Quality in the spotlight at awards ceremony
Western Sydney Local Health District's 2026 Quality Awards celebrated the people and projects helping to shape better healthcare for patients, consumers and communities.
The annual awards recognise outstanding quality improvement projects from across the District, highlighting the vital role innovation, collaboration and evidence-based practice play in delivering safer, more effective and more efficient care.
Opening the evening, the District's Executive Director of Quality and Safety, Professor Peter Hockey reflected on the importance of quality improvement as a cornerstone of healthcare excellence.
"The projects and initiatives represented here tonight demonstrate the very best of Western Sydney Local Health District. They showcase innovation, collaboration, compassion and excellence," Peter said.
"They remind us that quality improvement is not an abstract concept or a strategic objective on a page. It is the collective effort of individuals and teams who strive every day to make healthcare safer, more effective and more efficient for our patients, consumers, families and communities."
The event also provided an opportunity to acknowledge special guest NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce, following the recent announcement that she will retire from the role in March next year.
Susan was recognised for her leadership of the NSW health system and her longstanding commitment to fostering a culture of kindness and respect.
Reflecting on the work of Western Sydney Local Health District staff, Susan praised their dedication to serving one of the state's fastest-growing and most diverse populations.
"Western Sydney is an incredibly large and busy LHD and your work to support and serve a diverse community with ever-evolving needs is truly amazing," Susan said.
"Health systems don't just provide healthcare; they provide safety to society. We are a place for people to come in their most difficult moments, so whatever contribution you make, you should be proud."
Both individuals and teams were recognised for their collective commitment to improving healthcare for future generations.
The District’s Chief Executive, Alison Zecchin, congratulated all finalists and award winners, for their contribution to better care and stronger health services.
"Your achievements represent excellence in action," Alison said.
"They demonstrate what can be accomplished when talented, committed people come together with a shared purpose: delivering the very best care, experiences and outcomes for our patients, consumers, families and communities.”
2026 Quality Awards
| AWARD | WINNER |
|---|---|
| Transforming Patient Experience | Connecting Care: Walking With Families Through Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) Advanced Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Pilot |
| Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare | Strengthening Diabetes Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities |
| Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare | Breaking Down Barriers: Mobile Cervical Screening reaches under-served women from refugee backgrounds Multicultural Health Services, Priority Populations, Integrated & Community Health |
| Excellence in Staff Empowerment and Growth | Physiotherapy First Year Graduate Mentorship Program Physiotherapy Unit, Auburn Hospital |
| Health Equity | High Street Youth Outreach – Dental Care without Barriers Mount Druitt Oral Health Services, Primary School Mobile Dental Program |
| Keeping People Healthy | Breathe Easy All Together (BEAT): A Peer-led Vaping Prevention Program Prevention Education and Research Unit |
| Environmental Sustainability | Catering for Cancer Services Cancer Services & Dietetics, Blacktown Hospital |
| Health Innovation | Post Discharge Follow-Up program Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals |
| Health Research | Immediate lymphovenous anastomosis during axillary dissection for breast cancer Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital & Department of Surgery, Auburn Hospital |
| Excellence in the Provision of Mental Health Services | Transforming Long-Stay Mental Health Care Pathways to Community Living Initiative Program, Mental Health Services |
| Patient Safety First | A multi-layered Safety Defence Model to reduce referral errors Smoke Alarm and Battery Replacement (SABRE) Fire Safety Program |
| Consumer/Community Representative of the Year | Caroline Raunjak, Consumer Representative & Volunteer Hannabeth Marchant, Youth Representative, Integrated & Community Health |
| Young Leader of the Year | Mitchell Farrell A/Service Coordinator, Towards Zero Suicide, Community Mental Health Services |
| Bright sparQ | Fionnuala Symth Clinical Nurse Consultant, Drug Health Services |
| People’s Choice sponsored by Healthcare Home Loans | Transforming Long-Stay Mental Health Care Pathways to Community Living Initiative Program, Mental Health Services |
| Board Chair’s Award | Catering for Cancer Services Cancer Services & Dietetics, Blacktown Hospital |
