Congratulations to our finalists in the national HESTA Excellence Awards 2024! We are proud to announce that Monash Health has scooped three of the six finalists’ nominations in the Excellence in Allied Health category for Team Excellence and Individual Leadership.
- Jacana First 1000 Days Clinic, Monash Children’s Hospital (Team Excellence)
- Prue Walker, Senior Social Worker – Monash Children’s Hospital (Individual Leadership)
- Pradip Chandra Bhattacharjee – Mental Health Clinician, Trauma Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Facilitator (Individual Leadership)
A record 400 nominations from around the country were submitted, and finalists were chosen for their contribution to the community, exceptional leadership, commitment, and passion to contribute to community health and wellbeing.
The awards highlight outstanding professional excellence; you can read more about each finalist below.
We wish our finalists all the very best when the winners are announced at a ceremony on Thursday, 29 August 2024.
Jacana First 1000 Days Clinic, Monash Children’s Hospital
Team Excellence, Allied Health Category
Front L-R: Danielle Rigoni, Dr Katrina Harris, Natalie Hindman
Back L-R: Lisa Campbell, Paige Bailey, Jade Scott, Hayley Jones, Dr Penelope Stevens
The Jacana First 1000 Days Clinic is recognised for its pioneering work supporting infants and toddlers aged 0-3 years at risk of developmental challenges associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
The multidisciplinary clinical team includes paediatricians, an occupational therapist, a speech pathologist, a social worker, and an Aboriginal Health Nurse, ensuring culturally sensitive and inclusive care.
Since its inception, the clinic has assessed over 80 children and worked with their families to ensure that each child’s developmental needs are identified early. It has also facilitated transformative support that can positively influence their child’s life trajectory. Helping mothers have a healthy next pregnancy is also vitally important.
The clinic sets a standard for proactive care and, through research and collaboration, contributes to a broader understanding of FASD.
If successful, the team will use the prize money to develop a comprehensive website for the service. This would open up a better understanding for families and carers of the support and services available for them and their children.
Prue Walker – Senior Social Worker, Monash Children’s Hospital
Individual Leadership, Allied Health Category
Prue Walker, a senior social worker at the Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service (VicFAS) at Monash Children’s Hospital, has significantly impacted the landscape of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Australia.
Through her Churchill Fellowship, she gained insights from international FASD clinics, leading her to advocate for changes in Australia. She supported the establishment of VicFAS, the only statewide FASD assessment service in Victoria, and developed resources for professionals.
Prue has conducted numerous workshops and contributed to key policy developments, including submissions to the Senate Inquiry into FASD.
Her dedication earned her the 2023 Monash Health Excellence in Allied Health Practice award. Prue’s work emphasises collaboration and perseverance, setting a benchmark for FASD awareness and support, and her initiatives have profoundly improved the lives of affected individuals and families.
Pradip Chandra Bhattacharjee – Mental Health Clinician, Trauma Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Facilitator
Individual Leadership, Allied Health Category
With over 30 years of experience in emergency, intensive care, and mental health, Pradip is recognised for his extensive work as a mental health clinician, Trauma Informed Yoga (TIY) and Mindfulness Facilitator at Monash Health.
Pradip develops and facilitates occupational therapy and TIY programs, focusing on sensory, life skills, and holistic self-care. His work positively impacts clients with trauma histories, and he has received positive feedback and professional recognition. He has interacted with diverse ethnic groups across countries, developing occupational therapy plans encompassing sensory, life skills, and self-care.
Pradip supervises Occupational Therapists, offers structured learning to students, and develops group and individual programs. His focus on maximising independence in psychiatric clients informs his assessments for NDIS funding, aiming to reduce relapses and alleviate public health system pressures.
Pradip is multilingual and multicultural and uses healing methods like traditional and Trauma Informed Yoga alongside contemporary medicine.
He aims to expand TIY practice to benefit all affected by trauma, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and scalability.