Winner: Bec Symons and Danielle Pope, ABC News, “Families break silence on hospital trauma after child deaths and close calls”

Judges’ Citation:

The judges acclaimed this work as copybook grassroots journalism that directly led to state government action and changes at Latrobe Regional Hospital.

The duo spent months researching and investigating the culture at the hospital and the circumstances that resulted in misdiagnoses and preventable deaths. They won the confidence of parents and senior medical staff to reveal the trauma suffered by dozens of families, whose story they told with empathy.

This work highlights how journalistic initiative, persistence and understanding of a community can be channelled to bring about change.

Highly Commended

Tyrone Dalton, Ben Butler, Danny Tran and Madi Chwasta, ABC News, “Infant’s death in illegal Robinvale childcare centre among sector’s secret failures”

Shortlisted

Harrison Tippet and Tamara Clark, ABC News, “Yarriambiack Forever”

Eden Hynninen and Josie Taylor, ABC News, “Goodstart Ballarat Investigation”