HEALTHCARE TODAY: News and views from the Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare Ltd

IHHC announces QLD/NSW and WA Excellence Award winners for 2021

The IHHC QLD/NSW branch held our midyear dinner in July, with reduced numbers due to travel restrictions imposed by the recent lockdowns. We were pleased to be able to announce the QLD/NSW winners of this year’s Excellence Awards as follows:

  • QLD/NSW Project of the Year, Award Winner: Opening Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitations Services (STARS) Hospital, Brisbane: customer focused digital food services - STARS Dietetics and Food Services

  • QLD/NSW Project of the Year Award, Highly Commended: NoosaCare's New Dementia Project - Jamie Oakley, Hotel Services Manager NoosaCare

  • QLD/NSW Brightest Star Award Winner: Rajesh Pundir, Chef STARS, Metro North Health

  • QLD/NSW Values in Action Award Winner: Nicole Aitcheson, Food Services Attendant, STARS Metro North Health

  • QLD/NSW Leadership Award Winner: Troy Litzow, IHHC National Vice President & Project Officer, Food Safety Auditor Qld Health Statewide Food Services, Metro North Health

  • QLD/NSW Leadership Award, Highly Commended: Brendan Host, IHHC Qld Treasurer & Site Coordinator, Dietetics & Food Services, STARS Metro North Health

As can be seen from the above, Queensland’s first new ‘digital ready’ hospital STARS scooped the pool this year, with its team members winning in three out of four award categories. Comprising 182 beds, special purpose rehabilitation support areas and a surgical/endoscopic centre, the STARS facility commenced clinical services in February, and will provide specialist public health care for long stay acute rehabilitation patients along with elective surgery services.

Award 1.jpg

At time of writing our WA branch has also just announced its Excellence Awards winners:

  • WA Values in Action Award Winner: Kylie Edwards, Coffee Shop Coordinator, St John of God Subiaco

  • WA Brightest Star Award Winner: Robyn Gibbons, Hotel Support Worker, Catholic Homes

  • WA Project of the Year Award Winner: Bush tucker for all at Fiona Stanley Hospital - FSH Patient Catering and Dietetics (David Dymond, Jane Porter, Bianca Guthrie, Genaveve Palmer) – Fiona Stanley Hospital, Fremantle

  • WA Leadership Award Winner: David Dymond, Catering Manager, South Metropolitan Health Service

Congratulations to all winners announced so far. The Excellence Awards for Victoria are set to be announced later in the year when COVID restrictions are eased in Melbourne, and the SA winners on 12 November. Our national award winners will be announced at the upcoming IHHC Conference – please see below for important news regarding this.

New dates announced for IHHC Conference

Regular readers of this column will have been following the announcements relating to the IHHC National Conference over the past few issues. Unfortunately, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation the IHHC has made the hard decision to postpone the Conference until 14-16 February 2022.

We have not made this decision lightly and we want to reassure you that we are committed to hosting the IHHC Conference. We know that you value the opportunity to meet and hear from industry speakers and supporters and we look forward to connecting face-to-face early next year. 

Please note if you have purchased a ticket, you have already been contacted to discuss options for a refund or to move your ticket to the new dates. 

TROY LITZOW
National Vice President IHHC