INDIGO and Alpine Health Pulmonary and Cardiac Exercise and Education (PACE) teams have been recognised and nominated for the 2024 HESTA Excellence Awards.

Under the Team Excellence: Allied Health category the PACE teams are recognised for expanding the flexible cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program into Indigo Shire with the PACE@Indigo program.

The program is a partnership between Alpine Health and Beechworth Health Service and is an expansion of the existing PACE program delivered by Alpine Health.

Alpine Health’s healthy communities manager, Paige Tuohey, said by using telehealth and community-based care to reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular hospitalisations, the PACE@Indigo program has helped patients to improve their quality of life.

She said the PACE program offers a free, safe, evidence-based exercise and education program to help clients manage their heart and lung conditions.

"Local public and private allied health professionals deliver the service in local community settings closer to home for the people of Indigo," Ms Tuohey said, adding that the PACE teams are very excited and honored to have been named as a finalist in the 2024 HESTA Excellence Awards.

The PACE@indigo program was supported by the Hume Health Service Partnership and funding from the Better at Home initiative.

Interim CEO of Beechworth Health Service, Susan Plath, lauds the benefits the community has seen since the program's installation.

"The program is a great example of health services and private allied health professionals working together to deliver services closer to home and better health outcomes for our local communities,” she said.

Winners of the 2024 HESTA Excellence Awards are to be announced on August 29.

The winner will receive a nationally recognised award, trophy and prize money to go towards equipment to support the program.