2023 winners of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing - Excellence in Public Health Awards

2023 metropolitan winner

City of Onkaparinga: Advance Care Directive peer-led workshop project

Left to right: Mayor Moira Were AM (City of Onkaparinga), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Judith Lowe (City of Onkaparinga).

The City of Onkaparinga was named the 2023 metropolitan winner for its Advance Care Directive peer-led workshop project. This cross-council, multi-agency model raises understanding of end-of-life care planning, and protects the community from ageism and elder abuse. Its peer-led approach to conversations about life, living, death, and dying aims to empower more individuals to voice their wishes regarding their end-of-life care preferences, to make informed decisions about their future care in their completed Advance Care Directives, and to raise community death literacy.

2023 regional winner

Mount Barker District Council: Air Quality Study — impact of wood smoke in our township

Left to right: Lily Do (Mount Barker District Council), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier.

The District Council of Mount Barker was named the 2023 regional winner and awarded $3,000 for its air quality study – impact of wood smoke in our township. Township wood smoke particulate levels were assessed against national standards, and raised councils and community awareness of the health and climate change impacts of wood burning, which is now seen as a public health risk for the Mount Barker community.

Highly commended councils:

  • City of Charles Sturt: Ngutungka (place of knowledge) library hub
  • City of Mount Gambier: The Haven, community domestic violence initiative
  • District Council of Kimba Revitalising Healthcare: a comprehensive approach to GP attraction & retention

Left to right: Bec Lyons (City of Charles Sturt), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Mayor Angela Evans (City of Charles Sturt), Adam Filipi (City of Charles Sturt).


Left to right: Chief Executive Officer, Deb Larwood (District Council of Kimba), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Mayor Dean Johnson (District Council of Kimba).

Left to right: Mayor Lynette Martin OAM (City of Mount Gambier), Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier.

Further information

For further information about the Excellence in Public Health Awards, email PublicHealthAct@sa.gov.au or contact Strategic Engagement and Policy on (08) 8226 7100.