The Ipswich Hospital Museum was proudly recognised as a Finalist in the category of Volunteer Museum/ Gallery of the Year for its outstanding commitment to preserving local healthcare history, engaging the community, and striving for continual improvement.

Since its opening on March 3, 2010—150 years to the day since the hospital admitted its first patient—the Ipswich Hospital Museum has served as a vital link between Ipswich’s past and present health services.

Nominated by Josh Tarrant, Senior Development Officer SEQ, Culture and Histories, Queensland Museum, the citation read:

"Located in the historic Jubilee Building on Denmark Hill, the Museum houses a significant collection that reflects over 160 years of healthcare history. The significance assessment conducted in 2019 has ensured that the items displayed resonate with the community’s rich heritage, reinforcing the Museum’s role as a custodian of local history. These items serve as the foundation for the Museum’s current exhibition display, The Historic, Aesthetic, Scientific, Social and Cultural Items of Significance.
Driven by passionate volunteers, the Museum publishes quarterly newsletters (Museum Matters), fun weekly Facebook quizzes, and informative Fast Factsheets, fostering public engagement,  connection and education.
Striving for continual improvement, the volunteers frequently ask questions and seek advice from the Museum Development Officers. Their participation in Museums & Galleries Queensland’s 2018 Standards Review Program further demonstrates their commitment to learning and best practice, with improvements in governance, exhibition development and design now firmly realised.

The Museum actively collaborates with Ipswich City Council’s Heritage Network and other regional groups, sharing insights and hosting professional development events. Notably, it contributed to the 2024 Galvanised Festival of Heritage and hosted a Scenic Rim Heritage Network field trip, showcasing its leadership in strategic collection management."

The judging panel praised the Ipswich Hospital Museum’s dedicated volunteers for their commitment to local history, engaging the community, and striving for continual improvement in its operations. With a proven track record in securing funding and a culture of continuous learning, the Ipswich Hospital Museum exemplifies excellence in volunteer-led museum practice.

Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD) Executive Director, Rebekah Butler, said “We congratulate and commend the Ipswich Hospital Museum for continually striving towards best practice standards. Their achievements underscore the Museum’s impact and importance in the Ipswich community and in preserving the evolving history of the region’s healthcare.”

Ms Butler continued, “This year, we undertook a comprehensive review of the award categories and introduced several new ones, which led to an unexpectedly high number of nominations. This response is a testament to the remarkable work being done by museums and galleries of all sizes throughout Queensland. It is a privilege to shine a spotlight on the achievements of so many deserving individuals and organisations.”

Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek, said, “Queensland has more than 400 museums and galleries, all of which play an important role in sharing our stories, activating and connecting
communities and attracting visitors to our regions.”

“Congratulations to everyone who has taken part in this year’s Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards, which celebrate individuals and organisations who support community and visitor
engagement with arts and cultural experiences.”

The winner of the Queensland Volunteer Gallery and Museum of the Year, was the Queensland Air Museum, which is celebrating 50 years of preserving Australia’s aviation heritage. It is the second-oldest aviation museum in Australia and a key tourism attraction on the Sunshine Coast, welcoming over 25,000 visitors annually. Its success is driven by a proactive management team and over 185 dedicated volunteers, who contribute more than 38,000 hours annually.

Now in its twenty-first year, the GAMAA were established by Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD) to honour the achievements of our State’s individuals and organisations in striving
towards excellence.

The 2025 GAMAA are proudly supported by the Museum of Brisbane and sponsored by Public
Galleries Queensland and Australian Museums and Galleries Association Queensland.
The 2025 GAMAA trophies are generously supported by Brian Tucker.
The 2025 GAMAA are proudly supported by the Museum of Brisbane, and sponsored by Public  Galleries Queensland and Australian Museums and Galleries Association Queensland.