Australian Patients Association

04/08/2025

Meet the 2025 Patients Australia Award Winners 🏆

From research breakthroughs and digital innovation to powerful advocacy and everyday care, these 16 recipients are helping shape a more patient-centred healthcare system.

We’re so proud to recognise their outstanding contributions and the impact they are making in the lives of Australians across the country.

💛 Congratulations to all winners. Thank you for putting patients first.

Full list of award recipients:

Outstanding Patient Advocate - Catherine Hughes AM, presented by Dan Stinton, Healthengine

Outstanding Patient Carer - Marissa Tan, presented by Luke Givney, BUPA

Outstanding Hospital - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (James Fowler), presented by Monique Jonson, Arrotex Pharmaceuticals

Outstanding Clinic - Emyria (ASX:EMD) (Mary-Ann Rennie), presented by Srini Vasan, Patients Australia

Outstanding Digital Health Service - Clean Slate Clinic (Fiona Faulkner), presented by Robert Lee, Patients Australia

Outstanding Patient Research - PEEK: Personal Experience, Expectations and Knowledge CCDR (NGO) (Kate Holliday), presented by Ana Svensson, Novo Nordisk

Outstanding Patient Innovation - HiTH Remote Monitoring Service, Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (Hayley Cooke), presented by Dr Andrew Wilson, Medibank

Outstanding Patient Campaign - Unite Against RSV, Immunisation Foundation of Australia (Catherine Hughes AM), presented by Josh Bihary, Pfizer Australia

Outstanding Patient Education - Enlighten Me, Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program (Angela Kwong), presented by Christopher Pettigrew, HCF Australia

Outstanding Patient Engagement - Breaking the Cycle – Inherited Cancers Australia(ICA) Community Project Robyn Smith, presented by Penny George, AstraZeneca Australia

Outstanding Patient-Focused Journalism - The Breast Decision (Amber Ma), presented by Nathalie McNeil, AbbVie

Outstanding Specialist - Professor Andrew Spencer, Alfred Health and Monash University, presented by Chantille Khoury, Law Partners

Outstanding Community Pharmacist - Sara Murdock, Pharmacy 777, presented by Kin Chong, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

Outstanding General Practitioner: Dr Sameera Bhayat (Doctors on Nicholson), presented by Sian Goodson, RACGP

Outstanding Nurse: Kate Holliday, presented by Tamara Rowan, Patients Australia

Outstanding Allied Health Professional: Cloe Benz PhD (Physiotherapist), presented by Michele Robbins, Patients Australia

02/08/2025

When Luan Lawrenson-Woods and Samuel Johnson of Love Your Sister Foundation joined our gala as guest judges yesterday, they met in person for the first time and shared their story with channel Nine news. Luan credits Sam’s health advocacy with saving her life.

Thank you so much to Luan and Sam for their continued work to highlight the importance of early detection in helping treat breast cancer, and to Steph Anderson for covering their story and our Patients Australia Awards Gala.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-breast-cancer-samuel-johnson/c8ffe4c4-107d-4a9e-806a-33b9a363bb63

Love Your Sister

The breast cancer survivor turned advocate who has Aussie actor to thank for life life-changing decisionBy Patrick Brischetto7:17pm Aug 1, 2025 X Facebook Mail A breast cancer survivor who was inspired by an Aussie actor to get a mammogram is urging others to do the same.Luan Lawrenson-Woods said se...

31/07/2025

An unforgettable night celebrating the people changing healthcare

At last night’s 2025 Patients Australia Awards Gala, we honoured 16 outstanding individuals and initiatives shaping a more patient-centred, equitable and responsive health system. From national campaigns and clinical innovation to lived experience and frontline care, every story was a reminder of the power of leadership, courage and community.

✨ Special moments included:
• A powerful first meeting between patient advocate Samuel Johnson OAM (Love Your Sister Foundation) and breast cancer survivor Luan Lawrenson-Woods, who credits his campaign with saving her life.
• A heartfelt fireside chat between Michael Klim OAM and Dr Nick Coatsworth, exploring Michael’s journey with CIDP and the importance of advocacy for Australians living with chronic illness.

