Shaping the Future of Primary Care: Nominations Now Open for CESPHN’s 2025 Primary Health Awards 

Nominations for the fourth annual Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Awards are now open. These annual awards recognise primary health care professionals and organisations that have provided exceptional service or an outstanding contribution to primary health care in the Central and Eastern region of Sydney during the previous financial year. 

Nominations can be made in four categories: 

• Excellence in general practice 
• Excellence in allied health practice 
• Excellence in community service delivery 
• Excellence in Aboriginal health and wellbeing achievement.

Three nominees will be shortlisted for each category and invited to the Primary Health Awards dinner which will take place on October 23 at Aqua Luna in Drummoyne.  

Last year’s Primary Health Award recipients each invested their $2,000 prize money into projects designed in line with CESPHN’s vision of healthy and thriving communities. We caught up with the 2024 winners to see how they have used their prize money to progress their work.

Earlwood Medical Centre won the Excellence in General Practice Award for their free domestic violence victims’ support service. They used their prize money to launch a groundbreaking research initiative on the role of artificial intelligence in general practice.

The study, now progressing toward ethics approval, will offer critical insights into how AI can be safely and effectively used in primary care. 

Earlwood Medical Centre’s Chief Growth Officer, Sim Yang, said: “Winning the award meant staff feel deeply valued for their dedication to patient care. The accolade is now proudly displayed at the practice reception.  

“The awards night also provided opportunities for networking and collaboration with clinicians from across central and eastern Sydney, further strengthening ties within the broader healthcare community.” 

Survivors Teaching Students won the Excellence in Community Service Delivery Award for a community-based volunteer program linking ovarian cancer survivors to students in the health professions.

They expanded their team of trained volunteers who share lived experiences with health students. Thanks to the award, they were able to reach even more classrooms – ensuring tomorrow’s doctors and nurses understand the importance of timely detection and good communication. 

Since the program began in 2017, volunteers from Survivors Teaching Students have spoken to nearly 20,000 students across Australia and there are currently 17 active volunteers in the Sydney region. 

Volunteers Jacinta Frawley and Kristin Young were ecstatic to receive the award and help spread the message and power of this programme. 

PhysiCo City won the Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Achievement Award for their commitment to creating inclusive and culturally competent practice. They invested their grant in new training equipment to support clients’ rehab journeys and boost confidence in everyday fitness.  

We encourage you to nominate and share this information with your colleagues and other stakeholders. Further information, including nomination criteria can be found on our website and you can contact us about the awards at engagement@cesphn.com.au.  

Nominations will close at midnight on 31 August 2025.