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3 min read
The finalists for the 2026 NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards have been announced and we are excited to see two passionate NSW eating disorder professionals recognised for their important work.
Dr Mel Hart has been nominated as a finalist for Allied Health Leader of the Year. Mel is a Senior Mental Health Dietitian and the local Eating Disorder Coordinator for the HNELHD, having joined the coordinators group in 2008. She has extensive experience working in the eating disorders space, in both inpatient and community-based.
Mel has been essential in leading change within her district to open pathways to high quality evidence based care for people with an eating disorder. Her support, influence and knowledge reaches across New South Wales. She is a researcher with Hunter Medical Research Institute and conjoint lecturer with the University of Newcastle and Western Sydney University. Mel’s specialised interests are in equity and access to health care, translating evidence to practice, service and workforce development, and research. At InsideOut, we feel honoured to work alongside Mel as she provides leadership and influence for a better health care system.
Colleen Alford has been nominated as a finalist for Allied Health Professional of the Year. Colleen is a clinical specialist social worker, having worked in the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Eating Disorders Service for over twenty years providing essential mental health care and family therapy to children and young people experiencing eating disorders.
Her dedication to training and equipping health employees across NSW means that children and families can access eating disorders care in their local area. Colleen has a keen interest in client-centred service innovation, particularly in relation to adapting eating disorders care for young neurodivergent people. It is a focus that has seen her develop service improvements, including staff training programs, parent groups, therapy modules, and communication processes; policies that are aimed at enhancing eating disorder treatment experience and outcomes for young autistic people. These adaptations are now the centre of her PhD.
At InsideOut we are privileged to work alongside Colleen, in providing training for clinicians across the state. We are very fortunate to have passionate and highly experienced clinicians like Colleen as part of our clinical network.
The NSW Health Excellence in Allied Health Awards is the flagship annual event that honours and celebrates the expertise, passion, and dedication of Allied Health professionals and the support staff who make exceptional care possible across NSW.
These awards are also an opportunity to showcase the essential role allied health plays in delivering safe, high‑quality, patient‑centred care. You can read more about the awards here.
The winners will be announced at the awards night on Thursday, 26 March 2026; we hope you will join us in keeping our fingers crossed for both Mel and Colleen!