Two RDN members awarded ACHSM 2025 NSW Branch Award

On Friday evening, two RDN staff members, Leah Pascoe and Jessica Dunworth, received an Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) 2025 NSW Branch award for their leadership in advocacy in their area of impact. 

Travelling from their hometowns of Dubbo to Sydney to receive their awards in person, Leah was honoured for the impact and role she is making in the area of diabetes and Jessica in Aboriginal eye health.

Both women were recognised for demonstrating advocacy both as a personal attribute, and as an ability they apply in their daily management and leadership practices during 2025.

RDN’s Health Systems Manager, Sharif Bagnulo, congratulated both Jessica, Leah and the other nominees for their advocacy and leadership but also for the positive, impactful way they both champion the needs of their communities and change lives for the better.

“It’s wonderful to see Jess, Leah and the other dedicated health managers be recognised through these awards. RDN has long observed the out-sized impact that effective health leaders and managers have on the capability and retention of rural health practitioners and overall effectiveness of health services. These are important contributions to community productivity and are very well worth acknowledging.”

Leah Pascoe was commended for effectively advocating for improved access to quality type 2 diabetes services and the dedicated workforce that provides their care in Western NSW through her leadership in the Care Partnership - Diabetes Program.

“Leah has advocated for patients and the workforce by demonstrating role modelling, ethical and professional behaviour by both contributing to, and applying evidence to, effect positive change,” Sharif said.
“She has worked with stakeholders at all levels including consumers, health practitioners, GP practices, ACCHSs, Aboriginal elders, organisational chief executives and Ministry officials to achieve outstanding results."

RDN's Health Access Services Manager, Amanda Masset, said:

“Jess leads the Western NSW Eye Health Partnership (WEHP) that comprises more than 20 organisational partners - including 12 Aboriginal community controlled health services – and has effectively advocated for improved access to culturally responsive eye health services for Aboriginal people across Western NSW by identifying priority needs, designing solutions and advocating for their implementation.”

Amanda praised Jess’ strong leadership in “facilitating cohesion and consistent direction in a sometimes fragmented health system by demonstrating ethical values and behaviour, and a mature and nuanced understanding of stakeholders’ needs and actively contributing to sharing knowledge and resources”.

Leah wrote on LinkedIn that she was “honoured to receive one of the 2025 ACHSM NSW Branch – Leadership Recognition Awards”.

“A huge thank you to the Rural Doctors Network (RDN) for the support, and flexibility to work remotely while staying connected to the communities at the heart of our work,” Leah said.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute to meaningful workforce outcomes across Western and Far West NSW,” she said.

Jessica also said she was incredibly proud and humbled to have been awarded one of the ACHSM NSW Branch Leadership Recognition Awards for 2025.

“Privileged to be recognised and nominated by my colleagues and peers at Rural Doctors Network (RDN) and for supporting my work in eye health in Western NSW,” Jessica wrote on LinkedIn.

“Congratulations to the other award winners on the night and fellows of the College celebrating with us,” she said.

ACHSM Board Director, Dr Karen Patterson said ACHSM acknowledges that the management and leadership competencies of recipients such as Leah and Jess “…influence the practice, experience and outcomes of health care in many ways across NSW health settings.”

When writing to the pair, Dr Patterson said “…as the peak organisation for Health Managers across Australasia, we engage with health management professionals every day”.

“We believe it is important to take the time to recognise and celebrate their leadership role and acknowledge how their leadership influences the practice and experience of health care in many ways across NSW health settings,” Dr Patterson said.

Congratulations Leah and Jess!

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Learn more about Leah:

Some of the outstanding results achieved by Leah include:

• Increasing the region's credentialled diabetes educator (CDE) workforce by 80% (compared to 2023) by facilitating local health professionals' access to scholarships and grant, linkage to mentors, and wrap around career support - including challenging transition points.
• Four of these diabetes educators identify as Aboriginal including three Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHP)who will be among this first in Australia to complete the AHP to CDE career pathway.
• As someone with lived experience of T1 herself, being an advocate for consumers with lived experience at a national level through her contributions to the Australian Diabetes Clinical Trial Network and The Kids Research Institute - Rio Tinto Children Diabetes Centre, T1 Community Advocacy Group.
• Leah is also contributing to a number of research projects in the diabetes space.