Celebrating innovation and leadership at the 2026 SESLHD CORE Awards

June 3, 2026

The Mindgardens Neuroscience Network was proud to join colleagues from across the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) on Monday, 1 June 2026, at the State Library of NSW, to celebrate the 2026 CORE Awards. This annual event recognises the remarkable teams and individuals who go above and beyond to deliver exceptional, innovative health care. With a record 298 nominations, resulting in 53 finalists across 18 categories, the evening was a powerful demonstration of the District’s commitment to healthcare excellence.

The David Pearce Rising Star Award: Honouring a legacy

A significant highlight for Mindgardens was the presentation of the newly renamed David Pearce Rising Star Award, which Mindgardens proudly funded alongside SESLHD, the Obumu Foundation, and the Pearce family. Named for Mindgardens’ late friend and colleague, David Pearce, this Award recognises emerging leaders within SESLHD who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, and a commitment to professional growth. A transformative leader, David Pearce was a former Director of Mental Health for SESLHD, as well as Executive Director of Mental Health for NSW Health. He went above and beyond to establish many of the services Mindgardens relies on today, and his visionary leadership and passionate championing of physical health in mental health services were essential when expanding the Keeping the Body in Mind (KBIM) teams. These services continue to improve the lives of people who experience complex mental illness and have contributed to ongoing efforts to reduce the life expectancy gap they experience.

Professor Jackie Curtis, Executive Director of Mindgardens, was joined onstage by members of David’s family to share a moving tribute to David’s 40-year legacy, and to present the 2026 Award to Dr Ashna Basu from the SESLHD Mental Health Service.

Dr Basu, a Psychiatry Advance Trainee at the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI), received this Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership, which extends from local clinical care to the global psychiatric community. Currently serving as the Registrar to the Chief Psychiatrist of NSW, and a former Board Director for the RANZCP, she provides specialised care for patients with complex needs, including intellectual disability and functional neurological disorders. Her systemic impact includes leading the design of the UNSW Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan, and chairing the Young branch of the global Medical Women’s International Association.

Dr Basu will now receive a scholarship towards her future work, and will be put forward as a finalist for the Anthea Kerr Premier’s Award.

Celebrating our finalists

Mindgardens was well represented in the team categories, with two major affiliate programs named as finalists:

The Mindgardens SESLHD Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic was recognised as a finalist in the Excellence in Health Research category. The clinic addresses Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a disabling but treatable condition, caused by a malfunction in the central nervous system, that can result in seizures, chronic pain, and gait issues. Operating at the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI), it is the first service of its kind in NSW, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts in neuropsychiatry, neurology, physiotherapy, and psychology. Research through the clinic has shown significant improvements for patients, including a reduction in illness severity and psychological distress. Learn more about the FND Clinic.
The Smart Feeds Program was names as a finalist in the Health Equity category. Part of the wider Keeping the Body in Mind(gardens) program, this co-designed initiative tackles food security concerns for people living with mental illness by combining clinician-led food skills education with peer-led interventions to improve consumers’ confidence in meal planning, budgeting, and grocery shopping. The program provides a sustainable care pathway for community mental health consumers with complex social needs. Learn more about Keeping the Body in Mind(gardens).

The Mindgardens team was delighted to attend the ceremony, and support our colleagues, as we continue to drive forward-thinking solutions in healthcare.

See some more images from the ceremony below:

(from left) David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu, Professor Jackie Curtis, finalist Quantelle Benjamin, Rose Pearce, Amber Pearce, Ryan Pearce
(from left) Professor Jackie Curtis, David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu, Dr Adith Mohan
(from left) Professor Jackie Curtis, David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu, Amber Pearce, Rose Pearce, Ryan Pearce
David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu
(from left) Amber Pearce, David Pearce Rising Star Award finalist Quantelle Benjamin, Ryan Pearce
(from left) Amber Pearce, Rose Pearce, Ryan Pearce
(from left) Professor Jackie Curtis and Rose Pearce
(from left) David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu and Rose Pearce
(from left) Professor Jackie Curtis and David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu
(from left) Ryan Pearce, Rachel Morell, Rose Pearce, Amber Pearce, Professor Jackie Curtis, Dr Hamish Fibbins
(from left) Ryan Pearce, Amber Pearce, Professor Jackie Curtis, Dr Adith Mohan, Rose Pearce, David Pearce Rising Star Award winner Dr Ashna Basu
Members of the Smart Feeds program team, finalists for the Health Equity Award - (from left) Oliver Ardill-Young, Lauren Nicholson, Isabella King, Michelle Hsu, Scott Teasdale

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