Do you have a committed and outstanding support services worker on your staff, or know of a major project by a health and aged care team or site which has been exceptionally executed? If so, why not honour their efforts by nominating them for a Hospitality in Healthcare Excellence Award?

Nominations are now open for our 2026 Awards, which are held at both state and national levels. The Awards celebrate those individuals and teams who demonstrate excellence, leadership and commitment to the vision, objectives and mission of their organisation.

If you know someone who consistently goes above and beyond - or if that someone is you - we encourage you to nominate. You don’t need to be a member of Hospitality in Healthcare to participate - everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.

Nominations can be submitted via our online form which has been redesigned to be easier and quicker to fill out. Deadline for entries is 11pm AEST on 24 May.

Finalists will be chosen for each category by our judging panel, with the State Award Winners announced at presentations held by each of our Branches around July/August.

The winners of the State Awards then go on to compete for the National Award winner titles which will be announced at our Gala Dinner at this year’s National Conference to be held at Wrest Point, Hobart on October 14.

And the National Winner judged the most deserving will also receive the Rosemary Ann Pirie OAM Award – the highest honour Hospitality in Healthcare can bestow – in recognition of their overall commitment and dedication to our industry.

Yet while we are necessarily limited in the number of Awards we can give out, in a broader sense, all our Award nominees are winners - because all have proven themselves as dedicated to going the extra mile in terms of work ethic and commitment to quality. They all truly are the unsung heroes of our industry and we extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks for their efforts.

• Brilliance in Service

This category, introduced last year, is designed to recognise individuals or teams working within a smaller aged care facility (100 beds or less) or hospital (150 beds or less). In these environments staffing numbers are often tight and resources limited, requiring staff to step into unfamiliar roles and/or extend themselves beyond their comfort zones.

The Brilliance in Service Award is designed to recognise those individuals or teams which have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty in such circumstances. We encourage nominations from our smaller sites so we can shine a spotlight on the great work which is being done every day by staff who go the extra mile, often in difficult conditions.

• Values in Action Exceptional Customer Service

Presented to a team member who exemplifies the values of their employer organisation and that of Hospitality in Healthcare in creating a positive workplace culture that supports the delivery of excellent patient-centred care and high quality services.

• Leadership

This Award is for those team members who display leadership through a spirit of collaboration, trust and recognition. We’re looking for people who foster a culture of excellence by prioritising staff development across such categories as safety, compliance improvement, budget and business improvement, management and leadership skills.

• Sustainability

Recognising facilities or individuals who have implemented or continuously improved and expanded support service waste reduction programs on the path to sustainability. Areas include food/product waste reduction, waste storing programs, repurposing food/clinical items through donation programs, composting, recycling, upcycling, repurposing, water conservation, improving use of reusables, and working toward zero emission goals as set by your organisation and the Government.

• Project of the Year

Returning for 2026, this Award is given to initiatives or activity that have translated ideas into action through innovative approaches, particularly with regard to service or business improvements on site.

You can find more details on our Award election criteria and nomination questions: here

Prizes and eligibility: here

How to nominate

1.         Choose the relevant state (nominees must live in that state to be eligible)

2.         Select an award category

3.         Submit your nomination here