The winners of the 2021 HESTA Excellence Awards have been announced in a virtual celebration recognising Australia’s top organisations and teams working across allied health, aged care, community and disability services.
Professionals were awarded for achievements including reducing ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, bringing together aged care residents, chefs and gardening teams as part of an innovative gardening and hospitality program, and teaching film studies to people with intellectual disabilities and from marginalised communities.
“My congratulations to this year’s extraordinary winners and finalists. I am incredibly humbled by the innovation and dedication they have shown in caring for their communities during such challenging times,” HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said.
“Their contributions have made and will continue to make, a positive and long-lasting difference to health outcomes for Australians. It’s a great honour for the HESTA team to help recognise the critical work they do every day.”
Each winner took home $7500 courtesy of awards supporter ME Bank.
The 2021 winners are:
OUTSTANDING ORGANISATION
AGED CARE
Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI) – NSW & ACT
Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI) is recognised for their Mental Moments Show, a week-long show designed to highlight the importance of mental health for aged care professionals. (View trailer below)
ALLIED HEALTH
Earbus Foundation of WA – Northbridge WA
Earbus Foundation of WA is recognised for their work to reduce middle ear disease in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Sacred Heart Mission – St Kilda VIC
Sacred Heart Mission is recognised for their dedication to the immediate needs of the St Kilda community and beyond. They provide support and services for people experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and social exclusion, including a meals program, trauma-informed case management, women’s crisis accommodation, long-term supported accommodation and more.
DISABILITY SERVICES
Bus Stop Films – Carlton NSW
Bus Stop Films is recognised for its dedication to teaching film studies to adults with intellectual disabilities and those from marginalised communities.
TEAM EXCELLENCE
AGED CARE
Lifeview Hospitality and Gardening teams – Carnegie VIC
Lifeview’s Hospitality and Gardening teams are recognised for their Planting with a Purpose Program, which brings together the chefs at all four Lifeview homes with the gardening team and residents to create menus and grow the required produce.
ALLIED HEALTH
Advance Rehab Centre team – Artamon NSW
The Advance Rehab Centre team is recognised for their work in assisting patients with Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), creating a multi-disciplinary team approach to ensure patients have access to the very specific neurological rehabilitation required by this population.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
SHQ – Northbridge WA
The SHQ team is recognised for developing and implementing a clinician and consumer-endorsed screening tool to identify and support women who are at risk or who have experienced intimate partner violence or reproductive coercion.
DISABILITY SERVICES
WaterAbilities/Cyclabilities Incorporated – Ngunnawal ACT
The WaterAbilities program team is recognised for creating a dedicated allied health Safety and Survival swim program in Canberra for children with support and sensory needs.
