The Victorian Rural Health Awards are supported by the Victorian Government.
Celebrating
Outstanding
Rural Health
Professionals
Since 2005 RWAV has proudly hosted the annual Victorian Rural Health Awards to recognise the outstanding contributions made by health professionals working in rural communities.
The awards honour the exceptional medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers and practice managers working across rural Victoria.
2022 Virtual Gala Awards Event
The Victorian Rural Health Awards has been held on Thursday,16 June at 7 pm (AEST). The awards honour exceptional medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers and practice managers working across rural Victoria.
Click the button below and watch the recorded VRHA event.
Check out what we celebrated in 2022
The 2022 Victorian Rural Health Awards included 11 categories
Length of Service Award (35+ years of service)
The Length of Service Award acknowledges the lifetime of dedication and commitment from rural doctors to the well-being of our Victorian rural communities.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award celebrates the future of rural health care. Each year we recognise a junior health professional who has shown a true passion for rural health and is intent on dedicating their career to rural communities.
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Allied Health
This award recognises an allied health professional who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities, and has gone above the expectations of their role to provide services to the community.
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Practice Management
This award recognises a practice manager who has gone above the expectations of their role shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities through their leadership, mentoring and innovation.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural GP or Rural Generalist
This award recognises a rural doctor who has shown ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care to meet the current and future healthcare needs of their community.
Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
This award recognises a health professional, team or organisation that has made significant contributions in providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Health Team
This award recognises an exceptional team contribution to create a positive difference in the delivery of health care in rural Victoria. This award also recognises the importance of a team contribution in providing excellence in service delivery and improved client outcomes.
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Outreach Provision
This award recognises a health professional, team or organisation that has made significant contributions in providing outreach services to rural and regional communities.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Health Consumer Advocate
This award recognises the contribution of a consumer, carer or community member from rural Victoria that has made a significant contribution to healthcare, by using their lived experience to engage with health professionals or health services to improve the quality, accessibility or safety of healthcare.
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Primary Care Nursing
The Outstanding Contribution to Rural Primary Care Nursing award recognises an exceptional rural nurse or midwife who has delivered outstanding patient care, positive outcomes and who performs above the expectations of their role.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY A RURAL MEDICAL SPECIALIST
The Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Medical Specialist Award recognises a rural non-GP specialist who has shown an ongoing commitment to providing exceptional care to the community.
Congratulations
to our 2022 VRHA Winners!
Outstanding Contribution by a Rising Star
Jessica Barton
Corryong Health
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Allied Health
Dr Erin Dolan
Erin Dolan And Associates
Outstanding Contribution To Rural Practice Management
Jane Garrett
Euroa Medical Clinic
Outstanding Contribution To Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health
Tanya Geier
Gunditjmara Health Services
Outstanding Contribution To Rural Primary Care Nursing
Stuart Willder
Western District Health Service
Outstanding Contribution By A Rural Health Team
Renee Kelly
Lime Therapy
Outstanding Contribution To Rural Outreach Provision
Jacinta Maccormack
Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre
Outstanding Contribution By A Rural Health Consumer Advocate
Kellie O'Callaghan
Mayor Of Latrobe City Council
Outstanding Contribution By A Rural Gp Or Rural Generalist
Dr John Urie
Bairnsdale Regional Health Services
Outstanding Contribution By A Rural Medical Specialist
Dr Vijay Raj
Healthy Mind Solutions
Length of Service award
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Click the button below and watch the recorded VRHA event.
Our 2021 VRHA Winners!
Outstanding Contribution By a Rural GP
Dr Peter "Justin" Madden
Otway Medical Clinic
Recently retired from General Practice, Dr Madden is recognised for his contribution to the Colac community over nearly four decades. Dr Madden has been a credentialed VMO at the Colac Hospital for 38 years and for the last 25 years he has provided weekly clinics to aged care residents.
Outstanding Contribution by a Nurse/Midwife
Louise Holland
Bendigo Community Health Services
Nurse Practitioner Louise Holland has been at the forefront of sexual and reproductive health and women’s health for over 25 years. She plays a vital role in responding to the needs of the community including young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, gay men, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Practice Manager
Miffanwy Shelton
Corangamite Clinic Colac
Miffy Shelton runs a busy general practice clinic that provides medical services to Colac Area Health. Miffy is recognised for guiding the clinic through the Covid-19 pandemic including arranging adaptations to practice, facilitating working from home for at risk GPs, telemedicine, time out for all staff and organizing Covid-19 immunisation clinics.
Rising star award
Muhammad Yousuf
HeadtoHelp Wellington (Sale)
Muhammad joined the team at HeadtoHelp Wellington as a provisional psychologist after recognising increased demand following drought, bushfires and more recently Covid-19. To meet the needs of his clients, he has undertaken further studies and is currently completing a Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Generalist
Dr Elizabeth Garoni
Mt Beauty Medical Centre and The Gardens Albury
Dr Garoni has been working in the Mount Beauty community for more than 20 years. She provides comprehensive general practice and emergency care including x-ray services, fracture management, obstetrics and palliative care and is a credentialled Visiting Medical Officer at Alpine Health.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Allied Health Professional
Dr Naomi Malone
A Life Simply Lived Psychology, Boort
Dr Malone has worked in rural practice for almost two decades. Since establishing her practice in Boort, she has worked hard to provide outreach services in neighbouring communities. Dr Malone’s reputation for providing quality clinical supervision has also led to her being a highly sought-after clinical supervisor Australia wide.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Outreach Provider
Dr Andrew Horwood
Outreach to Wimmera region
Dr Horwood has been undertaking outreach visits to the Wimmera region one week a month for the last two and a half years. He works closely with multi-disciplinary teams, in particular the Persistent Pain Program at Wimmera Health Care Group, to improve patient education and reduce patient’s reliance on opiate medication.
Closing the Gap award
Dr Karoline Gunn
Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative, Warrnambool
Dr Karoline Gunn has been working at Gunditjmara health clinic since October 2018. She is involved with the Clontarf Foundation, performing health checks for young Aboriginal boys, undertaking women’s health screening days, breast screening and bowel screening, alongside regular health checks specifically for Aboriginal people.
