Dr Lydia Garside has shown excellence in service through her leadership of a pioneering simulation-based training program for child sexual assault examinations. She strengthened the capability, confidence and trauma-informed practice of her own team, then expanded the program to local and national communities, improving care for highly vulnerable children.
Dr Garside is a role model for positive cultural change, inspiring clinicians to engage with confronting content in a safe, supported and professional learning environment. Her approach is collaborative, bringing together clinicians, educators, governance leads and partner agencies to co-design training that reflects best practice and lived experience. She fosters effective teamwork by creating psychologically safe spaces where staff can learn, debrief, and build shared standards of care. Throughout this work, Dr Garside demonstrates strong corporate and clinical governance, embedding NSW Health CORE values in every aspect of the program. Her leadership has delivered measurable improvements in clinical quality, workforce capability and the consistency of care provided to children and families at an intensely vulnerable time.
The 2026 Staff Member of the Year Award is proudly sponsored by LeasePLUS
