2025 HESTA Excellence Awards — winners announced
Selected from a record more than 420 nominations and 24 national finalists, the eight winners of the 2025 HESTA Excellence Awards have been announced — with the awards recognising leading Australian teams and individuals improving health outcomes through their work in the aged care, allied health, disability and community services sectors.
The winners are…
Aged care
Individual leadership — Emma Payne, The Daisie Chain, Sutherland Shire, NSW
Team excellence — ACH Group’s Social and Health Teams, ACH Group, Mile End, SA
Allied health
Individual leadership — Sandra Iuliano, The University of Melbourne/Medicine, West Heidelberg, Vic
Team excellence — Flying Squad, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic
Disability services
Individual leadership — Emma Weatherley, FSHD Global Research Foundation, Sydney, NSW
Team excellence — Mobility and Accessibility for Children and Adults Ltd (MACA), Kew East, Vic
Community services
Individual leadership — George Halkias, The Big Issue Australia, Melbourne Vic
Team excellence — Education Pathways Program Team, Launch Housing, South Melbourne, Vic
Winners spotlight
Each of the eight winners receive $7500 to be put towards further education, service improvement or team development. Among the eight were two from New South Wales, Emma Payne and Emma Weatherley, recognised for individual leadership in the aged care and disability services sectors, respectively.
Both were recognised for transformative work in their respective sectors: Payne — founder of The Daisie Chain — for her compassionate and innovative approach to dementia care, and Weatherley — CEO and Managing Director of the FSHD Global Research Foundation — for her work in the fight against FSHD (Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy).
“It’s being with people when they’re emotional or vulnerable, entering their world, and understanding what they need in that moment and helping to meet it,” said Payne, whose dementia-friendly café, interactive programs and practical resources foster connection, dignity and joy for people living with dementia, their families, and aged care professionals.
“It’s the look of surprise on a staff member’s face when a resident who is normally non-verbal starts to sing. The joy and connection between a father and his daughter as they join a class together,” Payne added.
Weatherley, who lives with FSHD herself, is recognised for inspiring others through initiatives like the patient-led disease registry the ‘CURE FSHD’ app, which centralises medical data, empowers people living with FSHD to take control of their journey and facilitates clinical trial participation.
“Seeing someone shift from feeling isolated and invisible to becoming informed, engaged and trial-ready is deeply fulfilling,” Weatherley said.
“As someone living with FSHD, and with loved ones also affected, this work is incredibly personal. The responsibility I carry is significant, but it is also a privilege. To lead this Foundation, to amplify the voices of our community and help drive progress towards treatments and a cure, is an honour and gives my life great purpose.”
Other winners included a nutritionist working to improve the quality of food in aged care facilities, and teams working to improve transport safety for people with disabilities and their families, and, as part of an exercise challenge, engaging aged care residents to collectively cycle 546 km.
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