MPHN celebrates award winners and finalists in Primary Healthcare Awards 2022
Outstanding achievements in community wellbeing advocacy, health initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and leadership in general practice has been recognised at the 2022 MPHN Primary Healthcare Awards on Thursday night.
Award winners and finalists across the Murrumbidgee were acknowledged for their contribution to their communities and dedication to excellence in healthcare in four categories: Promoting Healthy Living, Award for Innovation, Grant of the Year award and Outstanding Contribution to Leadership.
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Board Chair DR Jodi Culbert acknowledged all eleven finalists and said the quality of each was a testament to the hard work, resilience and dedication of the regions primary healthcare providers in what has been another challenging 12 months.
“Although our awards recognise excellence in primary healthcare and community activity, our finalists also remind us of the incredible diversity, ingenuity and determination of our region and of the people who work hard to make a difference,” Dr Culbert said.
“The activities and initiatives we have recognised come from all across the Murrumbidgee and demonstrate that dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of community can be found in every community.”
“It is with great pleasure I extend my heartfelt congratulations for all of our winners and finalists and thank them for everything they do in improving the health of your communities.”
The 2022 Primary Healthcare winners and finalists are:
Outstanding Contribution to Leadership in Primary Healthcare
Winner: Dr Khaled Bardawil
Lake Cargelligo GP Dr Khaled Bardawil has served his local community for the last 15 years and during the COVID-19 pandemic his work led to reducing vaccine hesitancy by de-stigmatising and demystifying information surrounding the COVID vaccines which led to the community achieving excellent vaccination rates. Dr Bardawil also dedicated himself to providing vaccine clinics to small remote locations such as Murrin Bridge and Euabalong and his hard work helped create a community for his patients to feel safe, understood and cared for.
Dr Khaled Bardawil
“I am most proud of the Lake Cargelligo community who did not hesitate to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by getting vaccinated. As a result we managed the virus well and kept hospitalisations to a minimum”
Finalist: Amy Salmon - Highly commended
Amy Salmon led the MyStep to Mental Wellbeing Western team during an otherwise challenging time in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amy strived to create a supportive, psychologically safe workplace in which staff felt supported and this ensured continuity of service for consumers across the program during a changing period of time. This has seen the MyStep to Mental Wellbeing team flourish to be the third largest community mental health team in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
Amy Salmon
“I am very proud of my team, and how they have grown in confidence and capacity. I am honoured to be recognised for the work I am leading to improve mental health outcomes for our communities.”
Finalist: Centacare School Wellbeing Program
Centacare introduced two school wellbeing consultants to the Schools Wellbeing Program, a whole-school approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of every member of the school community. Consultants Janine Harrington and Mahalia Scholz work closely with each school to support complex cases and ensure continuity of care.
Innovation
Winner: Hay Aboriginal Medical Service – Marrabinya 0-4 head to toe health checks
The Marrabinya zero to 4 head to toe health checks are delivered by the Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service mums and bubs team at the Hay Aboriginal Medical Service (HAMS) providing health checks, parental support and advice. With the aim of increasing clinic attendance, staff from Hay AMS approached local schools and early learning centres and as a result there has been an uptake in referrals to this service leading to early intervention outcomes.
Jean Woods – Hay AMS Team Leader
“The program was created to ensure children in the community receive effective health checks and opportunities are available to support families when more serious health concerns arise.”
Finalist: headspace Griffith CreateSpace
In November 2021, headspace Griffith opened their youth safe space, CreateSpace. This is a multi purpose, youth friendly space where young people and their friends can come and relax, access support and other wellbeing initiatives. The space also plays host to targeted wellbeing and skills groups. The CreateSpace has led to attitudes towards accessing mental health services changing, which has led to an increase in referrals to the service.
Finalist: Wagga Wagga Local Health Advisory Committee
The Wagga Wagga Local Health Advisory Committee delivered this project to support mental health and wellbeing in school aged children in the Riverina. The LHAC worked in collaboration with the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Executive, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, Murrumbidgee Local Health District, Murrumbidgee Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Alliance, headspace Wagga Wagga and local high schools to design and develop a silicone wristband with a QR Code which takes the user to the Head to Health website.
Promoting Healthy Living
Winner: Marathon Health ITC program
The ITC program delivered by Marathon Health aims to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disease and complex health care needs. In 2020-21 the program supported 270 indigenous people and delivered 5,362 occasions of service improving access to health services and information in a bid to improve and support self-management and health literacy and reduce unplanned hospital admissions.
Karen Ingram – Marathon Health Care Coordinator and Indigenous Health Project Officer
“We thank MPHN for recognising the efforts of the entire ITC team and the work we are doing for people in what is sometimes the most difficult time in a person’s life,”
Finalist: Active Ageing
Active Ageing is a weekly exercise group for over 65s run by local accredited exercise physiologists Emily Carroll and Brodie Palmer. Active Ageing is evidence informed and targets individuals who aren't currently meeting physical activity guidelines. Through supported sessions participants are exposed to a gym environment, developing the confidence to exercise independently and form good exercise habits.
Finalist: Positive Living Skills
The Positive Living Skills program is a teacher led, evidence-based early prevention and intervention program for primary schools. The program offers teachers a suite of flexible lessons, resources, and professional development supporting them to teach mental health, social and emotional skills in the classroom. Teachers identified the accessibility, flexibility and organisation of the materials supported ease of implementation.
Murrumbidgee Grant of the Year
Winner: Festival of Seniors Week – Greater Hume Shire
Festival of Seniors Week was a community driven collection of activities delivered by Greater Hume Council in communities of Henty, Culcairn, Walla Walla, Jindera and Holbrook. The activities delivered mental health and wellbeing benefits to individuals and promoted community resilience with activities to empower older people to live active and healthy lives and encouraging them to come out of their homes and connect.
Susan Kane – Greater Hume Shire Library and Youth Team Leader
“Under this program the people of our communities were able to come together after a time of isolation and loneliness to engage in conversations, connecting with new and old friends in a safe and enjoyable setting.”
Finalist: Lockhart Local Health Advisory Committee
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lockhart LHAC developed and delivered the ‘What makes us Stronger’ webinar featuring Olympic gold medallist Cate Campbell. Cate and guests discussed how to cope when something unexpected happens and empowered the participants to talk about mental health, resilience, overcoming adversity, leadership and teamwork, motivation, and inspiration.