Mariah Delaney of Nyngan has been recognised as the 2025 Rural Allied Health Assistant award winner for the Western NSW Local Health District, and the staff and residents of Nyngan Multi-Purpose Service are thrilled to bits for her.

“Western NSWLHD commenced a pilot project in 2023 to address allied health service gaps in rural sites,” said Nyngan Health Service Manager Jenny Griffiths.

“Part of this amazing project was the employment of Allied Health Assistants to work with the Virtual Allied Health Service providers (VAHS).

“Nyngan was lucky enough to be included in the project and Mariah was successful at interview for the project."

Ms Griffiths said it has been a privilege to watch Mariah grow and develop in the role.

"She is an awesome AHA and it is so exciting for her to be recognised at the Western NSWLHD AHA of the year.

“Mariah is able to work at the top of her scope of practice to support seven different allied health services on the ground in Nyngan.

“We are so proud of Mariah and the amazing work she does – from the light hearted footy banter with residents doing their exercises, to putting on a cast to save a family a trip to Dubbo, to complex multidisciplinary discharges home, Mariah covers it all."

Mariah Delaney with patient Val Pahlow [Image NMPS]

Mariah, who has been at Nyngan for almost four years, said she was overwhelmed by the award and grateful for her job, and those she works with.

“I love how rewarding my job can be, and how many life lessons and great advice I learn from the residents,” she said.

“I love that if I come to work and I’m not feeling the greatest, I always walk out with a smile because the residents know how to make me laugh.

“I love seeing people leave this place happier and healthier than what they first came in and how lovely everyone in Nyngan is. I could go on forever about what I love about my job and the people in it,” she said.

According to Mariah, it is the great team around her that makes every day a good day.

“I wouldn’t be able to do my job effectively if I didn’t have such amazing allied health professionals to learn from and a committed nursing team to support what I do.

“I was an 18-year-old girl with no experience in health what-so-ever. I worked at Cotton On casually, so Jenny had great courage to give me a shot, so really, I owe her everything for giving me the opportunity,” said Mariah.

Nyngan Health Service Manager Jenny Griffiths with Mariah Delaney and Dianne Harvey Virtual Allied Health and Service Improvement Manager. [IMAGE: WNSWLHD]

And it’s not only the staff and residents who think Mariah is pretty special.

The families of the residents really appreciate her too.

“Having our dad as a resident, we really appreciate Mariah and her manner with all the patients. She is so kind and inclusive and makes us all feel welcome. We are happy, knowing our dad is being looked after with love. It really makes a difference,"

“This award is very well deserved. Good on you Mariah.”