Excellence in Allied Health Awards

Ryan Taylor

Physiotherapist, South Eastern Sydney LHD

Ryan is a proud Ngemba/Murrawurri man and an Aboriginal allied health professional working within South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD). He is passionate about improving the cultural safety of hospitals and making healthcare more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to Aboriginal communities.  

As a Student Educator, Ryan mentors Aboriginal trainees, cadets, and early-career staff, nurturing confidence, leadership, and professional identity. He has also led the Aboriginal Allied Health Network forums with the Health Education and Training Institute (HETI), enhancing cultural connection and professional capability of Aboriginal allied health staff across NSW.  

Through collaboration with communities, universities, and health services, Ryan drives Aboriginal representation, retention, and leadership within the health system. His work reflects a deep commitment to building culturally strong, equitable healthcare environments that empower Aboriginal people and strengthen the Aboriginal allied health workforce in SESLHD.  

Helen McGregor

Podiatrist, Northern NSW LHD

Helen McGregor is an advanced skills podiatrist in Northern NSW LHD whose career spans over four decades. Helen has dedicated herself to improving patient outcomes and empowering colleagues through clinical training and capacity building. She has fostered innovative programs like the medical specialist and Pedorthic multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinics and developed clinical training programs building multi-profession skills in wound care.   

Helen thrives on collaboration and leading multidisciplinary teamwork to deliver best-practice care for patients with complex needs. With a commitment to continuous improvement, Helen continues to develop procedures, policies and audit tools to strengthen governance. Colleagues describe her as gentle, thorough, and deeply committed to patient-centred care.   

A dedicated mentor and educator, she has supported countless students and colleagues through skill development and confidence building. Known as a quiet achiever, Helen's humility, quiet determination, professionalism, and integrity have transformed Podiatry services and inspired colleagues throughout NSW Health.  

Nicole Gregoriou

Social Worker, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD

Nicole completed a student placement at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital before joining the team as a Graduate Social Worker. She has gained broad experience across multiple hospital wards, including geriatric, acute care, rehabilitation, and maternity, providing her with a strong foundation in managing complex and diverse care needs.

Working within the Shoalhaven region, Nicole supports individuals and families through guardianship processes, child protection matters, aged care advocacy, and navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with confidence and clarity. She has a particular passion for Aboriginal health and is an active participant in the Shoalhaven Talking to Our Mob Project (STTOMP), delivering mobile social work services beyond hospital walls and fostering meaningful community connections.

Nicole brings cultural sensitivity, strong advocacy skills, and compassion to her practice, ensuring client-centered, respectful, and holistic care across all settings.   

Georgia Lloyd

Pharmacist, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network

Georgia is an experienced hospital pharmacist with a strong focus on evidence-based adult learning, quality improvement, and workforce development. She is the Lead Pharmacist – Workforce Development at the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, where she leads training programs for undergraduate, intern, and registered pharmacists across the organisation.  

Georgia has a background in clinical pharmacy practice, teaching, and project management. Career highlights include implementing Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting (PPMC) models of care across Victoria and NSW and designing and delivering training programs to upskill pharmacists in rural and regional hospital settings. Her contributions to the field of education and training have been recognised through her appointment as a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacists.  

Georgia is also a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with research focused on collaborative pharmacist prescribing models and medication safety in paediatric care. Georgia also serves as a Conjoint Lecturer with the UNSW School of Health Sciences, supporting the development of future health professionals.  

Tia Croft

Speech Pathologist, South Western Sydney LHD

As Director of Speech Pathology for South Western Sydney LHD and Head of Department at Liverpool Hospital, Tia Croft is a respected leader recognised for driving innovation through empowering clinicians, collaborative partnerships and practice-based research.

She is a strong ally to vulnerable communities and is committed to improving Aboriginal health outcomes, working alongside community organisations to deliver culturally safe, community-led care. Tia also works closely with university partners to build future workforce capability and advance clinician-led research.

As co-chair of the NSW Health Speech Pathology Advisory Network, she champions system wide improvement and advocates for people with communication and swallowing difficulties. Known for her authentic and empowering leadership style, Tia creates environments where staff wellbeing, professional growth, high quality care and sustainable partnerships thrive, creating a positive impact on patients, clinicians and the broader health system.   

Meegan Shepherd

Radiation Therapist, Northern Sydney LHD

Meegan is a Radiation Therapist (RT) at Royal North Shore Hospital and researcher specialising in education, motion management, adaptive-radiotherapy (ART) and emerging technologies (AI) in cancer care. She holds three Masters degrees in Radiotherapy, Education and Advanced Practice, and is soon to commence doctoral studies.  

Meegan leads and contributes to multiple clinical trials across gastro-intestinal cancer, ART and AI-enabled radiotherapy. Her research is published in local and international journals, translated into practice, workforce credentialing and models of care that reduce patient burden, elevate RTs, support value-based healthcare and improve outcomes.  
  
With nearly two decades of NSW Health service, Meegan is driven by an interest in the future of radiotherapy. She explores how advanced practice, AI and ART can reshape patient care and the workforce. She has academic appointments with Monash and Sydney University, is secretary of the Australia-New Zealand Medical Radiation Research Network and chair the global RT-led ART community of practice.  

Deanna Stenhouse

Allied Health Assistant, Murrumbidgee LHD

Deanna completed her Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance in 2025 and works as an Allied Health Assistant in the rural and remote town of Lake Cargelligo, where she grew up. Her previous career in early childhood education led to the establishment of strong relationships within the Indigenous and wider community that now underpin her exceptional healthcare work. As a mother to a child with Down Syndrome, Deanna brings authentic passion and lived experience to advocate for clients with intellectual disabilities and vulnerable populations.

In a short time, Deanna has become a vital link connecting community members with multidisciplinary allied health services, supporting the implementation of social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and dietetics care plans. She has collaborated on initiatives including Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs. Her holistic approach, strong work ethic, and genuine community connections have already led to improved health outcomes in the community.