Award categories for 2026
CHQ continue to celebrate excellence with two distinct Medal of Distinction categories:
- Medal of Distinction - Clinical excellence - this award seeks to recognise an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to clinical excellence in paediatric health care and/or research.
- Medal of Distinction - Community impact - this award seeks to recognise an individual who has demonstrated outstanding contribution(s) in the broader social domains that impact a child’s health and wellbeing, such as education, social services, sports and recreation, and community service.
How to nominate someone
Nominations for 2026 have now closed.
Winners will be announced at the 2026 CHQ Excellence Awards event, held in Brisbane, taking place in August.
How we choose the recipient
An adjudicating panel assesses all nominations and recommends a short list of recipients to the Children’s Health Queensland Board of Directors. The Board makes the final decision based on the information provided.
Other information
- Please include specific details about their contribution.
- Winners will be announced at the 2026 CHQ Excellence Awards event, held in Brisbane, taking place in August.
- All winners (and their nominators) will be advised before the CHQ Excellence Awards event.
- All nominees (and nominators) will receive correspondence post the Excellence Awards event.
- If you have any questions regarding the nomination process, please contact: chq_hhs@health.qld.gov.au.
2025 Winners
The Medal for Community Impact for 2025 was awarded to Sally Putland, Nurse Midwife Unit Manager at Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, for her 45-year commitment to improving the health of First Nations children and families through culturally safe, community-led care.
The Medal for Clinical Excellence was awarded to Associate Professor John Burke, whose leadership in establishing paediatric nephrology as a specialty in Queensland has transformed access to care for children across the state.