Two local health champions – a doctor in emergency, and a Western Cancer Centre Health staff volunteer – were recently celebrated for their tireless efforts for those they serve.

In individual recognition, Dubbo Hospital Intensive Care Resident Dr Georgia Pace won the Staff Member of the Year award at the at the 2025 Western NSW Local Health District Awards, while Western Cancer Centre’s Fay Angel was joint winner of the Volunteer of the Year gong.

Dubbo Health Service Outpatient Hysteroscopy Clinic also won the Health Innovation Award for "Innovations and Adaptability to Establish Regional PET-CT Scanning".

The three were among a group of health individuals and groups from the western region who, year-in, year-out, put in that little bit extra to their patients and clients, local health chief Mark Spittal explained.

“This event provides a powerful reminder of the remarkable work being done across our District every single day,” Mr Spittal said after the award winners were announced.

“It’s not just a celebration, it’s also an important opportunity for us to recognise those achievements together,” he added.

These outstanding achievements of Western NSW Local Health District’s staff were recognised at the District’s annual Awards Ceremony and Symposium held in Dubbo.

“I’m always excited to hear from our finalists at the Symposium.

“Their passion for innovation, drive to create meaningful change, deep connection to their communities, and their commitment to improvement will never cease to inspire me,” Mr Spittal said.

The District Awards, he revealed, recognise the hard work and success of teams, projects and health professionals across the region, supporting and promoting innovation in the provision of high-quality clinical care and patient experience.

“The breadth and quality of projects, teams and people submitted for consideration this year speaks volumes of the dedication and talent across our services, and I wholeheartedly congratulate all of them, our finalists and our recipients,” Mr Spittal said.

The Symposium also provided an opportunity for all attendees to vote on the People’s Choice Award, while the Chief Executive’s Award and Board’s Choice Award were determined following consideration of finalists’ presentations.

The 2025 Awards were presented across 19 different team, project and individual categories, following the District’s annual Symposium which featured presentations from all of the finalists in project-based categories.

Other notable winners included:

• Excellence in Aboriginal Healthcare Award: Supporting Aboriginal Health Practitioners to Vaccinate Mob

• Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award: Protecting our Multicultural Communities from the Flu

• Transforming Patient Experience Award: Community Partnerships – How Meaningful Engagement is Transforming Patient Experience