
Media Release – 3 June 2025
Finalists Revealed: 2025 Victorian Rural Health Awards Mark 20 Years of Celebrating Rural Healthcare Excellence
Melbourne, Victoria, 3 June 2025: The Rural Workforce Agency Victoria (RWAV), in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health, is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 Victorian Rural Health Awards, as the program celebrates its 20th year of honouring the individuals and teams making a profound difference in rural and regional healthcare across Victoria.
Since 2005, the Victorian Rural Health Awards have grown into one of the most respected awards in the state’s health sector. They shine a light on those whose dedication, resilience, and service often go unseen, but never unfelt, by the communities they care for.
The Awards encompass the full spectrum of the healthcare workforce, recognising not only frontline clinical providers, but also mentors, practice managers, outreach providers, consumer advocates, and students—all playing vital roles in creating a stronger, more sustainable rural health system.
RWAV CEO Lauren Cordwell said the Awards are about more than accolades—they represent community recognition and a moment to pause and thank those whose work is often carried out in isolation and under significant pressure.
Quotes from Lauren Cordwell, RWAV CEO
“These Awards are deeply meaningful to the nominees and to the communities they serve. For many, it’s not just about being acknowledged by their peers or our organisation, it’s about hearing their local community say, ‘We see you. We thank you,’” Ms Cordwell said.
“It is no secret that rural and regional healthcare comes with challenges, from workforce shortages to geographic isolation, but the professionals we are recognising today continue to show unwavering commitment, compassion, and innovation. They are the lifeblood of rural and regional Victoria’s health system.”
The 2025 Victorian Rural Health Awards is proud to present the finalists who have been recognised by their peers and communities for their extraordinary contributions to rural health.
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural GP or Rural Generalist
- Dr Anand Patel, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura
- Dr Dalbir Singh, Portland Family Practice, Portland
- Dr Dipankar Chakraborty, South Wangaratta Medical Centre – Aurora Skin Cancer Centre, Wangaratta
- Dr Caroline Shipley, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram Health, Tongala, HITH, Kyabram
- Dr Fahad Jamil, Don Street Medical, Bendigo
- Dr Gregory Hayes, Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre, Lakes Entrance
- Dr Hugh Chisholm, Leongatha Healthcare and Gippsland Southern Health Service, Leongatha
- Dr Joel Monmolin, Healesville Medical Centre, Healesville
- Dr Justin Donaldson, Alba Health Medical Clinic, Myrtleford
- Dr Laura Zagorski, Mount Beauty Medical Centre, Mount Beauty
- Dr Muhammad Raza, Drouin Family Medical Centre, Drouin
- Dr Paul Cotton, Gippsland Southern Health Service – Leongatha and Korumburra Campuses, Leongatha & Korumburra
- Dr Peter Rogers, Healesville Medical Centre, Healesville
- Dr Terence Heng, Apollo Bay Medical Centre, Apollo Bay
- Dr Timothy Watford, Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative, Bairnsdale
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Medical Specialist
- Dr Bala Shankar Saravansubramaniam, Victorian Cardia Care, Swan Hill
- Dr Chi Li, Albury Wodonga Health, Albury & Wodonga
- Dr David Bertovic, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne and Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative, Bairnsdale
- Dr Fahad Jamil, Don Street Medical, Bendigo
- Mrs Kelly Gibbons, Wodonga Eyecare, Wodonga
- Dr Robert Dawson, Latrobe Regional Health, Traralgon
- Dr Ruwangi Udayasiri, Goulburn Valley Health and Shepparton Women’s Health Centre, Shepparton
- Mrs Sam Hellsten, Swan Hill Primary Care Medical Centre, Swan Hill
Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
- Dr Anand Patel, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura
- Dr David Bertovic, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne and Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative, Bairnsdale
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Health Consumer Advocate
- Mr Campbell Craig, Great Ocean Road Health, Lorne
- Mrs Sally Fraser, Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, La Trobe University, Bendigo
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Multidisciplinary Team
- Allied Health Team, South Gippsland Hospital, Foster
- Central General Practice, Mansfield
- Going Rural Health Team, across Ballarat/Grampians, Shepparton/Goulburn Valley regions, Wangaratta/Hume regions
- Great Ocean Road Health, Apollo Bay
- Health Heart Program – Alba Health Team, Myrtleford
- Kara Di Dio Speech Pathology – The Dazzle, Traralgon
- Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura
- Ontario Medical Clinic, Mildura
Outstanding Contribution by a Mentor or Supervisor
- Dr Anand Patel, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Mildura
- Dr Dalbir Singh, Portland Family Practice, Portland
- Dr Mathew Jacob, Grampians Health, Ballarat
- Dr Mehdi Sanatipour, Sunraysia Medical Centre, Red Cliffs
- Mr Steven Pitman, Yarrawonga Health, Yarrawonga & NCN Health, Nathalia, Cobram & Numurkah
- Ms Zara Humphreys, Grampians Health, Horsham
Outstanding Contribution by a Rural Primary Care Nurse or Midwife
- Mrs Amanda Wilson, Lister House Medical Clinic, Horsham
- Mrs Erica Maguire, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram
