Wednesday, 29 November 2023

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:42): I rise to update the house on the winners of the 2023 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. Earlier this month I joined the Minister for Health at the awards to celebrate Victoria’s healthcare workers and their achievements. These awards are an opportunity for healthcare workers, public health services, community groups and volunteers to come together and celebrate their vital work delivering support and care for all Victorians.

I had the pleasure of presenting the awards for excellence both in mental health and wellbeing and in aged care. The Excellence in Mental Health and Wellbeing award, won by St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and their mental health, alcohol and other drug hub, recognises initiatives that advance the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s vision of creating a compassionate mental health system based on lived experience, leadership, holistic treatment and support for all Victorians. The Excellence in Aged Care award, awarded to Monash Health residential aged care for the customised prevention of occupational violence and aggression training package, celebrates the outstanding work taking place in our public aged care sector, delivering programs and services to meet the needs of the increasing number of older Victorians.

A number of mental health and wellbeing programs took out the highest honours of the evening, including the Yarra Ranges Rural Rainbows mindfulness group of young LGBTIQA+ people and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network’s program to strengthen paediatric mental health care. Congratulations to all who were nominated. It is so important to acknowledge and celebrate health and wellbeing programs and our incredible workforce for their work. We thank our mental health workers for being the foundation of the reformed mental health system.