the development tomorrow. 

The Crossing properties were recently added to DHA’s online portal for member selection ahead of posting movements. 

Local builder Monarch Building Solutions completed The Crossing development, with Canberra’s Projex Building Group delivering Academy Close. 

Upwards of 600 local workers were employed to construct these properties. 

Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon. Matt Keogh: 

“Providing Defence members and their families with quality housing helps keep ADF members happy in the job and recognises the value we put on their service.

“The 76 properties in The Crossing and Academy Close will mean members moving to Canberra this posting cycle can access modern new homes that come with great lifestyle benefits. 

“That’s on top of the 37 brand new townhouses The Crossing development is adding to the private housing market in Canberra, helping support the local community.”

David Smith, Member for Bean:

“With so many of these homes available for the private market, this is a tangible way the Albanese government is helping ease pressure on Canberra’s housing supply.

“These homes will also see more ADF members taking advantage of the great lifestyle opportunities Canberra has to offer.

“These projects will only add to the shared sense of community Defence members feel when they make Canberra their home.”

Defence Housing Australia Managing Director, Andrew Jaggers: 

“Today, DHA proudly delivers a total of 113 new properties across two developments that not only support Defence members and their families posted to the Canberra region, but provides for the private housing market.

“We thank local builders in Monarch and Projex for the quality of work they have delivered at The Crossing and Academy Close. 

“We take pride in supporting Defence members and their families to find a place to call home during their Defence postings, and we know these properties will be thoroughly enjoyed by their new residents. 

“Tomorrow we will welcome the first Defence member into The Crossing, with more members and private owners to move in through to the end of the year, with settlement of the 37 privately owned properties planned for December.”  

This week, I will travel to Korea to represent Australia at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting.

APEC meets at a critical time for our region and the world. Rising trade tensions and economic uncertainty mean Australia must continue to champion open markets and fair rules that deliver for Australian businesses and workers.

One in four Australian jobs rely on trade. At APEC, I will continue our work to keep markets open, reduce barriers and create new opportunities for Australian exporters.

Australia’s priorities include making cross-border trade more efficient through paperless trade, promoting policy reforms for trade in services, and advancing the economic empowerment of all peoples.

We are committed to strengthening the World Trade Organization and the transparent, rules-based trading system that underpins our economy. These rules protect smaller economies and ensure Australian producers and exporters have fair access to global markets.

APEC economies make up over 60 per cent of global GDP, are home to 3 billion people, and account for around 75 per cent of Australia’s total two-way trade. By participating in APEC, we strengthen Australia’s economic relationships and build new export opportunities and trade diversification.

Australia and Korea are longstanding partners, with closely aligned strategic interests, a significant and complementary trading relationship and vibrant people-to-people links.

Australia strongly supports Korea as the 2025 APEC Chair with its focus on addressing shared challenges, embracing digital innovation, and prioritising inclusive growth, which reflect our shared values and goals.

The Greens have responded to Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls reinstating a ban on gender-affirming care for young trans folk, just hours after the Supreme Court ruled the LNP’s first ban unlawful.

Senator Nick McKim, Australian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson:
 

“This decision is hateful and cruel, and goes against everything we know about gender-affirming care and its ability to save lives.”

“The LNP’s actions here are truly disgusting, placing young trans folk in the middle of a culture war of their own creation, using them as a public punching bag, and knowingly risking young lives in the process.”

“Gender-affirming care saves lives. It helps trans and gender diverse people thrive, live with dignity, and be themselves. It should never be used as a political football.”

“The LNP must immediately reinstate gender-affirming care, and stop playing politics with people’s lives.”

Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:

“Premier Crisafulli’s cabinet unlawfully overrode Queensland Health by directing it to ban gender affirming healthcare for young people, after just 22 minutes of so-called “consultation” – this is clearly about politics, not evidence. 

“This is a shameful doubling down on the LNP’s political interference in healthcare. 

“If the LNP has any respect for healthcare professionals and patient autonomy, it’ll drop its political fixations and get on with funding our public healthcare system properly.

“The LNP needs to learn that healthcare is a choice for an individual, their family and their healthcare team, not for politicians.”

This afternoon Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury will move a vote on Greens legislation to broaden legal liability for institutions who have harboured perpetrators of child abuse.

“This legislation directly responds to a High Court ruling that institutions may not be liable for people who represented their organisation, enabling them to defeat legal claims from people who were abused when they were children,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“In a modern and caring society, Canberrans rightly expect organisations like churches, sports groups and scouts to take responsibility for the abuse that occurred within their institution. But instead, we have seen examples of using legal technicalities to avoid that responsibility. This legislation will close those loopholes.

