State Award for our Custodial Health Team
Western Health has been named a winner at the 2025 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
Our Custodial Health Addiction Medicine Clinic (CHAMC) at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC) received the Excellence in Women’s Health award for their work supporting the addiction medicine needs of women in custody.
Western Health was also a finalist in the prestigious Premier’s Large Health Service of the Year 2025 category. Our Lived Experience Advisor Program (LEAP), which embeds people with disability in service design and staff training roles, was a finalist in the Excellence in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category.
The awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Board Chair Professor the Hon. Jill Hennessy and Acting Chief Executive John Ferraro congratulated our winners and thanked our staff for their tireless efforts caring for our communities.
“Western Health was honoured with recognition in three categories, which speaks volumes about the level of innovation and expertise of our teams,” John Ferraro said.
“It was fantastic to see the compassion and dedication of our people recognised among our peers.
“Last night’s gala event was also a great reminder of the incredible work being done by the entire Victorian public health system.
“Our success depends on working together to learn, innovate and continually improve care for every community we serve.”
Kirsty Barnes, Divisional Director, Western Health at Home, said the Custodial Health team is incredibly proud to provide this service at DPFC.
‘Delivering trauma-informed addiction medicine care in a secure custodial setting involves working in a challenging and complex environment,’ she said.
‘The women we support are some of the most vulnerable in our community and this award recognises the dedication of our team to providing safe, culturally responsive and evidence-based care where it is needed most.
‘Our clinic aims to change lives for women in custody, and it is also playing a leading role in driving national reform in addiction medicine.’
Western Health congratulates all of the winners across all Victorian health services.
Read about the finalists and nominees on the Department of Health website.