St Vincent’s Allied Health Excellence Awards highlight patient care, innovation and leadership

Pictured: St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne Chief Executive Nicole Tweddle, Allied Health Excellence Award winners Jess Esposito, Rachel Robinson, Nga Tran, Naomi Parkes, Aislin Ward and Kim Lunardi, and Chief Allied Health Officer Fiona McKinnon.

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne has honoured its 2024 Allied Health Excellence Awards winners, recognising the pivotal role allied health professionals play in delivering high-quality, multidisciplinary care.

With over 60 nominations from more than 500 allied health employees, the awards highlighted the exceptional contributions of individuals and teams across six categories. The recognition underscores the vital work done by allied health in areas such as clinical practice, research, leadership and training.

In her opening address, Chief Allied Health Officer Fiona McKinnon reflected on what it takes to be a strong allied health practitioner. She noted that in addition to being excellent problem-solvers, allied health professionals “are also great communicators and exceptionally skilled at building relationships, especially that all-important rapport with patients.”

Teams and individual were recognised for their dedication and innovation over the past year, and for their continued efforts to deliver better and fairer care, always. 

Chief Allied Health Officer Leadership and Excellence Award - Naomi Parkes, Occupational Therapist Discipline Lead for Mental Health and OT Educator

Naomi is known for her exceptional leadership and commitment to excellence. She fosters a supportive environment, ensuring staff receive guidance through supervision, placements and training. Her inclusive approach boosts team morale and enhances the overall quality of care.

Clinical Excellence Award - Nga Tran, Senior Pharmacist

Nga is a dedicated leader in mental health pharmacy, spearheading initiatives to improve patient outcomes and safety. Her contributions and tenacity were cental to establishing the mental health pharmacy service.

Emerging Leader Award - Aislin Ward, Senior Clinician, St Georges Occupational Therapy and Michael Jovanovic, Procurement, Formulary and Finance Pharmacist

Aislin has an exceptional ability to drive innovation and make impactful contributions across both the multidisciplinary team and Occupational Therapy at St George’s Health Service in Kew. She consistently exceeds the expectations of her role, demonstrating leadership and vision.

Michael is a kind, compassionate and inclusive leader who fosters a collaborative, equitable environment in the pharmacy department. His open-door policy and commitment to ensuring all voices are heard empowers team members to thrive.

Excellence in Innovation and Improvement Award - Kim Lunardi, Senior Dietitian, Advanced Practice Gastrostomy Credentialed Dietitian

Kim has been a pioneer in gastrostomy tube management. She successfully led the ‘Strengthening the Gastrostomy Feeding Tube Advanced Practice Workforce Across Victoria’ initiative, significantly improving accessibility and care for patients.

Early Career Award - Jessica Esposito, Occupational Therapist and Rachel J Robinson, Grade 2 Subacute Speech Pathologist

Jess (left) has excelled as a new graduate occupational therapist, demonstrating exceptional care, enthusiasm and collaboration. She goes above and beyond in her work, advocating for consumers and developing recovery-focused activities.

Rachel (right) has quickly grown from new graduate to early grade 2 clinician, demonstrating emotional maturity, clinical excellence and a strong commitment to patient care. Her compassion, dedication and advocacy for vulnerable populations reflect St Vincent’s core values.

Excellence in Clinical Supervision and Education Award - Andrea de Rauch, Grade 3 Prosthetist/Orthotist 

Andrea, who was unable to attend the event, has been instrumental in establishing and facilitating the Prosthetics and Orthotics department’s revitalised clinical supervision program. Andrea has worked tirelessly to develop, educate and build the capabilities of the team.