The Hunter’s ATUNE Health Centres has been named Professional Medical Services Champion at the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.

The award was announced at a gala event at The Star Sydney this month, hosted by Channel Nine’s Today Show Presenter Allison Langdon. Around 1,000 guests attended the ceremony.

ATUNE Founder and Director Simon Ashley has turned a near death experience into an award-winning group of local health centres that he plans to take to other parts of Australia. ATUNE’s Cardiff centre brings together specialised health practitioner services, a herbal dispensary, health food store, whole food plant based café, hydrotherapy pool, squash courts, gym, yoga and pilates centre, and a sauna and spa.

Simon said he doesn’t know of a centre like it anywhere in Australia. He said for people’s optimal therapeutic and preventative health care it is important to bring together complementary, allied health, psychological and medical services.

“My health experience showed me there were elements of the medical world that could be done better,” Simon said.

“I dreamed of building a one stop health centre that really looks after clients and offers continuity of care,” he said.

“My team and I are really looking forward to taking our integrated approach to health care beyond the Hunter to other parts of Australia.”

“It is better for patients and their health if professionals work together and are located together.”

“We are about delivering individualised but holistic healthcare and health education that refreshes the body, revives the mind and restores the spirit.”

Simon, who has a double degree in Clinical Science and Clinical Osteopathy from RMIT, has worked in the Hunter as an osteopath since 2000. He started ATUNE in 2006 from his home in Eleebana. It now employs or contracts 100 people across 18 health professions. It also has a centre at Belmont.

ATUNE is also a five-time Lake Macquarie Business Awards winner and is a previous winner and finalist in the Hunter Business Awards.

Founder and Managing Director of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards Steve Loe said the awards acknowledge outstanding Australian small businesses and encourage high standards of excellence in small business practice.

“The Awards program is a way to recognise the efforts of small business people who contribute to the prosperity and vitality of communities across Australia,” Steve said.

“The vision and dedication to excellence required to succeed in small business has been demonstrated by ATUNE and other award winners,” he said.

The Awards were made possible with the support of Commonwealth Bank and other sponsors.

IMAGE | ATUNE Operations Manager Maria McIntyre, Founder and Director Simon Ashley and Co-Owner Mel Ashley