“For affected communities and survivors, the passing of this legislation could not come soon enough. This is not just another piece of legislation in a place made for legislating. For those seeking justice and redress, this legislation will ensure they can get a fair hearing.

“It will mean survivors who were abused by people in volunteer positions as part of their engagement with an organisation like a church or scout group will be able make legal claims against the organisations who had responsibility for the offenders.

“Really, this bill is about ensuring victims have access to justice for the crimes committed against them as children, and it is about ensuring institutions make amends for the harms caused on their watch. It’s as simple as that.

“The passage of this change is fundamentally, first a foremost, a story of community. It is a story of people from Canberra and around Australia, making the clear case for reform, and bringing their expertise and experience to ensure this Bill does the job it needs to.

“If this bill passes, it is these people, these members of our community that are responsible for this change more than any politician in this place. It is people like these who have campaigned over the past year who should feel proud of their part in history.

“If this legislation passes, powerful and wealthy institutions will no longer be able to arm themselves to the hilt with lawyers and worm their way out of compensating the people who were abused in their organisations. That ends today.

Harry James, Your Reference Ain’t Relevant:

“This reform is a critical step towards justice for survivors. For too long, institutions have avoided accountability through technical loopholes that denied responsibility for abuse that occurred under their watch. The ACT leading the nation in closing this gap sends a powerful message — that survivors deserve truth, responsibility, and reform that truly reflects the harm done.”

Josh Byrnes, survivor of institutional child sexual abuse:

“This bill is the warm glow of some light at the end of tunnel. Too long have victim survivors had to bear witness to their stories become evidence to a prosecution case only for institutions and perpetrators find yet another legal loophole to escape responsibility and accountability.

As an institutional survivor I welcome this change and hope we can continue to bring some equity back to a process that is so unfairly weighted towards offenders. I thank Shane, Kate and the entire team for raising this bill. I thank them for their continued advocacy and camaraderie in this fight for justice.”

Clare Leaney, CEO National Survivors Foundation:

“I commend the ACT Parliament for taking the lead in debating and hopefully passing this important legislation for Survivors in the ACT. This model legislation demonstrates the importance of vicarious liability laws in ensuring justice for Survivors. This legislation is an exemplar demonstration of law makers putting the interest of Survivors front and centre and I encourage other jurisdictions to adopt a similar nonpartisan approach.”

Joe Stroud, Chair National Survivors’ Day:

“This legislation will have a profound and meaningful impact for Survivors in the ACT and will ensure that Survivors of abuse can receive like justice, for like harms inflicted. National Survivors’ Day thanks the ACT Parliament for taking the lead to close the gap Survivors throughout Australia are facing in their pursuit of justice.”

Carol Ronken, Director of Research, Bravehearts:

“Bravehearts strongly supports the Civil Law (Wrongs) (Organisational Child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2025, recognising that these reforms are vital to ensuring survivors of institutional child sexual abuse have equitable access to justice, whether the abuse was committed by employees or by individuals in positions of organisational authority, including volunteers, religious leaders, scout leaders, and coaches.”

Dr Judy Courtin, Principal and Advocate of Judy Courtin Legal:

“With the passing of this Bill, the ACT can stand tall and proud as the country’s forerunner with these critical legislative reforms for victims/survivors of institutional child abuse. The ACT parliament is courageous in standing up for the rights of victims/survivors. The ACT’s legacy will be enduring and provides the requisite type of leadership and mettle expected of our elected members of parliament.”

Hassan Ehsan, Special Counsel, Turner Freeman Lawyers:

“This Bill is about ensuring institutions are held accountable and survivors aren’t left fighting legal loopholes instead of being heard. It’s about time. I welcome the reform, it’s been a long time coming.”

Alessandra Pettit, Senior Associate, Stacks Goudkamp:

“The impact of institutional child sexual abuse is lifelong and, in my experience as a practitioner in this area, the reason survivors are coming forward is multifactorial. There is a justice element, there is an accountability element and then there is a financial element. To have a decision like Bird be handed down is devastating for all elements. The Civil Law (Wrongs)(Organisational Child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2025 reflects the “new world” of this area and I commend the ACT Greens for being the leader of this change. I have no doubt that if the ACT is the first to follow the High Courts suggestion that this is a legislative fix, then other jurisdictions will do the same.”