Celebrities to host Western Sydney’s first Quality Awards live broadcast

Lights, camera … broadcast!

Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) has today announced that the 2020 Quality Awards show will be broadcast live with some star power.

Actor, comedian and screen writer Rob Shehadie alongside TV presenter and author Samantha Brett will host this year’s Quality Awards live on the WSLHD Facebook and YouTube channels on Wednesday 23 September at 7pm.

Staff are invited to host their own COVID-safe and glamorous watch parties and to support the celebrations, a limited number of free watch party packs will be up for grabs.

• Vote now for the People’s Choice Award!

The annual Quality Awards celebrate WSLHD’s achievements throughout 2020 as well as the range of health projects that have improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes for our community.

Award winners will be announced via the broadcast, with the addition of an exciting entertainment program including interviews and social media interaction with hosts.

This year, 52 quality improvement projects have been submitted for a chance to win a highly-sought after Quality Award.

For the first time, the Quality Awards will also include the WSLHD Employee of the Year in the categories of Nurse of the Year, Doctor of the Year, Allied Health Professional of the Year and Corporate Services Professional of the Year.

The popular People’s Choice award will also return in 2020, with details on how to vote announced next week. Last year the People’s Choice award received more than 22,000 votes.

WSLHD chief executive Graeme Loy congratulated staff for submitting their quality projects during these unpredictable and busy times.

“The COVID-19 restrictions have changed the way we normally deliver this event in person, but it will be just as fun and exciting,” Graeme said.

“Celebrating our success is a very important part of what we do and I hope that all of our staff and community members will be able to join us in watching the entertaining event to support our staff who have done amazing things for the people of Western Sydney.”

The live ceremony will be broadcast on Wednesday 23 September at 7pm from the WSLHD Facebook page and the WSLHD YouTube page. 

To express your interest in obtaining a watch party pack, email WSLHD-CorporateComms@health.nsw.gov.au.

ABOUT OUR HOSTS

Samantha Brett is an author, news reporter/ presenter and columnist. She currently works at 7 News Sydney & Sunrise, is occasionally on the desk or presenting weather, and was previously Seven Sydney’s court reporter. Samantha started her career in New York at the Fox News Channel, before going on to file reports for CNN, CBS & Sky News.

Samantha started Australia’s first news online interactive column, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald. The daily column went on to attract more than 100,000 readers a day, thousands of comments and sat on top of the country’s most-read news blog for six years. 

During this time Samantha wrote six bestselling books, thousands of articles and lent her time to a number of charities and public speaking roles, before returning to her news roots by moving to the country. 

Samantha became a reporter for Prime7 News before moving around the state reporting on politics, crime and major world events for Sky News and filing stories for CNN Asia, CNN America, and CBS in New York. Samantha is currently a news reporter / presenter with the Seven News Network in Sydney.

Samantha has filed news reports on major world events including the terror attack in Bangkok, the Aurora Australis rescue of the stranded Antarctica expedition, and the jailing of an Australian Greenpeace activist in Russia. ​

In her spare time, Samantha continues to write books aimed at empowering women. “The Game Changers: Success Secrets of 40 Women At The Top” made headlines worldwide in over 100 publications, and has been featured on Good Morning America, 20/20 and Fox News. “The Juggle” is Samantha’s latest book co-authored with Steph Adams and celebrates motherhood.​

Rob Shehadie is an actor, stand-up comedian, MC, stage and screen writer.  He is also co-creator of Channel Nine’s hit comedy-drama, Here Come The Habibs and Channel 10 Street Smart actor, associate producer, story consultant and writing consultant.   Rob’s TV appearances span back 20 years. He has starred in the hit TV comedy and movie Fat Pizza.

Coming from a family with a Lebanese background but born Australian, Rob has much comedic material, which is inspired, from his own life as well as others around him. Issues and charity are important to Rob and he is an ambassador for the charity, Save Our Sons as well as Special Olympics Australia.

He is a proud western Sydney-sider and is passionate about his western Sydney community. The actor says his community faces high levels of youth unemployment so it is critical to appeal to young adults and inspire change. Rob has been a major part of NRL Rugby League and Cricket Australia, entertaining and as MC to the crowds that attend the games. He has worked for the Western Sydney Wanderers, Parramatta EELS, Canterbury Bulldogs, and the NRL 2011/2012/2013/2014 finals series, State of Origin and Test matches. He was also part of the Cricket Big Bash League representing Sydney Thunder at ANZ Stadium.

Over the years Rob has also done cameo appearances on 20-1 – Channel Nine, Bondi Rescue – Channel Ten, Renovation Rescue – Channel Nine, Australian Idol – Channel Ten, The Footy Show (NRL) – Channel Nine, Music Max – Foxtel, Swift and Shift – SBS TV,Bogan Hunters– Channel 7mate, Housos – SBS TV , Housos Vs Authority – feature film and Fat Pizza Vs Housos – feature film. Rob also plays a big role in the hit song by Beau Ryan, Where You From, which features Justice Crew and was released through Sony Music.