On 7 November, we hosted our annual Monash Health Health Promotion Awards at The Beaconsfield Club, honouring 91 remarkable community members and organisations who have transformed local services, schools, and clubs into healthier, more welcoming spaces. Each finalist has made lasting contributions to the wellbeing of their community by promoting positive changes within their clubs, services, and groups.
A highlight of this year’s awards was the Reducing Tobacco Harm recognition, presented to Nimalini (Nim) Maheswaran and a team of dedicated Year 11 students—Michelle Prak, Olivia Argaet, Janelle Bias, and Cindy Phao—from Lyndhurst Secondary College. Reflecting on the experience, Cindy Phao shared, “Making the video taught me so much, but what I loved most was being part of something bigger that will hopefully make a difference.”
We welcomed 100 attendees to our event, an inspiring gathering to celebrate and recognise these individuals for their impactful work in our community.
Here are our Awards 2024 Winners and their Achievements:
Alternate Leisure
- Winner: Steve Hill and Samantha Cutler, Myuna Farm
- Achievement: Through the Alternate Leisure Initiative, Steve and Samantha have integrated healthy eating messages at Myuna Farm, connecting children with the origins of nutritious food through their educational sessions.
Sports Clubs
- Winner: Claudio Riga, Springvale Dandenong Masters Athletics Club
- Achievement: Claudio has focused on injury prevention, cultural inclusion, and providing healthier food options. He organises events like the Healthy Eating handicap sprint, where nutritious hampers are awarded to winners.
Schools
- Winners: Paul Sharp and Glenis Cheyne, Holy Family Catholic Primary School Doveton
- Achievement: Through partnerships, they’ve established a breakfast club and a community garden, where students grow, harvest, and prepare food, fostering connections and healthy eating habits.
Outside School Hours Care
- Winner: Kavita Jagtap, Team Kids at Berwick Fields Primary
- Achievement: Kavita’s work with Vic Kids Eat Well promotes healthy eating and active play, instilling positive habits in children and their families.
Early Years
- Winner: Christine Sculley, Homegarth Community Kindergarten
- Achievement: Christine has incorporated sustainability, healthy eating, and outdoor play initiatives, promoting wellness and connecting children with nature in all weather.
Community Champion
- Winner: Fissaha Gobena
- Achievement: Fissaha strengthens the Oromo community by sharing health information, building confidence, and fostering connections and support networks.
Health Area Winners
Healthy Eating
- Winner: Shweta Rajan, Goodstart Early Learning Coral Drive Hampton Park
- Achievement: Shweta’s team piloted Monash Health’s Nutrition Resource Pack and was awarded an external grant to build a First Nations Garden, enriching cultural and educational experiences at the centre.
Physical Activity
- Winner: Suzanne Lawrence, Noble Park Tennis Club
- Achievement: Suzanne’s leadership has expanded the club’s offerings to include social tennis and pickleball, a walking group, and low-cost clubroom hire for community activity groups, promoting inclusivity and access to physical activity for all.
Reducing Tobacco Harm
- Winners: Nimalini (Nim) Maheswaran and students Michelle Prak, Olivia Argaet, Janelle Bias and Cindy Phao from Lyndhurst Secondary College
- Achievement: Nim and students created an anti-vaping video with the City of Casey, educating peers on the dangers of vaping. Watch their video.
Inclusion
- Winner: Tina Alejandro, Elemental Aerial Studio
- Achievement: Tina has transformed Elemental Aerial Studio into an inclusive space, offering neurodivergent-friendly classes and support for LGBTQI+ and culturally diverse students.
We would also like to extend our thanks to this year’s presenters, both from within Monash Health and our external partners, including Mohana Baptista from the Australian Health Promotion Association Vic/Tas Branch, Xavier Walsh and Kiran Nair from VicHealth, and Zoe Francis from Women’s Health in the South East.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the event—our nominators, attendees, and partners. Your passion and commitment to health promotion inspire us all.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue working with such motivated individuals and organisations to improve health outcomes for everyone. Please contact us if you would like to join us on this journey.