Congratulations to our winners in the 2025 Excellence in Allied Health Awards
The 2025 Excellence in Allied Health Awards winners were announced at the Award presentation on Thursday 27 March 2025.
2025 Program
Watch the presentation
About the Awards
The NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards is an annual keystone event for the Workforce Planning and Talent Development Branch– Allied Health Team, partnering with the Chief Allied Health Officer. These Awards honour the passion, dedication, and contributions of allied health professionals and their support staff across NSW. They also highlight NSW Health's commitment to the vital role allied health plays in providing patient-centred care.
2025 Excellence in Allied Health Awards
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Aboriginal Allied Health Professional of the Year
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Allied Health Professional of the Year
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Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year
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Allied Health Educator of the Year
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Allied Health Leader of the Year
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Allied Health Researcher of the Year
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Allied Health Assistant / Technician / Support Person of the Year
Aboriginal Allied Health Professional of the Year
Winner
Mason Smith
Physiotherapist, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
Mason is a proud Aboriginal Physiotherapist, dedicated to making healthcare more culturally safe and accessible for Aboriginal people.
He is recognised for his commitment to mentoring and providing cultural support and promoting language revitalisation. At the same time striving to break down barriers and create meaningful change within the health space.
His commitment to elevating the human experience drives him to be an advocate and leader in Aboriginal health.
Finalists
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Kenisha Cameron, Physiotherapist, Central Coast Local Health District
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Della Hoskins, Social Worker, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
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Cheryl Martin, Social Worker, South Western Sydney Local Health District
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Chloe Merritt, Social Worker, Murrumbidgee Local Health District
Allied Health Professional of the Year
Winner
Dr Kate Short
Speech Pathologist, South Western Sydney Local Health District
Kate is a respected health clinician, educator, and researcher currently working as a Senior Speech Pathologist at Liverpool Hospital, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, and an Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University.
She is passionate about translating evidence-based practice into care and focuses on child development and prevention/intervention for children with communication disorders and those experiencing adversities.
Kate’s impact extends across NSW Health, where she has played a key role in education, policy, and product development, shaping services to improve outcomes for children and families.
Finalists
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Evelyn Harvey, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Western Sydney Local Health District
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Susan Khanna, Social Worker, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
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Donna Napier, Radiographer/ Sonographer, Northern NSW Local Health District
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Suzie Olding, Pharmacist, Northern Sydney Local Health District
Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year
Winner
Daniel Lowe
Radiation Therapist, Western NSW Local Health District
Daniel has played a pivotal role as the lead radiation therapist in the implementation of the Liver Stereotactic Ablative Radiation (SABR) clinical pathway at the Western Cancer Centre Dubbo.
His commitment to advancing patient care is evident through his active role in a Western NSW LHD project team, working alongside radiation oncology medical physicists, radiation oncologists, and medical imaging technologists.
He has also fostered broader collaboration with metropolitan departments, ensuring best practices and optimal clinical outcomes for local patients.
Finalists
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Rolaren Allison, Social Worker, Far West Local Health District
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Christy El-Khoury, Pharmacist, Northern Sydney Local Health District
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Holly Phillips, Speech Pathologist, Hunter New England Local Health District
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Dijana Savicic, Podiatrist, St Vincent’s Hospital Network
Allied Health Educator of the Year
Winner
Shirlee Maxwell
Dietitian, Hunter New England Local Health District
Shirlee has worked as a clinical student educator at John Hunter Hospital for the past 12 years, playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of dietitians.
She excels in clinical teaching and recognises that students learn in diverse ways and at varying paces. Having supervised over 400 dietetic students, and mentored many new graduate dietitians, Shirlee is dedicated to fostering excellence in her profession. She is committed to supporting student supervisors, providing both formal and informal guidance to help them develop the skills needed to mentor effectively.
Her dedication to innovation, collaboration, and student success continues to enrich the field of dietetics.
Finalists
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Karishma Deo, Pharmacist, South Western Sydney Local Health District
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Megan Escott, Social Worker, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
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Ryan Evans, Physiotherapist, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
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Kathryn Goldsworthy, Physiotherapist, Southern NSW Local Health District
Allied Health Leader of the Year
Winner
Catherine Osborne
Radiation Therapist, Western NSW Local Health District
Catherine is the Deputy Chief Radiation Therapist for Western NSW LHD and has over 35 years’ experience in Radiation Oncology across clinical leadership, research, education, and academia.
She is deeply passionate about rural health, health professional education, and ensuring humanity and compassion are part of both the patient journey and our health professional experiences.
She leads a team of radiation therapists at the Western Cancer Centre in Dubbo, striving to ensure high-quality, interdisciplinary cancer care for Western NSW communities.
Finalists
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Karleen Dumbrell, Occupational Therapist, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
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Zoe Gulliver, Dietitian, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
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Manasi Thornley, Occupational Therapist, South Western Sydney Local Health District
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Nadia Vigna, Occupational Therapist, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Allied Health Researcher of the Year
Winner
Dr Sim Yee (Cindy) Tan
Dietitian, Sydney Local Health District
Cindy is a senior clinical dietitian with over 20 years of experience, specialising in cancer nutrition at Concord Cancer Centre.
She has played a pivotal role in establishing the Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre and has expanded her research to focus on nutritional support for cancer survivors. In 2020, Cindy took on a part-time research fellow position at the University of Sydney, where she leads studies to improve quality of life and clinical outcomes for cancer survivors.
She has also supervised over 20 research student projects and mentored many healthcare professionals in integrating research into clinical care.
Finalists
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Dr Dragana Ceprnja, Physiotherapist, Western Sydney Local Health District
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Dr Denise Milicevic, Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
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Dr Kirsty Stewart, Occupational Therapist, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
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Dr Sally Wootton, Physiotherapist, Northern Sydney Local Health District
Allied Health Assistant / Technician / Support Person of the Year of the Year
Winner
Dianne Redding
Allied Health Assistant, Hunter New England Local Health District
Dianne has been a dedicated member of the physiotherapy team at Maitland Hospital for 36 years. She plays a vital role in enhancing the departments efficiency, drawing on her expertise in clinical tasks, equipment management, and scheduling.
As the go-to person for systems knowledge and facilitating training in casting and splinting. Dianne ensures high standards of care and skill development within the team.
Her compassionate approach and commitment to treating patients with dignity and respect have left a lasting impact on colleagues and patients alike.
Finalists
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Nicole Bellamy, Allied Health Assistant, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
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Eugene Orlov, Pharmacy Assistant / Technician, St Vincent’s Hospital Network
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Mohammed Shareef, Pharmacy Technician, Sydney Local Health District
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Vesna Stojanovic, Allied Health Assistant, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Key dates for the 2025 awards
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Nominations open: 15 October 2024
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Nominations close: 6 November 2024
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Submissions reviewed by judging committee: 11 November 2024 - 29 November 2024
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Finalists announced: January 2025
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Awards event: 27 March 2025, Art Gallery of NSW
View the criteriaView the rules
Past awards
The NSW Health 2025 Excellence in Allied Health Awards are proudly sponsored by
