Country nurses and midwives get top honours

Six individuals and one team from WA Country Health Service (WACHS) have been named finalists in the 2023 WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards.

Congratulations are in order for: Maddison Bell, Sienna Kolatowicz, Cathy Kirby, Amanda Whittle, Kristal Buchanan, Jada Hansen, and TeleChemotherapy nursing teams in the Pilbara (Karratha), Kimberley (Broome), Wheatbelt (Narrogin) and Central Office (Perth).

WA Country Health Service’s Acting Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Yvonne Bagwell said it came as no surprise to WACHS that so many country finalists were named.

“Country nurses and midwives truly go above and beyond for their communities,” Yvonne said.

“Whether it’s Amanda in the South West coordinating public health, Jada returning home to the Goldfields to work with her community to deliver care on country, or our TeleChemotherapy nurses who are revolutionising the delivery of telechemotherapy services – our nurses and midwives are committed to high-quality, patient-centred care.”

Yvonne said the awards recognise the impact all nurses and midwives have on country communities.

“The awards is the most important date in the calendar for nursing and midwifery and the excellence that is the profession. It recognises those incredible staff selected by their peers for the work that they do, day in day to make a real difference.

“This is a great result for WA Country Health Service and it is a testimony to the incredible, committed staff that we have across the organisation. Congratulations to all the finalists,” Yvonne added.

WA Country Health Service finalists:

Maddison Bell, WACHS Kimberley – Excellence in Aboriginal Health

Sienna Kolatowicz, WACHS Kimberley – Excellence in Midwifery

TeleChemotherapy nurses (Pilbara, Kimberley, Wheatbelt and Central Office), WACHS – Excellence in Person Centred Care – Team Award

Cathy Kirby, WACHS Wheatbelt – Excellence in Primary, Public, and Community Care

Amanda Whittle, WACHS South West – Excellence in Primary, Public, and Community Care

Kristal Buchanan, WACHS Midwest – Excellence in Registered Nursing

Jada Hansen, WACHS Goldfields – Graduate of The Year

A full list of finalists is available on the WA Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards website, with winners to be announced at a gala ball on 6 October at Crown Perth.