ACHS’s 28th Annual QI Award Winners Announced

The winners of the ACHS Quality Improvement (QI) Awards in 2025 have been announced during the ACHS Annual Awards Ceremony.

The following winning organisations showcased dedication to fostering innovation in various healthcare settings, focusing on enhancements in patient safety and outcomes. Congratulations go to Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) from New South Wales (NSW) in two award categories and Eastern Health from Victoria (VIC). 

Dr Karen Luxford, ACHS CEO, presented the awards across three categories: Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety, Sustainable Healthcare and Service Delivery and Healthcare Measurement.

The Clinical Excellence and Patient Safety Award was presented to the Centre for Psychotherapy, Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) for their project ‘TIATRA – Telehealth Increased Access to Treatment in Rural Areas’. This initiative project focused on improving access to Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for people with Borderline Personality Disorder living in rural communities. By introducing a hybrid telehealth model that combined virtual skills group therapy with locally delivered individual sessions, the project successfully addressed barriers to care and enhanced access to evidence-based treatment. Collaboration with patients and clinicians throughout development and implementation ensured the approach was patient-centred and practical. Rigorous evaluation confirmed its effectiveness and scalability, laying the foundation for a sustainable, evidence-informed model to improve rural mental health services.

Eastern Health received the Sustainable Healthcare and Service Delivery Award for their project ‘Improving food service safety and reducing food waste in Emergency and Short Stay Departments’. The team redesigned food systems at Box Hill Hospital to create a safer, less wasteful approach that prioritised patient choice and satisfaction. By introducing ad-hoc meal ordering, they reduced food waste while improving identification of dietary needs, allergens, and modified textures to enhance patient safety. Consumer engagement was central to the project, with surveys conducted before and after implementation to guide improvements. This innovative model demonstrated how patient safety, choice, and sustainability can be achieved together, delivering benefits for both patients and the environment.

Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) won the Healthcare Measurement Award for their project ‘Healthy Beginnings for HNE Kids – from pilot to HNE-wide scale-up’. This program embedded evidence-based digital health interventions into routine care for children aged 0–5 years and their families, focusing on the critical first 2000 days of life. By leveraging existing infrastructure, the team delivered a cost-effective and scalable model that improved engagement with preventative healthcare. A learning health system was implemented to continually optimise program effectiveness, while co-design with parents and health services ensured tailored support. Through research-driven quality improvement and resourceful use of technology, the project successfully enhanced early childhood health outcomes and provided families with simplified, accessible care.

Dr Luxford remarked “These projects show how collaboration and creativity can transform healthcare delivery. Each winner has demonstrated that quality improvement is not just about meeting standards—it’s about making a real difference to patients’ lives. Congratulations again to our winners”.

For further information about the winning submissions and other highly commended entrants please view the latest Quality Initiatives Publication on the ACHS Website. 

Contact Marketing Director, Gemma Puplett on (02) 9281 9955 for more information.