Together, we also raised close to $100,000 to support our national advocacy work. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this incredible milestone.

We’re deeply grateful to our headline partner Heal Better (Belly Bands) and award sponsors for making this night a huge success: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Healthengine, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Medibank, Pfizer Australia, Bupa, Law Partners Personal Injury Lawyers, Novo Nordisk, AbbVie, Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca and HCF Australia.

Congratulations again to all award recipients. Your work is making healthcare better for all Australians.

Read the full list of winners and highlights in the media release: https://www.patients.org.au/post/patients-australia-awards-gala-2025-celebrating-leadership-advocacy-and-impact

24/07/2025

Meet Luan Lawrenson-Woods, last year’s Patient Advocate of the Year.

She has returned as a judge for the 2025 Patients Australia Awards Gala, bringing her lived experience and advocacy to this year’s panel.

In this video, Luan shares what the Awards mean to her and why recognising patient voices matters.

🎥 Watch below.

21/07/2025

✨When care is designed around people, everything changes ✨
This week, Enlighten Me was honoured to be named a Finalist in two categories at the national awards:
🏆 Outstanding Patient Education
🏆 Outstanding Digital Health Service
We’re deeply proud of this recognition - not for the sake of accolades, but because it affirms our founding belief - that people deserve systems built around them.

Enlighten Me was created to offer something different- GP led compassionate, evidence-based weight management care that reaches people wherever they are. A system that listens. That educates. That empowers.

We centre the biopsychosocial model, offer rich digital education before appointments and support diverse needs, from PCOS, to perimenopause, insulin resistance to sleep apnoea.

We treat people, not numbers.
Most of all, we make people feel seen.

As one member put it: “for the first time, I wasn’t overwhelmed. I knew my options. I had a team. And I felt like I could do it.”

This is what these nominations represent:
🫶🏻 A shift away from confusion, shame and stigma
🫶🏻 A step towards clarity, kindness and genuine support

To our members - thank you for your trust.
To our team - thank you for your heart and your integrity.
To Patients Australia - thank you for recognising that education and access aren’t extras - they’re essentials.

This is just the beginning.

21/07/2025

Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium

📢 Expressions of Interest Open - Join the Consultation Panel

We’re inviting expressions of interest from peak bodies, professional associations, consumer groups, and health service leaders to join the Consultation Panel for the Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium. As a panel member, you will help guide the development of patient-centred, quality-assured telehealth standards.

We’re seeking organisations with:
• Demonstrated experience in digital or virtual care delivery
• Strong consumer, clinical, or sector representation
• Capacity to review and provide feedback on draft standards

What’s involved:
• Two rounds of working draft review
• Optional participation in a national round table

Submit your EOI by 4 August 2025

Find out more or apply:

08/07/2025

🎤 Say hello to our Gala Host!

We’re thrilled to have award-winning journalist and former 9News Melbourne Health Reporter, Emily Rice hosting the 2025 Patients Australia Awards Gala.

Emily has spent her career spotlighting patient stories and pushing for fairer, more accessible healthcare. Her passion for advocacy and deep understanding of the issues make her the perfect host for a night that celebrates people making a real difference.

🎟️ Tickets are available now – join us for an unforgettable evening!

Get yours here: https://www.patients.org.au/gala-awards-2025

08/07/2025

Co-Designing Patient-Centred Standards for Trusted Telehealth

We’re bringing together a new Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium to co-design national telehealth standards that put patients first.

The consortium includes Australia’s leading telehealth providers, private health insurers, and digital health innovators, alongside patient voices and independent experts. Participating organisations include Healthdirect Australia, Medibank, HCF Australia, Bupa, nib Group's Honeysuckle Health, Updoc, Eucalyptus, Healthengine, MedAdvisor Solutions AU, Mosh, Medmate, 13SICK National Home Doctor, and Wesfarmers Health.

