Courage, collaboration, and community spirit
were front and centre at
the 2025 Gippsland Primary Health Awards, where Buchan Bush Nursing
Association was recognised as the region’s leading example of Courageous Innovation.
Presented by Gippsland PHN at Federation University, Churchill, on Wednesday, November 19, the awards celebrated organisations and professionals transforming primary healthcare across Gippsland.
Guest speaker Dr Derk Pol, director of cardiology at Latrobe Regional Health, announced this year’s winners from an exceptional field of nominees.
Buchan Bush Nursing Association — Victoria’s oldest operating Bush Nursing Centre — received top honours for its locally led approach to community wellbeing.
In the aftermath of the 2019–20 bushfires, the association identified a need for consistent, trusted mental health and social support. Using Bushfire Recovery Victoria funding, it introduced a Wellbeing Support Officer to reconnect residents, support vulnerable community members, and deliver initiatives such as walk-and-talk groups and a flourishing community garden. The program has strengthened community resilience while keeping care local, relevant, and accessible.
Gippsland PHN chief executive officer Amanda Proposch said this year’s theme, Challenge to Courage, reflected the ingenuity and determination shown across the region.
“These Awards celebrate those who turn obstacles into opportunities — innovating, improving quality, strengthening workplace culture, and building partnerships that deliver better health outcomes for Gippsland,” she said.
Other award recipients included Wellways Australia, recognised for its Mental Health in Aged Care program in the Courageous Pursuit of Quality category, and Orbost Regional Health, which received the Courageous Partnerships Award for its collaborative Q Fever testing and vaccination clinics delivered with GippsDairy and Sale Medical Centre.
Gippsland PHN congratulated all nominees and winners for their outstanding contributions to the region’s health and wellbeing.
