Awards success for eating disorders team

The Eating Disorders Team at Melbourne's Epworth Clinic has vowed to keep up the good work after winning a prestigious national award.

The mental health facility's entry triumphed in the Allied Health section of the Team Excellence category at the 2022 HESTA Excellence Awards.

"This award recognition acknowledges all the hard work the team put into this project over the past two years and gives the team extra encouragement and motivation to continue their work in this vital and under-serviced area,"Epworth Clinic's Senior Dietitian Amy Kaplan said.

Part of Victoria's largest not-for-profit private hospitals group, Epworth, the Camberwell-based clinic was recognised for transforming the care of clients experiencing eating disorders within a general mental health unit.

The team created a new care pathway, implementing critical pre-admission screening, supportive meal therapy and specialist referrals, ensuring a holistic and comprehensive approach.

"Working in the eating disorder field can be demanding at times,"Ms Kaplan said.

"We are identifying more eating disorders amongst our consumers and our insights allow us to put strategies in place to better support these patients."

The awards, now in their third year, recognise Australia's top organisations and teams working across the disability, allied health, aged care, and community services sectors.

The eight winners in the Outstanding Organisation and Team Excellence categories received a share of the $60,000 prize pool, to be used for further education, service improvement or team development.

Debby Blakey, CEO of health super fund HESTA, congratulated the award winners and the other 16 finalists for their inspiring work.

"These teams and organisations have gone above and beyond to deliver critical services, making a real difference for so many people in need across Australia," Ms Blakey said.

"We are so grateful for the contributions these professionals make each day to support our communities and keep our nation safe and healthy. It's a great honour for the HESTA team to help recognise their vital work."

The 2022 HESTA Excellence Awards Winners:

Outstanding Organisation - Community Services

St Patrick's Community Support Centre (St Pat's) - Fremantle WA

Team Excellence - Community Services

Hoarding and Squalor Team, Catholic Healthcare – Macquarie Park NSW

Outstanding Organisation - Allied Health

Little Wings Limited - Bankstown Aerodrome NSW

Team Excellence – Allied Health

Eating Disorders Team, Epworth Clinic - Camberwell VIC

Outstanding Organisation – Aged Care

HealthX - Petrie Terrace QLD

Team Excellence - Aged Care

Falls Improvement Program Team, Brightwater Care Group - Inglewood WA

Outstanding Organisation - Disability Services

Loom Arts and Management - Coburg VIC

Team Excellence - Disability Services

'Be with Me' Navigators, Aboriginal Family Support Services - Adelaide SA

For more information, visit HESTA's awards website.

HESTA is APHA's Diamond Sponsor.

Read more: Mental health clinic finalist at HESTA awards

Read more: 2021 HESTA Excellence awards winners named

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