At a packed event last night at the Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Gymea, CESPHN held its annual Primary Health Awards. CESPHN’s multicultural community was reflected in our numerous and diverse submissions. All immensely impressive.
The winners, announced at the awards event, received:
Our judges emerged with the following finalists and winners in each of the four categories, plus a ‘special mention’ podcast winner:
Winner: Belmore Medical Services
Belmore Medical (run by Faisal Rifi, Lana Rifi, Dr Jamal Rifi and Shaza Rifi – pictured from left to right above) is a community hub and continues to be a bulk billing clinic in line with its priority to enable access for local socio economically disadvantage communities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Belmore Medical went above and beyond.
At a time when there was a lot of misinformation and a lack of translated information, Dr Rifi co-ordinated a joint statement of 25 Arabic speaking specialists and GPs in Arabic and English encouraging vaccination. This was published in Arabic newspapers and mainstream media. Dr Rifi had a regular column in the Daily Telegraph and appeared frequently on television and social media.
While many practices were closing their doors, Belmore Medical kept its doors open to existing and new patients. They increased staff from 12 to 80 and increased operating hours in response.
They established three drive-through vaccination clinics by building community partnerships, such as with Canterbury Bankstown council and Canterbury Bankstown Leagues club at Belmore sports ground. Across the three vaccination clinics they administered over 37,000 vaccines.
Finalists
Winner: La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
This is a place-based social and emotional wellbeing programme that offers dedicated staff who provide holistic care and case management support to members of the La Perouse Aboriginal community who are experiencing or suffering challenging times. They work to address the social determinants of health as well as provide early intervention and facilitation of access to culturally appropriate clinical services if needed, and offer cultural safety and support to clients. Winners pictured above (from left to right – Corey Ella (SoM Team youth health and wellbeing Team Leader), Baylee Liddell (SoM Team youth health and wellbeing coordinator), Cohen Horwood (SoM Team youth health and wellbeing coordinator) and Carrine Liddell)
Finalists (Unable to attend)
Winner: Erin Brown, Montefiore Aged Care Facility
Erin Brown is an oral health therapist providing an essential in-house dental service at Montefiore Residential Aged Care. Michelle Kleiner, Acting General Manager Allied Health Residential Services, Montefiore (pictured above) accepted the award on her behalf.
Oral health among RACF residents is poorer than it is among the elderly in the general community. Recently with the addition of a portable dental unit, Erin now provides a full range of dental services in the comfort of a consumer’s room. This overcomes many barriers to accessing dental health treatment, particularly for frail residents and those with dementia, further reducing risk of the complications of unattended dental care. Erin’s initiatives have led to reduced mouth disease and sensitivity, better nutrition and improved confidence.
Finalists
Special Mention Podcast Award (in gallery below)
Winner: Independent Community Living Australia
The Prevention and Recovery Centre promotes early intervention and recovery for people with lived experience of complex mental health challenges delivered in partnership between Independent Community Living Australia (ICLA) and South East Sydney Mental Health Services. People with these diagnoses can live well in the community when they have the right mix of services, including psychosocial rehabilitation and support.
Finalists
Health Referral Forms
Immunisation Weekly Update: Updated NSW Immunisation Schedule Updated pneumococcal resources Mpox clinician alert Minor facelift for Handbook Catch-up Calculator Education Updated NSW Immunisation Schedule The NSW Immunisation Schedule has been updated, with the following key changes that reflect updates to the childhood schedule and aim to improve readability for clinicians:…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Scholarship opportunity: 2025 Immunisation Professional Development Seminar Enhancements to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) – August 2025 Maternal RSV vaccine uptake continues to rise following inclusion on NIP New Aboriginal-led immunisation education toolkit Education Scholarship opportunity: 2025 Immunisation Professional Development Seminar Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Prevenar 20 now available for order on SVC Influenza in children: not too late to vaccinate Scholarship opportunity: 2025 Immunisation Professional Development Seminar New mandatory AIR antenatal reporting requirements New adolescent vaccination SKAI resources Abrysvo RSV vaccine safe for co-administration in pregnancy Education Prevenar 20 now available…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change ATAGI statement on RSV administration errors New National Guidelines for Yellow Fever Education Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change Updated NIP childhood pneumococcal schedule The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) has announced changes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) childhood pneumococcal…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025 New RSV resources Updated Handbook chapters Register for free QI activities: Vaccination recall programs No link between aluminium exposure and increased health risks Education Childhood pneumococcal vaccine schedule change from 1 September 2025 The Department of Health, Disability…
