November 2002

Judy Kelso receives Public Service Medal

Victoria’s Governor John Landy has presented Judy Kelso, the Department of Human Services’ Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Infrastructure Unit Acting Manager, with her Public Service Medal.

Mrs Kelso received the medal—for outstanding public service to health care policy, particularly relating to the development of building and care standards of aged care facilities—during the Investiture at Government House for Queen’s Birthday Honours and Awards.

Mrs Kelso said winning the medal was rewarding after working in the health sector for almost 50 years.

‘I feel tremendously honoured and fortunate to receive the recognition.

‘Being part of the Department for the last five years has been a very positive experience,’ Mrs Kelso said.

The Public Service Medal was established in 1989 to recognise outstanding service by members of Australian public services and other government employees.

Mrs Kelso was nominated for her ability to lead innovation and policy development in the public service to provide better outcomes for older people in our community—especially developing Generic Briefs for a range of Aged Care Facilities for use in the public sector.

The Briefs provide a minimum standard for building design, layout, fit-out and service provision for nursing homes, rehabilitation centres and sub-acute facilities.

Mrs Kelso’s Briefs were the first of their kind in Australia and are used by a wide range of architects and health planners in Australia.

The Department’s Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Planning and Resources Director Tony Nippard said Mrs Kelso’s award came as no surprise.

‘The quiet authority that comes from Judy’s expertise—gained over decades in the delivery of health care services, primarily to older people—has been fundamental to the success of her outstanding work.

‘The Victorian Public Service has been extremely fortunate to have attracted and retained this uniquely talented, energetic and experienced officer.’

Mrs Kelso’s dedication to the health system began almost 50 years ago when she was employed as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital.

She spent 12 years working with Melbourne Citymission in inpatient and community palliative care.

Melbourne Citymission CEO Anne Turley described Mrs Kelso as a pioneer of palliative care in Australia whose work had left a lasting legacy.

‘This legacy is real at Melbourne Citymission and within Victorian palliative care services.

‘She is a person of vision, warmth and integrity who has used her energy and skills over many years in public services.’

Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre Palliative Care Director Dr Roger Woodruff—who worked with Mrs Kelso when she was a Project Officer for the Northern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Forum—said one of her first achievements was the design and production of the first non-English language brochures describing palliative care.

‘Many had spoken of the need to communicate with the non-English speaking communities but nobody had done anything about it.

‘These immediately became an invaluable resource when dealing with non-English speaking people and are now used by every hospice and palliative care service in the state.’