A health worker who helped lead the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS)’s response to the pandemic has received the region’s top award.
COVID-19 health incident controller Amy Holmes was recognised for her exceptional leadership throughout 2021 and the key role she played in developing a number of initiatives.
These included drive-through COVID testing, airport testing and hotel quarantine testing services on the Coast, as well as pop-up response, mobile and mass vaccination centres, and a Virtual Fever Clinic and Virtual COVID Ward.
She was awarded the Dr H H (Barney) Moy Memorial Award as well as the ‘Leading the Sunshine Coast Way’ award.
Staff gathered to celebrate the 2021 SCHHS Exceptional People Awards.
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SCHHS chief executive Dr Peter Gillies commended Ms Holmes for her dedication while acknowledging her as an exemplar of the health service’s values, including compassion, integrity and respect.
“These services have helped ensure the safety of the Sunshine Coast community in the most challenging of times,” said Dr Gillies.
“She is flexible and pragmatic in her approaches, and within her teams Amy’s excellent leadership has fostered a culture of high performance under extreme pressure.
“On behalf of the entire health service, I commend Amy for her dedication and success.”
In accepting her awards Ms Holmes said: “This is a huge honour. Behind every good leader there are wonderful teams and every single person who’s worked in COVID is nothing but exceptional.
“Thank you to everyone who has worked with me and around me, I certainly could not have done it without you.”
The Dr H H (Barney) Moy Memorial Shield is in memory of Dr Moy, a consultant urologist at Nambour Hospital from 1989 to 1992. He had a strong commitment to the hospital and in his memory his family established a bequest to enable the Barney Moy Shield to be awarded annually to a member of staff nominated by their peers.
A number of other dedicated SCHHS staff were recognised at this year’s event, for their bright ideas and research, quality customer service, exceptional people-centred care, culturally competent patient care, commitment to their roles and support for staff wellbeing.
Recipients of the 2021 SCHHS Exceptional People Awards
Culture of Care: Dr Josh Martin
Customer Service Award: Caloundra Operational Services Team
Exceptional People Centred Care: Dr Hannah Gribbin
Bright Ideas and Research: Dr Kathryn Wilks
Leading the Sunshine Coast Way: Amy Holmes
Exceptional Consumer: Matty Hempstalk
The Gallangoor Ngin Award: Kate Bennett
Staff Excellence Award (Dr H H Barney Moy Award): Amy Holmes
