2026 ARPA NSW Award Ceremony Program

John Matter

PHSA

John sustained exceptional outcomes placing him in the top tier of new employer consultants, consistently securing employment for workers with complex psychological and psychosocial barriers. His profound impact is reflected in extensive stakeholder feedback, cementing his reputation as the benchmark in his field. John is truly deserving of this award.

Maggie Arslan

APM Workcare

Maggie's positive nature serves as a catalyst for client motivation, resulting in successful return-to-work outcomes. Her embodiment of the traits of a Rehabilitation Consultant makes her a deserving winner of this award, exemplifying dedication, empathy, and expertise in achieving positive rehabilitation results.

Mia Mahoney

Benchmark Rehab 

Mia provides consistency and support to clients who are often experiencing the toughest time of their lives. Her caring and patient approach provides stability and safety when clients can feel overwhelmed. She provides purpose and direction to support clients return to work under challenging circumstances.

Jeanna Nguyen

KINNECT

Jeanna has consistently delivered exceptional RTW outcomes in some of the most complex cases, while building trusted employer partnerships and championing the Health Benefits of Good Work. Her measurable results, clinical excellence, and unwavering passion truly set her apart as an outstanding leader in workplace rehabilitation.

Natalie Mumford

Interact Injury Management

Natalie is innovative, client centred, outcome focused, and driven to secure a better outcome than her clients believed possible. Her unwavering focus on improved function, return to work…and life is evidenced in the almost perfect return to work success, repeat referrals, growing preferred provider arrangements, and endless customer compliments.

Sam Carracher

APM Workcare

On behalf of his management team Sam is the strongest consultant I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Our team unanimously support his nomination. He is a mentor, peer and expert to so many of us and stands out as a market leader in endorsing the HBGW, exceeding performance expectations, and receiving glowing feedback.

Belinda Lee

RehabCo

Belinda has delivered exceptional results in her first year, achieving an outstanding 81% return‑to‑work rate in new employer rehabilitation. Her advanced application of SIRA vocational programs, trusted partnerships and relentless focus on the Health Benefits of Good Work define what excellence looks like in action.

Danielle Beranek

IPAR Rehabilitation

Danielle has already proven to be a game-changer in our regional NSW team and for our many rural clients. Her compassion and client-first mindset create trust and empowerment. Through innovative, tailored strategies and seamless collaboration, Danielle has quickly become a rising star, embodying the true essence of an exceptional consultant.

Sigrid Liu

APM Workcare

Sigrid is an exceptional Occupational Therapist whose work has strengthened workplace rehabilitation for vulnerable clients. She delivers outstanding RTW outcomes, adapts across industries, and contributes to team capability through training and mentorship. Her client‑centred approach and commitment to restoring independence make her a standout contributor to the industry.

Beneco

This nomination stands apart from other early intervention, acting in the critical window for job‑detached psychological injury, recognising employment loss as a significant life event. We posit that such an event can be empowering. Through collaboration and addressing moral injury, the program delivers better outcomes where the current system struggles.

Konekt

This worthy winner, the Employer Support Service equips employers with early, practical education making them confident, active participants throughout the claim. This engagement strengthened communication, improved workplace support, and contributed to faster upgrades and return to work outcomes, with workers reporting feeling genuinely supported by their employer. 

Recovre

Interpersonal conflict fuels complexity in psychological injury claims, often hindering return-to-work outcomes. In partnership with a large government agency, the rehabilitation provider implemented an early intervention initiative to deescalate conflict and prevent its recurrence, minimising negative impact on individuals, teams, organisations, and the broader scheme.

Gerald Peterson

KINNECT

A leader who delivers what schemes value most: faster, durable RTW (NE 77%; SE 96%), Top‑3 comparative performance, rising SIRA (+22%) and psych (+46%) referrals, and expanded access across NSW - driving lower duration and cost, stronger productivity and premium stability - while consistently achieving NPS +77.

Jay Gooch

Procare Group

Jay's passion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to his team and the industry make him an irreplaceable asset. His ability to inspire trust, foster growth, and deliver exceptional outcomes is unmatched. With visionary leadership and genuine care for people, he has transformed lives and set a gold standard for excellence.

