Greek Australians celebrated at 2024 Justice Health NSW Awards

Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW) staff have been recognised at the annual awards ceremony in Sydney.

The 2024 Awards were presented across 24 categories which recognise the hard work and outstanding commitment of health professionals working for Justice Health NSW right across the state.

Among the recipients are three Australians of Greek heritage. Peter George won ‘New to Practice Nurse of the Year,’ Katerina Lagios won ‘Medical Leader of the Year,’ and Larry Kofiotis won ‘AH Assistant/Technician/Support Person of the Year.’

Here is the full list of the 2024 Justice Health NSW Award recipients:

Peak Awards

• Employee of the Year – Claire Lang, Health Centre Clerk, Macquarie Correctional Centre 
• Team of the Year – Metabolic Clinic Team, The Forensic Hospital 
• Leader of the Year – Chloe Prior, Acting Nurse Manager, Dillwynia Area 2 

Nursing Awards

• Aboriginal Nurse of the Year – Emily Blinoff, Nursing Unit Manager, Long Bay Hospital Mental Health.
• Healing Heart Award for Exceptional Care – Michelle Reid, Registered Nurse, CCP transitions, Statewide Community and Court Liaison Service.
• New to Practice Nurse of the Year – Peter George, Enrolled Nurse, Austinmer Women’s.
• Nurse Leadership Award – Chloe Prior, Acting Nurse Manager, Dillwynia Area 2.
• Nurse Lifetime Achievement Award – Michelle Reid, Registered Nurse, CCP transitions, Statewide Community and Court Liaison Service.
• Nurse of the Year – Colette Teirney, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Public and Sexual Health.
• Nurse Team of the Year – HepCare statewide Population Health.

Administration and Support Awards clinical facing and non-clinical facing 

• Non-clinical facing Administration/Support Employee of the Year – Jennifer Ahearn, A/Data Coordinator.
• Clinical Facing Administration/Support Employee of the Year – Claire Lang, Health Centre Clerk, Macquarie Correctional Centre.
• Non-clinical facing Administration/Support Leader of the Year – Alison Smith, Forensic Hospital, Administration Manager.
• Clinical Facing Administration/Support Leader of the Year – Carolynn Dixon, Operations Manager, Statewide Community & Court Liaison Service. 
• Non-clinical facing Administration/Support Team of the Year – Communications Team.
• Clinical Facing Administration/Support Team of the Year – Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, Administration Team.

Medical Awards

• Medical Employee of the Year – Mica Spasojevic, Senior Career Medical Officer.
• Medical New to Practice Employee of the Year – Shelley Xia, Staff Specialist Psychiatrist.
• Medical Leader of the Year – Katerina Lagios, Senior Staff Specialist.
• Medical Team of the Year – Primary Care Medical lead Team.

Allied Health Awards

• AH Assistant/Technician/Support Person of the Year – Larry Kofiotis, Allied Health Assistant Forensic Hospital.
• AH Leader of the Year – Trisha Lloyd, Service Director, Adolescent Mental Health.
• AH Professional of the Year – Law Edwards, Senior Exercise Physiologist, Forensic Hospital.
• Early Career AH Professional of the Year – Emma Papin, Social Worker, Forensic Hospital.
• Multidisciplinary Team of the Year – Metabolic Clinic Team, Forensic Hospital.

The NSW Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson, said, “Justice Health NSW delivers care to some of the most vulnerable members of the community across the entire state and I’m pleased to see so many of staff members being recognised for their exceptional work.”

“While our Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health staff face challenges unlike any other in our healthcare system, they continue to rise to meet the unique needs of their patients so that they are healthy and well when they return to the community. They are doing an incredible job,” Ms Jackson added.

Chief Executive at Justice Health NSW, Wendy Hoey, said “the awards are an opportunity for Justice Health NSW to acknowledge the fantastic work of staff right across the organisation.”

“This year we received 190 nominations over 25 award categories, which was a 25 per cent increase on last year’s nominations and goes to show the fantastic work taking place across Justice Health NSW,” Ms Hoey added.

“All our staff do a fantastic job in supporting our patients to transform their lives. While much of this work goes unseen, this annual award ceremony enables us to shine a light on some of this exceptional work and to celebrate our amazing people.”