Award Categories

The following award categories seek to recognise and acknowledge health professionals working in rural and remote Western Australia:

GP OF THE YEAR

This award recognises a general practitioner who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities and has gone above and beyond to provide services to the community.

Eligibility:

  • Peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.
  • Must have been working in a rural location for longer that two years.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications, including length of service in rural practice.
  • Outline the exceptional qualities of the GP that demonstrate they deserve consideration for this award. 
  • Provide examples of the GP's contribution to the community with specific focus on the positive impact this has had on the wellbeing of the community. 


CLINICAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

This award recognises a rural clinician whose leadership qualities emulate the highest professional standards and who has improved the image and practice of rural health care in Western Australia.

Eligibility:

  • Peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Open to all health professionals.
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice. 
  • Provide an example of how the clinician has had significant positive impact on clinical leadership, such as in the following areas:
    • Patient safety. 
    • Patient care. 
    • Patient satisfaction. 
    • Improved access to primary care services. 
  • Outline how the clinician's leadership qualities have influenced peers to improve the wellbeing of the community. 


PROCEDURAL GP/DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR

GP or DMO - Procedural - Anaesthetics, Obstetrics or Surgery 

This award recognises a medical practitioner who has shown ongoing commitment to providing high quality specialist anaesthetic, obstetric or surgical services throughout rural Western Australia.

Eligibility:

  • Peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Must be appropriately credentialed and have provided anaesthetic, surgical or obstetric services in a regional hospital in the proceeding year (during 2020).

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice.
  • Demonstrate how the nominee has provided consistent high-quality procedural services to the rural communities of WA. 
  • Describe the outstanding attributes of the nominee that highlight the high-quality regional procedural service they have provided. Include steps taken by the nominee to upskill or introduce innovative clinical services. 


SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR (NON-GP)

This award recognises medical specialists who have made significant contributions in providing outstanding care to their patients and the communities in which they practise. 

Eligibility: 

  • Peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.
  • Must have been a resident in a rural location for longer than two years. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice.
  • Demonstrate how the nominee is committed to continuity of care and leaving a legacy for other health care professionals. 
  • Explain how the nominee is a role model within the health workforce. Include examples of team work and how they have upgraded the skills of the local health workforce to the benefit of the community. 

RURAL NURSE/MIDWIFE OF THE YEAR AWARD

This award recognises an exceptional rural nurse or midwife who delivers outstanding patient care, positive outcomes and performs above the expectations of their role. 

Eligibility:

  • Community member, patient, peer or organisation nominated.
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location. 
  • Must have been working in a rural location for longer than two years.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice. 
  • Demonstrate how the nominee has displayed a professional excellence in the area of patient care and how this has improved the outcomes for patients and their families. 
  • Provide examples of the nominee's contribution to the community with specific focus on how this has and will continue to make a difference to country communities. 



METROPOLITAN-BASED BUSH CHAMPION

This award recognises a clinician who has developed a service or facilitated country/metropolitan linkages to enhance access to metropolitan-based health services for rural communities. 

Eligibility: 

  • Peer, community or organisation nominated. 
  • Must be currently providing a service in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice.
  • Demonstrate how the nominee has developed a service or facilitated country/metropolitan linkages to enhance access to metropolitan-based health services for rural communities. 
  • Provide examples of how the nominee has improved outcomes in regional areas based on the access to metropolitan-based health services. 


RISING STAR AWARD

This award celebrates the future face of rural health care. Each year, we recognise a junior health professional who has shown a true passion for rural health and the intent to continue their career to country communities.

Eligibility: 

  • Supervisor, peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Open to all health professionals.
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.
  • Must have been working in a rural location for longer that two years, but fewer than five years. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice.
  • Demonstrate how the nominee has had a positive impact on the medical ecosystem, such as supporting colleagues, improving patient safety or other similar initiatives to improve quality of care. 
  • Provide examples of how the nominee is committed to becoming involved in social and volunteer networks within the community.


RURAL RESEARCHER OR EDUCATOR AWARD

This award recognises that health services research, as well as education and curriculum development specific to rural health needs, has the potential to make long-lasting contributions. 

Eligibility: 

  • Peer or organisation nominated. 
  • Research and education must have a rural focus. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Outline how the nominee has established their career in rural health. Include a summary of their career and qualifications including length of service in rural practice.
  • Demonstrate how the nominee's actions or initiatives have improved the climate for rural research or education in WA. Include how they have led change in the rural research or education sector.
  • Provide examples of how the nominee's personal research or education practices have influenced or improved rural health in WA.


BUILDING HEALTHY COUNTRY COMMUNITIES

This award recognises an initiative or project involving one or more health professionals or entities that promotes or facilitates the development of rural health delivery services.

Eligibility:

  • Community member, patient, peer or organisation nominated.
  • Can be self-nominated.
  • Open to individuals, teams, organisations and non-government organisations (NGOs)

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Demonstrate how the project or initiative provides health benefits to the rural community. Factors considered include: 
    • Coordination of services with other health care agencies to avoid duplication.
    • Networking and collaboration with other health care entities to achieve common goals. 
    • Innovation in development and implementation of health care services. 
    • Lasting impact on rural communities.


PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

The People's Choice Award is the opportunity for a patient or client or a support person to acknowledge a health professional who cared for them. 

Nominees for this award make a difference to the lives of patients or clients and their families every day.

Eligibility:

  • Community member or patient nominated. 
  • Must be currently practising in a rural WA MM 2 - 7 category location.
  • Must have been resident in a rural location for longer than two years. 
  • Open to all health professionals.

SELECTION CRITERIA

  • Tell us your story of why this person deserves this award.








CHAIRMANS' AWARD

Chosen from the winners of the 10 Excellence Awards, the Chairmans’ Award is presented to the person/team/organisation deemed to have demonstrated exceptional commitment and high quality care for patients and communities in rural WA.

Criteria:

  • Nominations are not required for this category.
  • The Chairmans' Award winner will be selected from the winners of each category.