- 13 WA nurses and midwives recognised across 11 categories
- Lifetime Achievement Honour for two WA Health staff
- Co-ordinated by the State Government through the Department of Health
An innovative nurse practitioner, working in the challenging field of paediatric acute care, has taken out the top honour at the prestigious Western Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.
Scott Stokes who works at Broome Hospital was named Western Australia's 2015 Nurse/Midwife of the Year for his influential work in helping families receive a high standard of care closer to home. Scott was named Nurse of the Year after also winning the Excellence in Leadership category.
Health Minister Kim Hames said judges were impressed with Scott's leadership in facilitating better access to evidence-based care and helping to develop knowledge and skills in remote areas.
"Scott has demonstrated a strong desire to improve health services across the Kimberley, and his influence within this region cannot be underestimated," Dr Hames said.
"Scott's work as a Nurse Practitioner with the Kimberley health care team has helped more than 100 neonatal and paediatric patients to receive quality care in Broome, when traditionally they would have had to fly to Perth."
The Minister congratulated all award recipients, saying Scott's story was one of the many inspiring narratives from last night's event, with 13 awards handed out across 11 categories.
"These awards are a way of recognising the commitment and excellent work of our State's nurses and midwives, and I encourage others to take inspiration from these achievements," he said.
For the first time in the awards' history, two nurses were also presented with a lifetime achievement honour.
Megan Scully, Nursing Coordinator at WA Health's Communicable Disease Control Directorate was honoured for her 47 years of service in leading and championing the role of nurses in public health, while Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital nurse, Sue Davis, was recognised for her leadership and mentoring skills in a career spanning 45 years.
Fact File
- Award recipients were selected from a field of 35 finalists, chosen from more than 260 nominations from public, private and non-government workplaces
- Judging panel comprised the WA Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, and a representative each from the WA Nurses Charitable Memorial Trust, the Health Consumers Council and the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency
- For more information, visit http://www.wanmea.com.au
Minister's office - 6552 5300
2015 Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards category winners
Excellence in Aboriginal Health
Cathy Bulner, Registered Nurse, Meekatharra Hospital, WA Country Health Service, Midwest
Excellence in Education and Research
Penny Keogh, Nurse Director Education, Fiona Stanley Hospital (Excellence in Education)
Dr Janie Brown, Nursing and Midwifery Research Coordinator, St John of God Hospital Subiaco and Curtin University (Excellence in Research)
Excellence in Enrolled Nursing
Leigh Casey, Enrolled Nurse, Osborne Park Hospital
Excellence in Leadership
Scott Stokes, Nurse Practitioner (Paediatric Acute Care), Broome Hospital, WA Country Health Service, Kimberley
Louise Angus, Nurse Practitioner (Palliative Care), St John of God Hospital Subiaco (Excellence in Leadership - Emerging Leader)
Excellence in Midwifery
Kristy Newett, Community Midwife, Fitzroy Crossing Community Health, Kimberley Population Health Unit
Excellence in Primary and Community Care
Lucia Ferguson, Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health), Wellness Centre, Fremantle Hospital
Excellence in Registered Nursing
Anna Forman, Registered Nurse, Perth Clinic
Excellence in Residential Care
Kylie Pratt, Registered Nurse and Interprofessional Education Coordinator, Brightwater Care Group (Madeley)
Excellence in Rural and Remote Health
Rhonda Bradley, Maternal and Child Health Coordinator Eligible Midwife, Registered Nurse, Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service and Geraldton Hospital
Graduate of the Year
Ilyana Mohamed-Hussain, Midwife, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
Consumer Appreciation
Kristy Wiegele, Registered Nurse/Midwife, St John of God Hospital Mount Lawley
Lifetime Achievement Honour
Megan Scully, Nursing Coordinator Communicable Disease Control, WA Health
Lifetime Achievement Honour
Adjunct Associate Professor Sue Davis, Nurse Director Corporate Nursing, Research and Education, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
