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Staff from across the Darling Downs region recently gathered at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus to honour remarkable achievements at the 2025 Darling Downs Health Annual Awards.
The ceremony brought together colleagues, teams, and leaders to shine a spotlight on the compassion, integrity, dignity, courage and innovation that drive exceptional care across our health service.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM, said the awards celebrated the incredible people who make the health service what it is.
“These awards are our moment to pause, to reflect on the extraordinary impact our people have on patients and communities every day,” Ms Scott said.
“These awards are our moment to pause, to reflect on the extraordinary impact our people have on patients and communities every day”
Health Service Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM
“Behind every achievement is a story of dedication, compassion, and care that shapes the future of health on the Darling Downs.”
Awards were presented across 10 categories that reflect the values of Darling Downs Health as well others including volunteering and research.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board Chair, Dr Dennis Campbell said he was proud to have presented the Stronger Future Awards, which acknowledged staff whose initiatives were enhancing the sustainability and resilience of the health service.
“These awards remind us that innovation isn’t just an idea—it’s teamwork translated into better patient journeys, empowered staff and smarter systems,” said Dr Campbell.
“These teams are building the foundations for a healthier, more sustainable service well into the future.”
“From Warwick and Kingaroy to Dalby and Toowoomba, our people represent a culture of excellence that places patients at the centre of everything we do,” Dr Campbell said.
2025 winners:
Compassion:
Julianne Krueger, Administration Officer, Refugee Health
Julianne meets newly arrived refugees with warmth and patience, restoring dignity in unfamiliar settings.
Integrity:
Helen Schmidt, Administration Officer, Risk and Compliance
Helen provides honest, timely recommendations that have boosted the clarity and impact of organisational communications.
Dignity:
Kay Priebbenow, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
Kay advocates for First Nations families, embedding culture in care and fostering inclusive workplaces.
Innovation:
Zali Dawes, Haematology Nurse Practitioner
Zali pioneered nurse-led clinics and learnt bone marrow aspirate procedures, improving patient access and timeline.
Courage:
James Fulton, Ambassador, Kingaroy Hospital
James stayed calm under threat at Kingaroy Hospital, guiding patients and staff to safety, liaising with police and defusing a volatile situation with extraordinary bravery.
Volunteer:
Delma Woodall, Kingaroy Hospital
Delma welcomes every visitor to Kingaroy Hospital with kindness and respect, ensuring a positive first impression.
Research:
Associate Professor Vikas Garg, Psychiatrist
Vikas led cross-institutional studies, mentoring numerous researchers and strengthening our research culture.
Stronger Future:
All three finalist teams in each category were acknowledged as winners for their collaborative projects that bolster sustainability and care:
Improved patient access and flow
- Diabetes in Pregnancy, Endocrinology, Toowoomba Hospital
Launched an online gestational diabetes risk questionnaire that streamlined assessments, reduced clinician workload and empowered patients. - Infection Prevention and Control, Clinical Governance, Toowoomba Hospital
Developed a real-time infection control dashboard, giving staff instant visibility of infectious bed status and improving hospital-wide oversight. - Emergency Department and Acute, Oakey Hospital
Redesigned patient transfer pathways for long-stay cases, upskilling staff and creating a smoother journey for patients.
Improved focus on our people
- Allied Health South Burnett, Kingaroy Hospital
Embedded a quality-improvement culture that boosted service excellence, professional development and team connection in regional care. - Nursing and Midwifery Education Services, Toowoomba Hospital
Delivered over 1,100 tailored education sessions engaging nearly 8,000 staff across specialties, elevating clinical skills and confidence. - People and Culture Communications Team, Baillie Henderson Hospital
Introduced cross-functional huddles, a central SharePoint hub and dynamic newsletters to strengthen collaboration and staff engagement.
Improved business processes and removing barriers
- Clinical Documentation Specialists, Toowoomba Hospital
Partnered with clinicians to clarify patient records, enhancing documentation accuracy, avoiding delays and clinician engagement resulting in better care decisions. - Reprocessing Compliance and Governance, Toowoomba Hospital
Created a district-wide reprocessing equipment register that streamlined compliance, reduced downtime and improved patient safety. - Telehealth, Surgical and Cancer Management, Toowoomba Hospital
Rolled out Virtual Connect to reduced telehealth booking errors and cancellations, ensuring patients attend the right appointment first time.