Thirty rural doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, practice managers and Aboriginal health workers were recognised for their outstanding service to Victorian communities at a ceremony in Sale, Friday 4 March.
The group took centre stage at the Sale Turf Club for the eleventh Victorian Rural Health Awards, hosted by the Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV) and sponsored by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
The awards were presented by MP for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing, on behalf of the Minister for Health Jill Hennessy.
Ms Shing congratulated all the recipients who have made an outstanding contribution to the health and wellbeing of their local communities. She also commented on the government’s commitment to supporting the rural health workforce ensuring rural Victorians can access the care they need, when they need it, closer to home.
“We are working hard to support our rural medical workforce with a $4 million investment in the development, recruitment and retention of skilled GPs with procedural skills across rural and regional Victoria,” said Ms Shing.
More than 80 guests attended the ceremony representing health service providers, local community leaders, award recipients’ friends, colleagues and families.
“All the recipients have shown outstanding dedication and commitment to the health and wellbeing of rural Victorians,” said RWAV Chair, Dr Sue Harrison.
“It is also uplifting to see the support and collaboration shown across the various health disciplines to provide the best outcomes for patients,” said Dr Harrison.
Every year nominations are put forward by members of the public, community organisations and local healthcare providers and are assessed by a panel of representatives from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals Australia.
2016 VRHA recipients, Sale 4 March.
Length of Service Award
Dr David Ball – Mooroopna
Dr Nicholas Barker – Red Cliffs
Dr Ian Barratt – Warrnambool
Dr Daniel Silver – Castlemaine
Dr Graham Stephens – Healesville
Dr David Tynan – Maryborough
Rural Doctor Award – Outstanding Contribution
Dr Chris Perry – Leongatha
Dr Hoe Sin Ooi – Golden Square
Dr Donald Liu – Warracknabeal
Dr Mehdi Sanati Pour – Mildura
Dr Bala Pillai – Echuca
Dr Peter Nesbitt – Echuca
Rural Doctor Award – New Rural Doctor
Dr Alison Wilde – Toora
Medical Specialist Award
Dr Safwat Bassili – Balwyn
Aboriginal Health Award
Garry Giles – Echuca
Margaret Murray – Wodonga
Johanna Nesbitt – Echuca
Rural General Practice Award
Leongatha Healthcare
Mount Beauty Medical Centre
Echuca Moama Family Medical Practice
Rural Nursing Award
Robyn Butler – Leongatha
Rural Allied Health Professional Award
Kay Knight – Echuca
Practice Manager Award
Judy Robb – Leongatha
GP Locum Award
Dr Siobhan Reddel
Medical Student Award
Samantha Walker – Deakin University
