2021 HESTA Excellence Awards winners announced

The 2021 HESTA Excellence Awards were held on Wednesday August 25 in a virtual ceremony celebrating excellence in the allied health, aged care, community and disability services sectors.

Winners were crowned for work such as reducing ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and teaching film studies to people with intellectual disabilities and from marginalised communities.

In the aged care space, Lifeview Aged Care hospitality and gardening teams won the 'Team Excellence' award for their 'Planting with a purpose' program, profiled in Aged Care Insite recently.

The program brings together the chefs at all four Lifeview homes with the gardening team and residents to create menus and grow the required produce.

“Seeing the smiles on the faces of the residents when they bring the produce to the kitchen or as they sit down to share a meal, which they had a hand in creating, really makes your and their day,” Lifeview Hospitality manager Stephen Milsted said.

“It is also extremely rewarding to see residents take ownership of this program, giving themselves titles such as head gardener, tending to the gardens daily, watering, checking for pests or picking produce for the kitchen.”

Milstead said the program is a great example of what good aged care can look like.

“Aged care is not always portrayed in the best light so this recognition and the ability to share this really great innovation, and the creative elements of what we do, is something we are grateful for.”

Elsewhere, 'The Outstanding Organisation' award went to the Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI), NSW and ACT.

RFBI was recognised for its Mental Moments Show, a weeklong show designed to highlight the importance of mental health for aged care professionals.

RFBI chief executive Frank Price said the organisation wanted to recognise its staff following a challenging year of drought, fire, flood and a global pandemic.

“As the CEO, I am privileged to see first-hand the amazing job aged care workers do each and every day,” Price said.

“We wanted to acknowledge the dedication and commitment our staff had demonstrated and encourage everyone to care for the carers.”

The other winners included:

OUTSTANDING ORGANISATION

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

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.

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