Celebrating Hospitality Workers in Healthcare Day 2025

March 6 each year marks an important date on the health and aged care sector. It’s Hospitality Workers in Healthcare Day – a day in which we publicly acknowledge and celebrate the important contribution hospitality workers make in the healthcare sector.

Hospitality is a broad term which encompasses support services including foodservice, environmental, porters and patient service and more. The responsibilities of workers across these areas are pivotal to the care and recovery of patients and residents – from preparing and delivering nutritional, dietary and culturally appropriate food which has an important role to play in healing, to maintaining a hygienically clean and fresh environment, laundering bedding and clothing, and managing and disposing of waste in a timely and efficient manner.

The day is the brainchild of former IHHC WA Chair Carey Bray, who came up with the idea back in 2018. IHHC National President Lisa Cranham explains, “In hospitals, clinical teams are recognised with their special days, but the non-clinical teams tend not to be as high profile.

“This day was designed to give some extra recognition, to give those teams a higher professional profile as well as a morale boost. Carey was very passionate about the concept from the start, he was the one who ensured it would be a national event, promoted via the IHHC.”

“In hospitals, clinical teams are recognised with their special days, but the non-clinical teams tend not to be as high profile”

Each year Hospitality Workers in Healthcare Day has gained more momentum and been celebrated across more sites and by more providers across the nation. It’s fast becoming a permanent feature in the health and aged care calendar!

“The WA Branch of the IHHC held a special evening celebration in honour of the day”

This year saw more celebrations than ever – although due to the onset of Cyclone Alfred, some sites in northern NSW and Queensland had to postpone their events by a week.

In Geelong, management and staff at St John of God Healthcare celebrated with cupcakes served to the catering, cleaning, café and orderly teams, with Hotel Services Manager and IHHC National President Lisa Cranham spearheading the event and reading out a thank you note from Director of Corporate Services Tanya Widdicombe. The team were full of joy and laughter in appreciation of the recognition.

A similar celebration was held in Melbourne at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Ramsay Health Care celebrated the day at its Greenslopes Private Hospital site in Brisbane, with the executive team including Ramsay Health Care CEO Carmel Monaghan, Greenslopes Private Hospital CEO Justin Greenwell and Executive Director Finance and Corporate Services Liam Mason hosting a staff barbecue.

Mater Brisbane, Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital and STARS also held events, with STARS running barbecues at both lunch and dinner in order to allow as many staff as possible to attend, and RBWH slicing up a delicious cake to serve to workers.

RSL Care SA also held events at its Romani Residential Aged Care and War Veterans’ Home Myrtle Bank sites.

St John of God Subiaco in WA treated its caregivers to a tasty spread including hot food and cakes, with managers across the hospital wearing commemorative stickers bearing the tagline “I’m a Hospitality Hero”.

Each hospitality worker also received a thank you note along with a KitKat to take home!

The WA Branch of the IHHC held a special evening celebration in honour of the day, held at The Point Bar overlooking the Swan River, which received strong attendance.