A number of New England health businesses have been recognised for their patient care and innovation to healthcare at the 2024 Primary Care Quality and Innovation Awards.
A digital health platform helping middle-aged and older adults with falls prevention, an Australian first use of Virtual and Augmented Reality to support patients requiring complex rehabilitation, and a place-based solution to increase equity of access to primary care in a small regional town are among the recipients.
These outstanding contributions from primary care providers and individuals across the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network were recognised at the annual awards event held in Newcastle last Friday evening.
In front of a 300-strong crowd at the Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre, NEX, and more who tuned in to the event’s livestream, honours were presented across five award categories. An additional five individuals were presented with Dedication to Service Awards.
CEO of the HNECC PHN, Richard Nankervis said the calibre of the nominees was outstanding, as always.
“I’m immensely proud of the breadth of innovation, excellence and professionalism spread across all the award categories with all nominees sharing the ultimate goal of delivering equity of access to primary healthcare,” he said.
“With a record number of nominees, as we celebrate the fourth year of the Quality and Innovation Awards, those taking home the winners’ trophies should be genuinely proud of the contributions they are making within the region.
“Congratulations also to the five individuals acknowledged for their Dedication to Service having displayed outstanding commitment to providing quality primary care over their career. All are very worthy of their induction into the HNECC PHN Hall of Fame.
“A great night was celebrated by all, and I thank everyone for joining with us in acknowledging the important work of General Practice and our commissioned services in caring for our communities.”
Awards
Patients First Award
Awarded to healthcare organisations and/or service providers that put people and communities first in their practice: they demonstrate engagement strategies to support best practice outcomes for the centre, the community, and their patients.
WINNER
Anglicare New England North West Carefinders Program: Carefinder helping remote and regional vulnerable, older people to access Aged Care services.
In 2022, with funding from the PHN, Anglicare established the Carefinder service in the New England Northwest. The aim was to increase support for older Australians who might otherwise ‘fall through the cracks’, to help them access aged care, health services and social supports.
In 12 months, the Anglicare’s Carefinder service excelled in connecting with 300 older people who are considered ‘hard to reach’ and felt ‘unseen and unheard’.
First Nations Health Award
Awarded to the healthcare organisation and/or service provider that demonstrates being responsive to the diversity of, and differences in, our communities to address health inequalities for our First Nations communities.
WINNER
HealthWISE: Tiddas in the Dale
HealthWISE New England Northwest has collaborated with the Department of Communities and Justice to establish ‘Tidda’s in the Dale’ aiming to break the cycle of re-offending for young women recently released from prison. Tidda is the Aboriginal word for Sister and this group is centred on identity and grounding, practical skills and providing a place to be that is not leading back to previous peers and situations.
Technology in Health Award
Recognising the healthcare organisations and/or service provider that demonstrates leadership in the use of technology to support their patients.
JOINT WINNERS
EngageVR: Creating New Pathways
Established in 2019, Engage VR was the first clinic in Australia to use technologies such as Virtual and Augmented Reality to support patients requiring complex rehabilitation. Engage VR is a multidisciplinary team that provides innovative, engaging and highly successful rehabilitation programs that create new pathways to a supportive community network, enhancing client progress and quality of life for individuals living with disability.
SimpliMove: Primary Care Digital Solution
SimpliMove is a digital health platform helping middle-aged and older adults with falls prevention, declining age-related strength, managing pain, musculoskeletal issues and chronic diseases. Using a combination of exercise programs, physiotherapy and exercise physiology telehealth, and health blogs and information, SimpliMove improves access for people living in regional, rural and remote areas who typically have poorer access to allied health services and higher rates of chronic diseases.
Primary Care Innovation Award
Awarded to the health centre and/or service provider that demonstrates outstanding innovation in primary care.
WINNER
Boyd Health & Spring Ridge Pharmacy representing Spring Ridge Health Hub: Better Health for the Bush Small Town Engagement Model
In July 2023, a community solution was harvested in the small town of Spring Ridge on the Liverpool Plains, in the New England Northwest region. Dr Owen Boyd and Pharmacist Chloe Kay created a placed based solution to increase equity of access of primary health care in the region.
Chloe Kay established the towns first pharmacy in January 2023 and was introduced to Dr Owen Boyd, where the multidisciplinary care team was created with a hybrid General Practitioner Service on site. The initiative was born out of the PHNs Better Health for the Bush Small Town Engagement Model.
Primary Care Leader Award – Individual
Awarded to an individual that demonstrates outstanding innovation in primary care.
JOINT WINNERS
Dr Alison Lancey: Building Primary Care Capacity in responding to Domestic Family and Sexual Violence
Dr Alison Lancey displays leadership and builds the capacity of primary care as she collaborates with GPs, Nurses, Practice staff and allied health professionals to shine a light on domestic family and sexual violence as a public health issue.
Alison is teaching and modelling how to create safety for disclosure, how to respond in an empathetic and effective manner, and how to develop collaborative health and specialist support plans for victim-survivors.
Ann Marie Thomas: The Nurse who wears red lipstick
Ann Marie Thomas epitomises selflessness and commitment. A dedicated nurse at the Toomelah Outreach Clinic, she advocates tirelessly for her community, ensuring everyone receives care and support. Nominated for this award by Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, she’s described as a “beacon of passion and dedication”.
Despite her extensive efforts, Ann Marie (or “The nurse who wears red lipstick”, as she’s fondly known) remains humble, preferring to work quietly behind the scenes.
Primary Care Leader Award – Organisation
Awarded to the health centre, service provider or individual that has best demonstrated innovation and leadership in primary care and/or the values of respect, innovation, accountability, integrity, cooperation, and recognition.
WINNER
Salamander Bay Doctors: Leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the quality and effectiveness of healthcare delivery
Salamander Bay Doctors has strived to demonstrate innovation and leadership in primary care. Through respect, innovation, accountability, integrity, cooperation and recognition, it has successfully developed services for its local community and importantly, the local First Nations community.
They have developed prevention and self-management strategies involving local Police officers to improve de-escalating and safety awareness. Through leadership, Salamander Bay Doctors have implemented new models of care to continue quality improvement through liaising with external providers and ultimately, increased equity of access to primary care services for all, with proven quantitative and qualitative data.
Primary Care Leader Award – Clinic/Team
Awarded to the Clinic or Team that demonstrates outstanding innovation in primary care.
WINNER
Joint Medical Program Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: Let’s grow our own rural doctors in New England Northwest via innovative learning with exceptional primary care leaders
The Joint Medical Program, Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) program in Inverell and Narrabri is led by five rural primary care leaders:
- Dr Cheryl McIntyre
- Dr Amanda Bentel
- Dr Mary Elsley
- Dr Rohana Wanasinghe
- Dr Andrew Gottke.
LIC is a 19-week apprenticeship model of experiential learning in a rural community for 5th year JMP students. Students live, work and develop relationships over an extended time in a small rural community.
Learning activities are integrated within local health services and students become more immersed in their clinical environments, experience greater patient contact, and receive more supervision than their city-based teaching-hospital peers. The LIC program represents an innovative educational approach to addressing rural healthcare workforce shortages, enhancing health outcomes, and fostering a positive workplace culture.
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