Western Specialist Centre has been recognised with the Founder’s Family Business Award at the Family Business Insights VIC/TAS Conference in Melbourne.
The Family Business Excellence Awards, organised by the Family Business Association, celebrate the achievements of family-owned enterprises across Australia and New Zealand. The program acknowledges businesses that demonstrate excellence in governance, entrepreneurship, and stewardship, while showing how family involvement can drive long-term success.
Catherine Sayer, CEO of the Family Business Association, said the awards shine a light on enterprises that form the backbone of the economy. “Family businesses are the heart of Australia’s economy and social fabric. These awards celebrate not only their achievements but also the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship, resilience, and community that family businesses embody.”
For Western Specialist Centre, the award marks a decade of growth and commitment to quality healthcare. Founded by Dr Raj and Dr Preeti Khillan, the centre has become one of Melbourne’s leading providers of culturally sensitive and community-focused medical services.
“We started Western Specialist Centre 10 years ago with a simple passion, to serve the women and children of Melbourne’s Western suburbs,” said Dr Preeti. “What began as just the two of us, Raj and myself, has grown into a team of more than 30 health professionals.”
Dr Raj reflected on the deeper roots of the business. “It’s an honour to receive this award from Family Business Association and Minister Natalie Suleyman,” he said. “As a doctor, I learnt these [business] skills first-hand in a grocery shop sitting with my dad back in India many years ago when I was a child. The basic skills of integrity, trust, making connections and customer-first, these are all applicable to businesses everywhere.”
The centre’s recognition comes after years of steady expansion across Melbourne’s north-west, with more growth planned. Beyond providing care, Western Specialist Centre collaborates with several Australian universities to train future health professionals through placements, research, and community projects. In 2024, it extended its reach globally, forming an international partnership with the University of Birmingham in the UK to host medical students.
Through its focus on excellence, innovation, and compassion, Western Specialist Centre continues to reflect the core values of the Family Business Excellence Awards—building a legacy of service that extends well beyond business.
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