Race Barstow

IPAR Rehabilitation 

An exceptional leader who brings together industry and market insights and employment brokerage experience to drive meaningful results for our clients seeking new employment pathways. Race's ability to inspire high performance, foster collaboration and identify solutions for our clients is truly unique, making her a deserving recipient of this award. 

Nigel Wind
Perceptive Health

Nigel transforms complex claims into safe, durable RTW outcomes by lifting people and systems; faster, smarter, and with unwavering clinical integrity. Always humble and quick to praise the team, the nominee quietly does the heavy lifting and avoids recognition, yet their impact is undeniable and truly award worthy.

Michelle Barratt
Rehab Management 

An exceptional leader who elevates the entire rehabilitation sector. Through values‑driven leadership, disciplined governance and scalable innovation, the nominee embeds the Health Benefits of Good Work beyond organisational boundaries lifting capability, strengthening confidence across the scheme, and enabling earlier, safer recovery and sustained participation for workers and employers.

Ellie Kaweroa

Procare Group

Ellie exemplifies tenacity, resilience, and creativity, solving challenges with determination while inspiring others to persevere. Her commitment to achieving goals drives exceptional outcomes, fostering positivity and teamwork. By embodying the health benefits of good work, she demonstrates leadership and problem-solving excellence, making her a deserving candidate for this award. 

Madalyn Button

Perceptive Health

Madalyn delivered outstanding, evidence-based RTW leadership, bringing HBGW to life by restoring identity, routine and confidence, and uniting a high-performing team around creative, practical solutions. Their innovative approach protected wellbeing, built real work capacity, and achieved a durable, meaningful return to work that was once considered unlikely.

Nicole Krawtiz

Star Injury Management

Nicole excels in managing highly complex cases with exceptional empathy, communication, and professionalism. Her ability to balance support with progress‑driven direction empowers workers to overcome significant barriers and achieve meaningful outcomes, making her an outstanding and deserving nominee for this award.

Tsolin Boyajian

Rehab Management

Across Dec 2024–Sept 2025, Tsolin applied Health Benefits of Good Work principles to convert a high‑risk post‑fusion lumbar injury into a sustained PID outcome through staged upgrades and disciplined stakeholder coordination. This achievement reflects consistent excellence, supported by a 95% RTW rate across 40 files (38 positive outcomes).

Holly Fedczyna

IPAR Rehabilitation

Holly is an exceptional consultant whose empathetic leadership transforms lives. Her outstanding client testimonials reflect the profound impact of her work in complex psychological claims. Balancing leadership and national initiatives, Holly delivers life-changing outcomes and is a respected advocate for the HBGW particularly within the intricacies of mental ill health.

John Matter

PHSA

When a worker was lost, feeling hopeless and disengaged, John built trust encouraging social, community and health goals, empowering the worker through small wins to regain purpose and see recovery as possible. Through exceptional coaching and vocational counselling John reignited purpose and facilitated a successful return to work. 

Meredith Betts

Rehab Management

This nomination recognises an outstanding psychological injury outcome, transforming incapacity for over 12 months, into durable employment. Through trauma‑informed practice and Health Benefits of Good Work‑driven decision‑making, Meredith progressed the worker from no capacity to full hours and full duties, achieving a sustained RTW outcome.

Pauline An
Beneco

Pauline approached a very challenging case with a high level of genuine care and collaboration. The injured worker was empowered in their recovery by Pauline. The achievement of the unlikely outcome of pre-injury duties for this highly volatile psychological injury case underscores Pauline's persistence and care.

Daniel Mafi

Kairros

During Daniel's placement with our company, we were consistently impressed by their dedication to learning and professional growth. Their attentiveness, willingness to ask thoughtful questions, and genuine commitment to developing their skills were commendable qualities that directly contributed to their outstanding performance.

Gemma Thompson

Prudence Rehabilitation

Gemma has demonstrated graduate-level capability within her placement and was able to integrate knowledge of evidence-based practice, ethical reasoning, and Health Benefits of Good Work principles which resulted in meaningful, outcome focused rehabilitation services. Her contribution in her placement has distinguished her as an exceptional and highly deserving award nominee. 

Kiran Anker

Altius Group

Kiran demonstrated strong comprehension of Occupational Rehabilitation, applying rapid learning, clinical reasoning, and a biopsychosocial approach. He consistently delivered high‑quality work and achieved graduate‑level competency, leading to employment as an Allied Health Assistant and later a Rehabilitation Consultant.