In exciting news, Western Health is a finalist in five categories in the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
The awards are a celebration of excellence in public healthcare and acknowledge the achievements of Victoria’s healthcare workers, volunteers, and public health services.
The Western Health projects names as finalists range from a program that has created a positive food and dining culture among aged care residents, to an innovative clinic that provides crucial care to women with pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence.
“Congratulations and good luck to all of the Western Health teams and programs announced as finalists in the prestigious Victorian Public Healthcare Awards,” Western Health Chief Executive Professor Russell Harrison said.
"They are all great examples of the dedication to excellence and innovation that we pride ourselves on at Western Health, and we're extremely proud of their achievements."
Each of our finalists demonstrate the way our staff continually innovate to deliver exceptional care.
The winners will be announced at the 18th Victorian Public Healthcare Awards Gala Night on Tuesday 19 November.
Here is a snapshot of the projects:
Excellence in mental health and wellbeing 
Ascending Wellness: A Tiered Approach to Mental Health Care
The development of Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre (SMHWC) at Western Health facilitated the introduction of a contemporary model of care which was co-designed with consumers and families. This visionary model of care is the first in the state to provide a 3-tiered service model to ensure each consumer receives specialised care, tailored to their needs and stage of their recovery.
Excellence in value-based healthcare
A Regional Approach to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery and Prehabilitation
The West Metro Health Service Partnership launched the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery plus Prehabilitation (ERAS+) project to improve care for surgical patients.
The West Metro Health Service Partnership comprises: Western Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Women's Hospital and The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Through collaboration, the Partnership designed, implemented, and evaluated an innovative approach to improving the consistency and quality of surgical care across five hospitals.
Excellence in multicultural community health 
Speaking your language – giving our kids the best start in life
Children thrive when they start life with healthy habits, like enjoying nutritious food and active play.
In an Australian first, Western Health culturally adapted the INFANT program (Infant Feeding, Active play, and NutriTion) to reach Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Mandarin, and Vietnamese-speaking families.
Western Health also upskilled bicultural workers to deliver INFANT, tripling numbers of trained facilitators.
Excellence in public sector residential aged care services
Piloting a power shift through food
The dietitian-led project at Western Health's Residential Aged Care facility, Grant Lodge, has sensitively engaged with residents and given them a voice in decision making to enhance their food and dining experience.
There have been measurable improvements in nutrition and satisfaction outcomes for residents. This collaborative project has created a positive food and dining culture among residents, their relatives/carers and the Grant Lodge staff, and is an exemplar model for nutritional care in Victorian residential aged care facilities.
Excellence in women's health
POPPY: The Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Led Pessary Clinic
The POPPY pessary clinic at Western Health is the first public health designated physiotherapy-led clinic in Australia.
This innovative model of care has improved access to necessary regular review appointments for women who are managing pelvic organ prolapse +/- urinary incontinence with a vaginal pessary, and decreased the risk of pessary related complications.
