Community & Business
18 November, 2025
Oakey Hospital and locally raised admin officer recognised at DD Health Awards
Staff from across the Darling Downs region recently gathered at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus to honour remarkable achievements at the 2025 Darling Downs Health Annual Awards, including those of a locally-raised admin officer and the Oakey Hospital.
Compassion Award
Darling Downs Health’s Administration Officer of Refugee Health Julianne Krueger, who was born and raised in Oakey, was recognised for her work in greeting newly arrived refugees in the Region with warmth and patience, restoring dignity in unfamiliar settings.
Improved patient access and flow
Oakey Hospital was recognised for re-designing patient transfer pathways for long-stay cases, upskilling its staff and creating a smoother journey for patients in the Emergency & Acute Department.
Awards Night Report
The ceremony brought together colleagues, teams, and leaders to shine a spotlight on the compassion, integrity, dignity, courage and innovation that drive exceptional care across our health service.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM, said the awards celebrated the incredible people who make the local health service what it is.
“These awards are our moment to pause, to reflect on the extraordinary impact our people have on patients and communities every day,” Ms Scott said.
“Behind every achieve-ment is a story of dedication, compassion, and care that shapes the future of health on the Downs.”
Awards were presented across categories that reflected the values of Darling Downs Health as well others including volunteering and research.
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board Chair, Dr Dennis Campbell said he was proud to have presented the Stronger Future Awards, which acknowledged staff whose initiatives were enhancing the sustainability and resilience of the service.
“These awards remind us that innovation isn’t just an idea - it’s teamwork translated into better patient journeys, empowered staff and smarter systems,” he said.
“These teams are building the foundations for a healthier, more sustainable service well into the future.
“From Warwick and Kingaroy to Dalby and Toowoomba, our people represent a culture of excellence that places patients at the centre of everything we do.”
