2026 Award Recipients

We are extremely proud to present the Winners of the 2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards. 

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for the Awards and thank you for the amazing work you do to support our communities across rural WA. 

Aboriginal Health Professional of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Vernon Dann
Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service and WA Country Health Service, Kimberley


  FINALISTS
Jody Hansen
WA Country Health Service, Goldfields
Bega Garnbirringu Health Service		Peter Yarran
Bega Garnbirringu Health Service

Allied Health Professional of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Kathryn Braysich
Dental Health Service, WA Centre for Rural Health
Locum Dentist

  FINALISTS
Deepinder Rosha
OSECA 		Claire Thistleton
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services

Clinical Leader of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Kim Tracey
WA Country Health Service, South West

  FINALISTS
Samantha Barba
Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance		Cristina Taucean
WA Country Health Service, South West

Community Health Professional of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Sarah Youngson
Bridgetown Medical


  FINALISTS
Jemma Mustey
Southern Regional Medical Group		Sarah Tomlinson
WA Country Health Service, Kimberley

General Practitioner (GP) of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Richard Taylor
Panaceum Medical

  FINALISTS
Ajit Chaurasia
Wongan Hills Medical Centre		Carly Roxburgh
Pioneer Health Albany

Health Team of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
WA Country Health Service, South West - Older Person Complex Care Team

  FINALISTS
Juniper Guwardi Ngadu                   South West Aboriginal Medical Service - Child Health Team

Nurse or Midwife of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Jane Darlington
WA Country Health Service, Kimberley

  FINALISTS
Tania Murphy
WA Country Health Service, South West		Amy Pedersen
Pilbara Kimberley University Centres

Specialist (Non-GP) of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Jacinta Cover
WA Country Health Service, South West

  FINALISTS
Tom Bowles
WA Country Health Service, Great Southern		Allison Morton
St John of God Bunbury Hospital
SouthWest Cardiovascular

Young Professional of the Year
Sponsored by

 WINNER
Rosalie Gent
Full Circle Therapies Inc

  FINALISTS
Joshua Briotti
WA Country Health Service, Kimberley		Emma Calusinski
Pilbara Therapy Services

WA Country Health Service - Intern of the Year

Sponsored by



 WINNER
Celia Wong
WA Country Health Service, Midwest

  FINALISTS
Nicolas Ceravolo
WA Country Health Service, South West		Connor Earnshaw
WA Country Health Service, Kimberley
Joshua Luhrs
WA Country Health Service, Great Southern

WA Country Health Service - Resident Medical Officer of the Year

Sponsored by


 WINNER
Catherine Daly
WA Country Health Service, South West

  FINALISTS
Lewis Weeda
WA Country Health Service, Kimberley

Chairs' Award

 WINNER
WA Country Health Service, South West - Older Person Complex Care Team