Congratulations to all five entries in the first Pitch for 2026, Sydney Local Health District’s innovation challenge.
 

“Everyone today is over the line,” said Deb Willcox, Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive. “I look forward to you all making some really sustaining change for our patients.”

Finalists from across District services presented projects focused on diabetes care and immunisation delivery, two priority areas where innovation will deliver real impact.

Purnima Rao, RPA Senior Podiatrist, presented a compelling case, with support from colleagues, for an interdisciplinary Allied Health team to help people with foot ulcers.

The project, which won $30,000, would see a team of physiotherapist, exercise physiologist and podiatrist assist patients with healing, preventing falls and promoting function. In the long term this model of care would reduce hospital admissions, amputations, and emergency presentations.

”Diabetes-related foot disease is the Cinderella of diabetes care, often overlooked until it’s too late,” said Purnima. 

A combined team from Population Health and Canterbury Hospital gained $20,000 to support culturally and linguistically diverse new mothers to understand Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and type 2 diabetes risk.

“Dietary education in pregnancy must be culturally tailored and not just translated,” said Rebecca Lai, Nutrition and Dietetics Manager, Canterbury Hospital.

The project will strengthen routine maternity care and healthy lifestyle behaviours, while also reinforcing collaboration between the public health, dietetics and maternity teams through co-design and education delivery. 

The Sydney Virtual team was also able to secure $11,832 for their in-home immunisation program, looking to embed influenza vaccination screening and delivery into routine care for priority populations who would otherwise miss out. 

“Many Sydney Virtual patients faced layered access barriers, which means for this group, even when vaccination is recommended, uptake may not occur,” said Vickie Zhiyan Zhang, Senior Pharmacist.

The judges also provided connections to alternative sources of funding for the final two pitches, both looking to integrate new services into existing hospital infrastructure.

Dr Tina Marinelli, Infectious Diseases Staff Specialist, looks to establish a vaccination clinic at RPA to improve access to guideline-recommended vaccinations for immunocompromised patients. Dr Linda Wu, Endocrinology Staff Specialist, will create the STOP Diabetes program, a CPD learning opportunity for healthcare professionals and online education program for patients at high risk of diabetes, encouraging patients to begin a journey towards diabetes prevention.

Judges included Deb Willcox AM, Lyn White, Consumer Representative, Dr Alicia Foran, Drug Health Services Clinical Director, Hayley Sciuriaga, Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at RPA, and Professor Stephen Twigg, Head of Department of Endocrinology at RPA. 

Since The Pitch started in August 2014, the District has had more than 400 entries from across over 50 departments and services. Almost $2 million dollars has supported successful applicants, helping them to bring their innovative ideas to life.