Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is delighted to announce the winners of its 2023 Excellence in Allied Health Awards.

The annual awards, which were held on Friday, 13 October at Invercauld House in Lismore, are an opportunity to acknowledge the expertise and contribution of Allied Health

professionals from across the District and to reflect on the impact they make to improve the patient experience and health outcomes.

The winners across the five categories of Awards were:

• Allied Health Professional of the Year - Leah Everingham, Exercise Physiologist, Tuckeroo, Byron. Highly commended - Anika Howard, Dietitian, Lismore
• Allied Health
• Leader of the Year - Emma McDonald, Physiotherapist, Richmond Network. Highly commended - Rowena Prentice, Social Worker,
• NNSWLHD Allied Health Educator of the Year - Donna Napier, Sonographer/Radiographer, Grafton
• Allied Health Assistant/Technician or Support Person of the Year - Sandra McCall, Allied Health Assistant, Tweed
• Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year – Emily Fahey, Occupational Therapist, Grafton

On hand to officiate the awards, NSW Health Chief Allied Health Officer, Andrew Davison, praised local allied health staff for their vital contribution to patient care.

“I've had the opportunity to meet many passionate, skilled people who make a real difference to the lives of local patients,” Mr Davison said.

(Andrew Davison, NSW Health Chief Allied Health Officer, Leah Everingham, Exercise Physiologist and winner of Allied Health Professional of the Year, Kathryn Watson, Acting Director Integrated Care and Allied Health, and Tracey Maisey, NNSWLHD Chief Executive.)

“The work Allied Health professionals continue to provide to patients is an inspiration.”

NNSWLHD Chief Executive, Tracey Maisey said allied health staff were essential members of the health workforce, providing multidisciplinary care to patients of all ages.

“Thank you to all our outstanding allied health staff for their teamwork and collaboration, not to mention their clinical expertise which is an integral aspect of our patient care,” said

Mrs Maisey.

The winners of the NNSWLHD awards will be put forward for the NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards which will be held in Sydney in March 2024.