ACT Safety and Quality in Health Care Awards
Nominations close on Wednesday 22 July 2026 at 10 pm.
The ACT Safety and Quality in Health Care Awards recognise individuals, teams, and organisations that do great work to improve safety and quality in health care across the ACT. The 2026 Awards will be presented on Thursday, 17 September 2026 as part of World Patient Safety Day celebrations.
Who you can nominate
Nominees for all award categories must:
- be an individual or team working in the ACT. For team nominations, the team must demonstrate a clear connection to the ACT, with either the majority of team members based in the ACT or the team delivering services that directly benefit the ACT community. Team members may include individuals based outside the ACT where their contribution is part of a collaborative model of care.
- be involved in work that improves safety, quality, innovation, or care in health services
- work within public, private, non‑government, health services, primary care settings and/or not‑for‑profit health and community service settings
- meet the eligibility rules for the chosen award category
- be actively working in your role or team during the eligibility period
- not be under investigation for professional misconduct or disciplinary action at the time of nomination.
You can nominate:
- yourself
- a team you are part of
- another individual or team.
For more information read the nomination guidelines:
How to nominate
- Submit one form per nomination.
- A separate nomination form is required for each award category submission.
- Select the most appropriate award category.
- Provide a description of the abstract (up to max 500 words). Include evidence supported by example/s of improvement or change over time, demonstrated through data, measurement and impact. Submission of both the abstract and supporting evidence documents is mandatory for nomination.
You must upload one supporting document with your nomination.
The supporting document must:
- be PDF format only
- be no more than two A4 pages
- use a minimum 10‑point font
- address the assessment criteria for the selected award category
- include evidence of impact, where available such key outcomes or achievements, supported by evidence of improvement or change over time, demonstrated through data, measurement, and impact.
Award categories
Clinical Excellence and patient safety
Recognises initiatives, practices, or leadership that enhance the safety, effectiveness, and quality of clinical care. This category includes work that reduces harm, improves patient outcomes, strengthens clinical governance or embeds evidence‑based practice into routine care.
Health care measurement
Recognises excellence in the use of data, measurement, and evaluation to improve patient safety and quality. This includes innovative or effective approaches to monitoring outcomes, using data to drive improvement, supporting transparency, and fostering learning across the health system.
Sustainable health care delivery
Recognises initiatives that improve patient safety and quality while supporting the long‑term sustainability of health services. This may include workforce innovation, system redesign, equity‑focused approaches, resource stewardship, or efficient and scalable models of care.
Digital health innovation
Recognises the effective use of digital technologies, systems, or data solutions that enhance patient safety, quality of care, access, or coordination across services and settings.
Emerging leaders in health care
Recognises individuals who are early in their leadership journey and demonstrate commitment, initiative, and measurable impact in improving safety and quality within the health system.
Minister’s award for excellence in patient safety and quality
This award is selected from the category winners and recognises an outstanding individual or team that demonstrates exceptional leadership, innovation, and system‑wide impact on safety and quality in health care.
Minister’s award is not open for nomination. Recipients will be identified and selected by the Awards Judging Panel across all submitted nominations.
Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Priority population group partnerships
The ACT 2026 Safety and Quality Health Care Awards encourage nominations from initiatives that improve patient safety outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and priority population groups, including, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, older people and other communities who may experience barriers to safe and equitable care.
Projects may be submitted under any award category. Nominations that demonstrate genuine partnership, co-design, community leadership, culturally safe practice and measurable improvements in patient safety outcomes will receive additional assessment consideration.
Applicants should clearly describe how the priority population group was involved in the design, delivery, decision-making and evaluation of the initiative, and what changed as a result of the work.
How we choose a winner
Winners are chosen by a panel of senior health professionals and leaders and consumer representatives. The selection process is confidential and final.
Awards Ceremony
When: Thursday, 17 September 2026, 10:00 am – 11:00am
Where: Canberra Health Services Auditorium, Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran ACT
Attendance is open to health service executives, healthcare professionals, consumers and nominees involved in or supporting patient safety and quality in healthcare.
Fill out the online form if you wish to attend.
Walk for Patient Safety
The event includes a “Walk for Patient Safety,” which symbolises our collective commitment to safer health care across all sectors. Participants are encouraged to wear orange in recognition of World Patient Safety Day.
When: Thursday, 17 September 2026, 11:00 am
Start location: Canberra Health Services Auditorium, Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Garran ACT
Finish location: Health and Community Services Directorate, 4 Bowes Street, Phillip ACT
Attendance is open to health service executives, healthcare professionals, consumers and nominees involved in or supporting patient safety and quality in healthcare.
2025 award winners
- Next Practice Deakin: Excellence in Quality and Safety in Health Care Award
- National Capital Private Hospital: Impacting Consumer Outcomes Award
- EQUIPD Allied Health and Towards a Safer Culture Project Team – Health and Community Services: Emerging Quality and Safety Leader Award
- Homeless Outreach Team – Canberra Health Services: Impact on Equity of Access Award
- ACT Blood Counts Program Team – Canberra Health Services: Reducing Waste Award
- Next Practice Deakin: Excellence in Community or Primary Health Care Award
Contact us
HCSD Clinical System Governance Unit
Email:
hcsdcsgu@act.gov.au