2026 GV Health’s Allied Health Award Winners Announced!
This week, GV Health marked Allied Health Professions Day by celebrating the people behind so much of the care we deliver: our physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists, allied health assistants, technicians and many more.
From our wards to community programs, mental health and aged care, their compassion, innovation, and teamwork make a real difference to our patients and community every day.
As part of the celebrations, we announced the winners of our 2026 Allied Health Awards. Congratulations to all winners and finalists!
Leadership and Innovation Award
For an Allied Health Professional who demonstrates outstanding leadership and facilitates innovation in service provision.
Winner: Louise Robbins, Critical Care Lead Pharmacist
Finalists: Scott Corbett, Acting Director of Allied Health; Demi Thorne, Senior Occupational Therapist
CREATE+ Distinguished Professional Practice Award
For an Allied Health Professional who demonstrates sustained excellence in professional practice and makes a significant contribution to the delivery of high-quality health care.
Winner: Louise Robbins, Critical Care Lead Pharmacist
Finalists: Karen Cline, Personality Disorder Specialist Service (PDSS) Clinician; Emma Perry, Dietitian, AACP
CREATE Outstanding Professional Practice Award
For an early career practitioner who demonstrates exceptional potential and a high level of professional attributes.
Winner: Tanner Edwards, Exercise Physiologist, CRC
Finalist: Nguyen Ngoc Vy Tran, Social Worker, Trauma Informed Services
Excellence in Education Award
For an Allied Health Professional who demonstrates a commitment to supervision, mentoring and the development of others.
Winner: Maria Perry, Senior Physiotherapist, CRC & Physiotherapy
Finalists: Karen Cline, Mental Health Social Work Clinical Educator; Katrina Miller, Clinical Educator, headspace
Quality Improvement and Research Award
For an Allied Health Professional who demonstrates a commitment towards undertaking high-value quality improvement activities or research to enhance Allied Health services.
Winner: Annalise Ospresnik, Physiotherapist, CRC
Service Support Award
For an Allied Health Assistant/Technician or Support Person who has made a significant and valued contribution to the support of allied health services.
Winner: Liz Shultz, Rostering and Procedures Lead, Service Access Unit
Finalists: Kim Brewer, Senior Allied Health Assistant, Physiotherapy; Josephine Villani, Pharmacy Technician
A special congratulations to Louise Robbins, who took home two awards this year in recognition of her leadership, innovation and sustained excellence in practice.
Thank you to all our nominees and finalists, and to everyone who took the time to nominate a colleague. Recognising one another’s work is one of the best ways we can celebrate what Allied Health brings to GV Health.
