2025 HESTA Excellence Awards finalists announced

From a pool of more than 420 nominations, 24 national finalists across eight categories have been announced for the 2025 HESTA Excellence Awards, which recognise exceptional achievements of individuals and teams across the aged care, allied health, disability services and community services sectors.

Eight winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday, 7 August, each receiving $7500 to further enhance services or processes in the workplace, or for personal or professional development.

“Our members work in some of Australia’s most demanding sectors, and every day they are taking inspiring actions to positively transform the lives of those in their care,” HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said.

“These awards serve as a catalyst for identifying, sharing and celebrating many incredible people and their stories. Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists — we are so pleased at HESTA to be able to help recognise their hard work and dedication.”

The 24 finalists are:

Aged care

Individual leadership

• Kerry Curran, RFBI West Wyalong Masonic Village (NSW)
• Allison Lauder, Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care, Western Health (Vic)
• Emma Payne, The Daisie Chain (NSW)

Team excellence

• ACH Group’s Social and Health Teams
• Atticus Health’s Mark & Sylvie’s Home Care
• Julie Ruzich Physiotherapy and Functional Solutions OT services’ Sarah Lindsay and Julie Ruzich (WA)

Allied health

Individual leadership

• Frances Bilbao, Mums Matter Psychology (Vic)
• Sandra Iuliano, University of Melbourne/Medicine (Vic)
• Linda Nguyen, Care Optometry (NSW)

Team excellence

• Alfred Health’s Stem Cell Transplant Prehab & Rehab Team (Vic)
• The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Flying Squad (Vic)
• The Shepherd Centre’s Tasmania Team (Tas)

Disability services

Individual leadership

• Renae Gunn, Hooves of Hope (SA)
• Cassandra Hughes, Down Syndrome WA (WA)
• Emma Weatherley, FSHD Global Research Foundation (NSW)

Team excellence

• Autism Awareness Australia’s ‘Navigating Autism — The Early Years’ Team (NSW)
• Mobility and Accessibility for Children and Adults Ltd (MACA) (Vic)
• Parkville Precinct Health Services’ Parkville Disability Identification Project Team (Vic)

Community services

Individual leadership

• Kim Duong, Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services (WA)
• George Halkias, The Big Issue Australia (Vic)
• Joel Orchard, Wardell CORE Neighbourhood Centre (NSW)

Team excellence

• Cherished Pets Foundation Care Team (Vic)
• Cockburn Integrated Health’s Cockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Program Team (WA)
• Launch Housing’s Education Pathways Program Team (Vic)
   

Image: 2025 HESTA Excellence Awards finalists collage.