- Miss Jessica Elbourne, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram
- Mrs Kate Worsfold, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram
- Mrs Kylie Sharp, Gladstone Street Medical Clinic, Warragul
- Mrs Lara Low, Anglesea Medical, Anglesea
- Mrs Leanne James, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram
- Ms Natasha Messfeldt, Healesville Medical Centre, Healesville
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Allied Health
- Miss Anna Lucchesi, Neuro Spark Rehab, Shepparton
- Mrs Brooke Shelly, Ontario Medical Clinic, Mildura
- Mr Campbell Craig, Great Ocean Road Health, Apollo Bay
- Ms Chelsea McMillan, La La Speech Pathology, Bairnsdale
- Mr Daniel Thomson, Ross Chiappazzo & Associates Optometrists, Bendigo
- Ms Kelsey Morcombe, Grampians Health, across Ballarat, Stawell, Horsham, Edenhope and Dimboola
- Ms Kerrie Thomsen, Hallmark Integrated Health Services, Bairnsdale
- Mr Kevin James, Balance Health Phillip Island, RMIT University, UniSA, Pain Revolution, Pain Australia, AHPRA, Cowes
- Ms Kirby Egan, Grampians Health, across Ballarat, Stawell, Horsham, Edenhope and Dimboola
- Ms Kim Haebich, Gateway Health – Student Psychology Clinic, Wangaratta
- Mrs Lesley Robinson, West Wimmera Health Service, Nhill
- Dr Louise Bibby, Central Mallee Health, Swan Hill
- Ms Sabah Fry, Rich River Physio and Cohuna District Hospital, Echuca
- Mrs Sarah Austin, Yea & District Memorial Hospital, Yea
- Ms Sarah Hewitt, Grampians Health, across Ballarat, Stawell, Horsham, Edenhope and Dimboola
- Mrs Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Happy Minds Psychology, Drysdale
- Mrs Sigrid Pitkin, Rural Allergy Group, Intrinsic Healthcare, Ballarat and Warrnambool
- Mrs Stephanie Van Velzen, Uplift Therapy, Ballarat
- Ms Susie Ellis, Bendigo Health, OPRS Hand Clinic, Bendigo
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Healthcare Practice Management
- Mrs Amanda Wilson, Lister House Medical Clinic, Horsham
- Ms Jennifer Charles, Get Well Clinic, Healesville
- Ms Julie Sullivan, The Healthcare Centre, Morwell
- Dr Nadine Blyth, Barwon Paediatrics, Geelong
- Mrs Nicole Stott, Healesville Medical Centre, Healesville
- Mrs Rachael Hatzopoulos, Ashby Street Medical Centre, Trafalgar
- Mrs Sam Hellsten, Swan Hill Primary Care Medical Centre, Swan Hill
- Mrs Sam Retelj, Ballarat Group Practice, Ballarat
- Mrs Stephanie Van Velzen, Uplift Therapy, Ballarat
Outstanding Contribution to Rural Healthcare Outreach Provision
- Dr Adam Landau, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Bairnsdale
- Dr Julian Yeoh, Alba Health, Myrtleford
Outstanding Contribution by a Rising Star
- Mr Jemuel Pryse, Allied Physiotherapy, Ocean Grove
Outstanding Contribution by a RWAV Student Ambassador (new)
- Dr Georgia Doyle, Monash University, Wodonga
- Ms Slobodanka Jevtic, La Trobe University, Corryong
- Ms Stacy Doan, Deakin University, Geelong
Length of Service Award (35+ years of service)
- Dr Andrew Gault, Port Fairy Medical Clinic, Port Fairy
- Dr Daryl Smith, Macleod Street Medical Centre, Bairnsdale
- Dr David Monash, Inglis Medical Centre, Sale
- Dr David Wilson, Lister House Medical Clinic, Horsham
- Dr Elizabeth Quin, Springs Medical, Daylesford
- Dr Ernan Hession, Swan Hill Primary Health Medical Centre, Swan Hill
- Dr Gavin Frawley, Ovens Medical Group, Wangaratta
- Dr Gerard Brownstein, Benalla Church Street Surgery, Benalla
- Dr Gregory Stewart, Springs Medical, Daylesford
- Dr Hugh Chisholm, Leongatha Healthcare and Gippsland Southern Health Service, Leongatha
- Dr Ian Sutherland, Port Fairy Medical Clinic, Port Fairy
- Dr Janis Baker, Broadford Medical Clinic, Broadford
- Dr John Guymer, Wyndham House Clinic, Shepparton
- Dr Mary Holland, Flora Hill Medical Centre, Flora Hill
- Dr Nicholas Kimpton, Ballarat Medical Centre, Ballarat
- Dr Peter Hales, Surf Coast Medical Centre, Torquay
- Dr Peter Rogers, Healesville Medical Centre, Healesville
- Dr Robert Dawson, Latrobe Regional Health, Traralgon
- Dr Ross De Steiger, Bairnsdale Medical Group, Bairnsdale
- Ms Kerrie Thomsen, Hallmark Integrated Health Services, Bairnsdale
- Mrs Lesley Robinson, West Wimmera Health Service, Nhill
Congratulations to all the finalists! Please join us at the online event to find out the winners of the Victorian Rural Health Awards 2025
Date & Time: Thursday 19 June 2025, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Entry: FREE (Anyone can attend)
RWAV encourages all Victorians to register, tune in, and support their local healthcare professionals.
www.rwav.com.au/victorian-rural-health-awards-2025
For any questions or further information, please contact the RWAV Communications team at communications@rwav.com.au or Evaan on 0491 153 875.
About RWAV
Since its inception in 1997, RWAV has become a significant, trusted and successful non-profit organisation. RWAV remains committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by rural and regional communities while fostering sustainable healthcare solutions. Dedicated to supporting the health workforce and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across Victoria, RWAV collaborates with government, health services, practitioners, and communities to develop innovative solutions that attract and retain a workforce tailored to meet the needs of rural Victoria.
For more information please visit: www.rwav.com.au
For media inquiries, interviews, or further information about RWAV’s recent activities, please contact:
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Evaan Rabel
M: 0491 153 875
E: communications@rwav.com.au
W: www.rwav.com.au