Stronger Together: Celebrating Allied Health Excellence Across the Parkville Precinct
14 October 2025
The energy in the room was electric as Allied Health professionals from across the Parkville Precinct gathered for the inaugural Parkville Precinct Allied Health Awards on Allied Health Professions Day.
Rachel Elliott, the Chief Allied Health Officer from Safer Care Victoria opened the awards, which saw Allied Health Therapies and Sciences staff come together from the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Women’s, the Royal Children’s and Peter Mac/ The event was a vibrant celebration of collaboration, innovation and care.
It shone a spotlight on the remarkable expertise and compassion of Allied Health professionals who help patients recover, adapt and thrive every day.
TheAllied Health Professions Day theme, “Stronger Together,” perfectly reflected the spirit of the celebration — highlighting the benefits of multidisciplinary teamwork and the essential role Allied Health plays in improving outcomes for hundreds of thousands of patients across the precinct each year.
“Across the Parkville Precinct, Allied Health professionals bring extraordinary expertise, compassion and innovation to patient care,” said Alicia Martin, Director of Allied Health and Support Services at Peter Mac.
“These awards recognise the diverse ways our teams contribute to therapeutic interventions, recovery, rehabilitation and wellbeing — and the impact they make across every corner of healthcare.”
The Parkville Precinct Allied Health Awards showcased excellence across all areas of practice, research and collaboration. Each category was judged by senior Allied Health leaders from the four organisations, with nominees assessed for innovation, leadership, and patient impact.
Peter Mac’s award winners
Peter Mac staff were recognised across several major categories, demonstrating the innovation, leadership and compassion that underpin Allied Health practice at the cancer centre.
Early Career Excellence Award
Carly Brown, Grade 1 Exercise Physiologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Carly was recognised for her remarkable clinical skills, evidence-based approach and commitment to person-centred care in the early years of her career.
Research Impact Award
Shaza Abo, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Shaza was celebrated for her outstanding contribution to Allied Health research, translating evidence into practice to improve outcomes for people with cancer.
Innovation & Improvement Award
Stella Salpigtidis, Senior Speech Pathologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Stella was acknowledged for her creative problem-solving and measurable impact through innovation in patient care and service delivery.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
Parkville Disability Identification Project Team, Parkville Precinct (RMH, RWH, PMCC, RCH) — Joanne Rowe, Louise Mogg, Jenni Medland, Michelle Shao, Kath Feely, Adrienne Fosang, Kat Schembri.
“It is inspiring to see the achievements of our Allied Health clinicians recognised alongside peers from across the precinct,” A/Prof Martin said.
“These awards highlight the collective strength of our teams and the essential role Allied Health plays in advancing excellence in cancer care.”
Other winners from across the precinct
Clinical Impact Award
Natalija Bogunovic, Pharmacist, Royal Children’s Hospital
Leadership Excellence Award
Cassandra Plant, Senior Occupational Therapist, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award
Sonia Brockington, Allied Health Clinical Education Manager, Royal Women’s Hospital
Stronger Together Award
Metabolic Dietitian Team, Royal Children’s Hospital — Dr Maureen Evans, Angela Harris, Jordan Brockett, Erin Mullane, Brooke Allender, Rachel Sinha
Community Therapy Service (CTS) & Falls and Balance (FAB) Teams, Royal Melbourne Hospital — Asha Patel, Jared Tower, Cristina Bussolaro, Katherine Hodgson
As the applause echoed and colleagues gathered for a group photo, the sense of connection and pride was unmistakable.
Across the Parkville Precinct, Allied Health professionals continue to drive innovation, compassion and excellence in care — proving that we truly are stronger together.
“The strength of the Parkville Precinct lies in our shared commitment to collaboration,” A/Prof Martin added.
“By working together across disciplines and institutions, we’re shaping a healthcare system that truly wraps around the needs of every patient.”