20 January 2026
Nominations have today opened for the 2026 HESTA Excellence Awards. The awards shine a national spotlight on the health professionals and teams making a difference in a range of settings across the aged care, allied health, community services, and disability services sectors.
HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said the HESTA Awards provided a unique opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary impact health and community services professionals make and encouraged people to nominate a team or individual making a difference.
“Health and community services professionals consistently go above and beyond to improve lives and drive positive change,” Ms Blakey said.
“The commitment and resilience they demonstrate is truly extraordinary and has a lasting impact, uplifting individuals and helping to build more inclusive, supportive communities for all.
“I encourage everyone to nominate outstanding individuals and teams for a HESTA award, so we can recognise their outstanding work and inspire others by sharing their stories and achievements.”
Nominations are open until midnight (AEST) Sunday April 12, 2026.
Employers, colleagues, and individuals are invited to nominate for the Individual Leadership or Team Excellence categories. Each category will honour four winners - one from each sector - highlighting the breadth of talent and teamwork across Australia.
Winners will each receive a prize to further their personal or professional development, or to enhance processes and services within their workplaces.
Finalists will be revealed on Tuesday July 7, 2026, ahead of the awards ceremony on Thursday August 6, 2026.
The HESTA Excellence Awards are one of three award ceremonies held across the year, including the HESTA Nursing & Midwifery Awards and the HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards.
For more information on how to nominate and for full award details, visit https://www.hesta.com.au/awards/excellence-awards
The 2025 HESTA Excellence Award winners were:
Aged Care – Individual Leadership
Emma Payne
The Daisie Chain
Sutherland Shire, NSW
Emma Payne, founder of The Daisie Chain, transforms dementia care through music, movement, training and advocacy. Her interactive programs, dementia-friendly cafe and practical resources foster connection, joy and dignity for people living with dementia, their families, and aged care staff.
Aged Care – Team Excellence
ACH Group’s Social and Health Teams
ACH Group
Mile End, SA
ACH Group partnered with Tourism SA’s Tour Down Under to engage 210 aged care residents in a cycling challenge, fostering health, positive relationships, and a sense of community. Residents collectively cycled 546km, with the winning home logging 1,304 minutes on the bikes.
Allied Health – Individual Leadership
Sandra Iuliano
University of Melbourne/Medicine
West Heidelberg, VIC
Sandra Iuliano, a nutritionist and researcher, is recognised for her advocacy in improving the quality of food provided to residents in aged care. A world-first intervention led by Sandra involving more than 7,000 aged care residents demonstrated that improved food quality helps reduce falls, fractures, and malnutrition in residents.
Allied Health – Team Excellence
Flying Squad
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Parkville, VIC
The Flying Squad is recognised for supporting patients with complex psychosocial barriers to leave hospital safely and with dignity. Since November 2021, the team has supported 590 patients with complex discharge needs, saving patients 756 bed days across a single 12-month period, and enabling 70% of patients to return home safely.
Disability Services – Individual Leadership
Emma Weatherley
FSHD Global Research Foundation
Sydney, NSW
As the CEO and Managing Director of FSHD Global Research Foundation and living with FSHD herself, Emma Weatherley is a powerful champion for change, inspiring others to join the fight against Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). She leads groundbreaking initiatives, including the launch of the world’s first patient-led disease registry the ‘CURE FSHD’ app, which centralises medical data, empowers people living with FSHD to take control of their FSHD journey, and facilitates clinical trial participation.
Disability Services – Team Excellence
Mobility and Accessibility for Children and Adults Ltd (MACA)
Kew East, VIC
Mobility and Accessibility for Children and Adults Ltd (MACA) is Australia’s only organisation dedicated to advancing the rights of people with disabilities and medical conditions to safe and equitable motor vehicle transport. The team’s advocacy has led to legislative changes throughout Australia, helping transform transport safety for people with disabilities and their families.
Community Services – Individual Leadership
George Halkias
The Big Issue Australia
Melbourne VIC
George Halkias, a pioneer in sport-for-development, co-founded The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program, which has impacted over 11,000 people from marginalised backgrounds. As National Coach, he uses his passion for sport to inspire stronger, healthier communities and address key social issues.
Community Services – Team Excellence
Education Pathways Program Team
Launch Housing
South Melbourne, VIC
The Education Pathways Program (EPP) Team is recognised for its vital work in improving educational outcomes for children experiencing homelessness and family violence. Since the program’s inception, over 1000 children have re-engaged with education, making a real difference in helping break the cycle of disadvantage.
Ends.
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