Excellence in Allied Health Awards rules

The nominees, finalists and winners

Each local health district/specialty health network (LHD/SHN) will have the opportunity to nominate a maximum of one person/team from their district or network in each category.

The judging panel will shortlist nominees for finalists of each category. All finalists may be showcased through print and digital media and their success may be showcased through print, social and digital media. Each finalist will be invited to attend the NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards ceremony.

The winner of each category will receive $500 to go towards professional development opportunities. All winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony. Their success may be showcased through print, social and digital media. The winners will also receive a trophy and certificate. All nominees and finalists will receive a certificate.

Award rules

1. Nominees must either: hold an Allied Health degree or qualification recognised as a requirement for one of the 23 NSW Health Allied Health professions¹; or be employed in a dedicated Allied Health Assistant, Technician or Support Person role and be nominated in the Allied Health Assistant/Technician/Support Person of the Year category.
2. Nominees must be employed by NSW Health at the time of nomination and remain employed at the time of the Awards ceremony in a designated allied health role, a designated Allied Health Assistant, Technician or Support Person role or another role that substantially utilises their allied health qualifications (or skillset) and professional expertise.
3. For the purposes of the Allied Health Assistant/ Technician/Support Person of the Year Award category, eligible roles may include Allied Health Assistant, Technician, and/or Support Person positions, including those providing administrative support to support allied health services.
4. Nominees for the Allied Health Team of the Year Award² may be single profession allied health teams or multidisciplinary teams within an LHD/SHN consisting of three or more members. Nomination primarily highlights the contribution and impact of allied health. Multidisciplinary teams may include non-allied health staff (e.g. nursing, medical, Aboriginal health or administrative staff), provided that allied health professionals comprise the majority (more than 50%) of the team membership.
5. Each LHD/SHN may nominate a maximum of one person/ team for each of the Award categories.
6. The Directors of Allied Health will coordinate the nomination process for their LHD/SHN, including approving the nominees and declaring any conflict of interest.
7. Nominations must be sent electronically - hard copy nominations will not be accepted.
8. Submissions must adhere to the maximum word count requirements as specified in the nomination form. Any words exceeding the maximum word count will not be considered in the judging process.
9. Nominations should include clear and specific examples demonstrating the nominee's achievements and impact against the award criteria. Generalised descriptions without supporting examples may not be considered sufficient for assessment.
10. It is the responsibility of the Directors of Allied Health to check the employment status and eligibility of their nominees and to exclude those with professional performance issues or those who are ineligible.
11. A nominee must not have been a finalist in the same category for the previous three years.
12. A nominee must not have been a previous winner in the same category, for the previous five years.
13. A nominee may only be in contention for one category in the same year, except for nominees for Aboriginal Allied Health Professional of the Year or Allied Health Team of the Year, who may also be a nominee in one other category.
14. There is no mechanism for appeal. The judging panel’s decision is final and will not be subject to further correspondence.
15. Personal information about nominees and nominators provided in submissions is handled confidentially and will only be used for the purposes of assessment and judging.
16. It will be the responsibility of the respective Directors of Allied Health to ensure prize money is spent toward professional development.
17. Directors of Allied Health are not eligible for nomination for any Award.

Notes

1. As recognised in the current Health Professionals (State) Award, Health Employees' Pharmacists (State) Award, Health and Community Employees' Psychologists (State) Award, or Health Employees' Medical Radiation Scientists (State) Award. Please note that the Djirruwang Program (Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health)) is not an eligible allied health degree/ qualification for one of the 23 NSW allied health professions.
2. For the purposes of the Allied Health Team of the Year Award, a team is defined as a formally established group of three or more staff members who work collaboratively toward a shared service, program, model of care, project, or patient outcome. Teams may be permanent or time-limited and may comprise members from a single allied health profession or multiple professions.