Two awards recognise our role in NSW pandemic response

3 December 2020

Two health management awards from the inaugural Australian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) NSW Branch Health Manager Leadership Awards mark the extensive contribution the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) has made to safe and effective healthcare during 2020.

A team award has been presented to the 100-plus health managers who make up the CEC, recognising their ongoing commitment to safety improvement and the extensive efforts realised in 2020 advising and supporting government and non-government agencies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

This nomination recognises CEC staff who were agile and adaptive as the pandemic emerged, quickly re-organising teams to lead infection prevention and control resources, training and implementation in NSW.

CEC Senior Manager Healthcare Acquired Infections Kathy Dempsey was individually recognised in the ACHSM awards for her extraordinary commitment, energy and leadership on NSW's infection prevention and control response.

Addressing the online leadership event on behalf of the Minister for Health and Medical Research, Brad Hazzard, CEC Chief Executive Carrie Marr said it was fitting that in 2020, a year of fire, flood and pandemic, the ACHSM had decided to recognise, develop and support effective health leadership.

"2020 was the year we could never expect but in spite of all the upheaval, maintaining excellent health services is a responsibility we've continued to keep," Ms Marr said.

"If you reflect on the last year you'd reflect on our colleagues and the extraordinary leadership which has shone through and supported all of us as we've faced challenges and moved decisively with compassion to what has been a challenging and changing environment.

"The CEC has played a lead role in providing advice on infection prevention and control through an expert clinical team. Between 31 January 2020 and 31 October 2020, 125 new COVID 19 resources, were developed by our teams and around 360 personal protective equipment products were reviewed.

"Our resources were used widely by healthcare workers and the broader community including aged care, education and private industry.

"It's excellent to see our knowledge and expertise can be used across such a diverse set of agencies and industry and it's wonderful to be with ACHSM as they celebrate those managers and leaders who we are so very grateful for and who are making a difference."

The Australian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) inaugural NSW Branch Health Manager Leadership Awards are designed to highlight the role health managers play in the delivery of high-quality care for the people of NSW.

ACHSM President NSW Branch and CEC Director Capability and Culture Karen Patterson said the intention of the awards were to:

  • Acknowledge and celebrate health management leaders in NSW;
  • Contribute to building a stronger sense of health management community and professional networks within the NSW membership base;
  • Recognise that leadership does not just happen at the top, but at every level, in every setting and in many ways across NSW; and
  • Create a platform for discussion within the health management community about what are the core capabilities are for effective and impactful healthcare leaders.

Learn more about the ACHSM awards and nominees.