Working closely with the The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) as a key consultation partner, the group will develop practical, meaningful standards to improve the safety and quality of telehealth for all Australians.

Chaired by our Digital Health Ambassador Richard Skimin, with the support of our CEO Lisa Robins, this is an initiative which is designed to ensure the future of telehealth is shaped by and for the people who use it, in partnership with experts and industry leaders.

Read more in the media release:

A new Australian Telehealth Standards Consortium will develop national standards for Australia’s telehealth sector.

04/07/2025

We’re excited to share that Patients Australia has been nominated for NGO of the Year in the 2025 Health Industry Hub Awards! 🎉👏

This nomination is a meaningful recognition of the work we do every day to centre the voices of patients, carers, and communities in healthcare.

As a small, independent organisation, we’re proud to advocate for fairer, safer, and more inclusive care – and to work alongside so many people who are committed to making the health system better for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this work with us.

🗳️ Voting is now open – we’d love your support:
https://www.healthindustryhub.com.au/voting-form-2025-health-industry-hub-awards-excellence-in-communications/

Health Industry Hub Awards 2025 - Excellence in Communications The Health Industry Hub Catalysts for Change Awards 2025 recognises and celebrates the exceptional teams and individuals within Corporate Communications, Government Relations & Policy, PR & Advocacy, and NGOs. The unwav

04/07/2025

Media Release: Celebrating the Everyday Australians Changing Healthcare – With Special Guests Joining the Celebration

On 31 July in Melbourne, we’ll come together to celebrate the courage, leadership, and lived experiences that are transforming healthcare across the country.

🌟 Special guests include:
Samuel Johnson OAM (Love Your Sister) and Luan Lawrenson-Woods – judging our patient and carer advocate awards

Michael Klim – speaking candidly about living with CIDP and his journey of resilience

Dr Nick Coatsworth – exploring the power of patient-led advocacy with Michael

Emily Rice – our inspiring host, well-known for amplifying patient stories

This is more than an awards night. It’s a chance to celebrate the people who are driving real change in healthcare – patients, carers, clinicians, services, researchers, journalists, organisations and communities leading the way.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now – we would love you to join us for an unforgettable evening. We’ve dropped a link to book your tickets in the comments below.

Thank you to our incredible partners: Heal Better (Belly Bands), our headline sponsor, and award sponsors: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Healthengine, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Medibank, Pfizer Australia, Bupa, Law Partners Personal Injury Lawyers, Novo Nordisk, AbbVie, Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and HCF Australia.

26/06/2025

🚨 Nominations close TODAY!

This is your final chance to recognise someone making a meaningful impact in healthcare – whether through advocacy, innovation, lived experience or support for patients and carers.

Help us shine a light on the individuals and organisations driving change.

🔗 Submit your nomination: patients.org.au/gala-awards-2025

25/06/2025

🌟 Olympic legend and patient advocate Michael Klim joins us at the 2025 Patients Australia Awards Gala!

We’re beyond excited to welcome Michael Klim as our special guest at this year’s Gala – a night dedicated to celebrating courage, leadership, innovation, and lived experience in healthcare.

You know him as a gold medallist, world-record holder, and swimming icon. But in recent years, Michael has taken on a very different kind of challenge – sharing his personal journey with CIDP, a rare autoimmune disorder that’s attacked the nerves in his legs and feet.

He’ll speak candidly on the night about what it means to adapt to a “new normal” – including learning to walk again.

💬 “The mental battle is probably bigger than the physical.”

Michael shares his story to spark change – calling for better research, stronger support, and a health system that listens and responds to the people it serves.

This Gala isn’t just about awards – it’s about recognising the quiet strength, fierce advocacy, and real stories that drive better care.

We can’t wait to have Michael in the room.

Book your ticket now and join us | 31 July | Melbourne

🎟️ Ticket booking link is in the comments below!