2025 Finalists

We are thrilled to announce the finalists for the WA Rural Health Excellence Awards 2025! These remarkable individuals and organisations have demonstrated outstanding commitment to rural healthcare across Western Australia.  

ABORIGINAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

This award recognises an Aboriginal health professional who has shown personal and professional commitment to the provision of safe, responsive, kind and culturally appropriate health care.  This person has gone above and beyond to provide quality services to benefit rural communities.

This award recognises both medical and non-medical workers and includes medical practitioners, specialists, counsellors, Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, nurses and many other professions including Aboriginal Liaison Officers working in a regional hospital or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Sharon Lockyer, WA Country Health Service, Pilbara
  • Erica Sykes, Fitzroy Crossing Community Health
  • Soleil White, Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

This award recognises an allied health professional who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities and has gone above and beyond to provide services to the community.

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Bryan Fleming, Lake Grace Dental and Dalyellup Dental
  • Alexandra Naylor, Goldfields Family Dental
  • Karen Yardley, WA Country Health Service, Midwest

CLINICAL LEADER
OF THE YEAR

This award recognises a rural clinician whose leadership qualities emulate the highest professional standards and who has improved the image and practice of rural healthcare in WA.

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Christina Hunn, Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service
  • David and Hayley Rigby, Pilbara Therapy Services
  • Kathleen Smith, WA Country Health Service, South West

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Previously - People's Choice

This award is an opportunity for a patient, client, or a support person to acknowledge a health professional who has provided outstanding care. 

Nominees for this award promote health, safety and wellbeing within the community and make a difference to the lives of patients or clients and their families as part of their normal working day.

Sponsored by: 


Finalists:

  • Debra Collins, Morawa Perenjori Health Service
  • Alexandra Naylor, Goldfields Family Dental
  • Elizabeth Szczepańska, B Well Psychology

GENERAL PRACTITIONER (GP) OF THE YEAR

This award recognises a GP or rural generalist who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities, and has gone above and beyond to provide high quality services throughout rural WA.  

Nominees of this award must be providing comprehensive general practice or primary care services in a rural setting.  Consideration will also be given to nominees providing emergency care, anaesthetics, obstetrics, surgery, paediatrics, palliative care, internal medicine or Aboriginal health services as part of their role. 

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Chevaun Howard, WA Country Health Service, Kimberley; Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, Rural Clinical School and University of Western Australia
  • Davina Oates, WA Country Health Service, Kimberley
  • Susannah Warwick, Derby Aboriginal Health Service

HEALTH TEAM
OF THE YEAR

Previously - Building Healthy Country Communities

This award recognises a health team achieving improved client outcomes for rural people through program or service delivery excellence.  Nominees are invited for both rural and metropolitan based health teams. 

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Kununurra District Hospital Theatre Team
  • Lions Outback Vision
  • WA Country Health Service Pharmacy Team

NURSE OR MIDWIFE
OF THE YEAR

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

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Lynette Campbell, Kalbarri Doctors Surgery
  • Nick Corsair, Kimberley Renal Services
  • Julie Hancocks, WA Country Health Service, Midwest

SPECIALIST (NON-GP)
OF THE YEAR

This award recognises medical specialists who have made significant contributions to providing care for their patients and the communities in which they practise.  This category is open to both resident medical specialists and visiting medical specialists providing an outreach service in rural locations. 

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Apaks Dede, WA Country Health Service, Midwest
  • Dominic Mallon, Fiona Stanley Hospital
  • Vivi Wilson, WA Country Health Service, Goldfields

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
OF THE YEAR

Previously - Rising Star

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

Sponsored by:


Finalists:

  • Tylah Bedford, Yura Yungi Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
  • Shaylee Mills, Pharmacy Help Karratha
  • Jasmine Yardley, Psychsense Therapeutic Services